Dysfunktionality
So I have stopped channeling the Happy Homemaker and have returned to my currently customary, sluggish, slightly grumpy self. It was frankly a huge relief and lots of fun to spend an entire day in the kitchen, starting things and FINISHING them, seeing (and tasting) the product of my labor. Faster than knitting and way way faster than producing functional adults from the larval stage we call children, cooking and baking are tremendously satisfying. If I were that productive all year round, man, I’d be running the country in no time. ‘Course, I’d also be catatonic with exhaustion and the bathroom would never get clean. Who am I kidding. It never gets clean as it is. Fraternity boys would be grossed out by our bathroom.
Christmas at my sister’s was pleasantly boozy and foodish. Also, their new television is so big that it made A Charlie Brown Christmas look like a cinematographic main event. It was great. Now, at the APs (Aged Parents), things are less salubrious. In fact, I’ve spent the morning wondering what a play about my family’s Christmas would look like — but then, I’m not sure the world needs another play about a deeply dysfunctional family. Or does it?
What the world does need is to remember the King of Funk, James Brown, who died on Christmas day. We could all use more sparkly purple capes and to get on up. No resting in peace, Mr. Brown. It wouldn’t suit you.
I love plays about deeply dysfunctional families. I say you should write that puppy up ms. stunts.
love you immensely, merry xmas and happy new year,
krista
I agree with the cooking and baking thing! I’ve been thinking about why it’s so satisfying and I think it’s because it’s creative (making stuff) and legitimate (feeding people) and an escape (“please get the children out from under my feet so that I can make this incredibly important cake/meal/soup”). And this comes from someone who could not boil an egg when she left home at 18.
I also like the idea of the family play …
For all of my recent bitching abt the Happy Housewife shite, I have to admit I just splurged on this train cake pan.
Have you discovered the works of Arthur Ransom? His characters Port and Starboard in Coot Club also refer to their father as AP. The Swallows and Amazons series has become our family’s favorite bedtime reading. — David (partner of the Purloined Letter)
Can we exchange some family members for the Francisfour? I have some siblings and nieces that I could swap in return for getting ye Merryfolk of Christmas.
This Christmas was low-key. I spent the day in pajamas assembling playmobils. We are also stretching out the 12 days of Christmas with less on the 25th and something small but wonderful finding its way into the stocking each day. This has been happy stuff.
I really would like to trade some relatives, including the one that text messaged me at about 10pm on the 25th.
I hate it when you are away: the humor index drops. I broke the news to my kids about your moving and Davey said he likes your house, why are you moving, why can’t y’all get a job here. I told him we’d be headed out there for massive playdates sleepovers. I’m thinking we send bedrolls, toiletries and changes of clothing in your moving truck.