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Sunday Drivers
"My idea of good company, Mr Elliot, is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company."
"You are mistaken," he said gently, "that is not good company, that is the best."
-- Jane Austen. Persuasion, ch. 16
Sunday, December 20, 1998
One year ago: Solstice Feast
Laundry day today! I wanted to get all my dance clothes washed so that I'll have them next week at Swing Out Northwest. This took all morning, since I did six loads worth. That includes all my clothes, not just the rayon print skirts and dresses that I dance in.
I got the last things folded and brought upstairs about midafternoon. I was just about to go out and buy a space heater -- my living room is quite cold in this weather -- when I got email from Jack. He'd worked with his friend Brett in the morning instead of the afternoon. He had some ideas about getting together later in the week which sounded good. Also, would I like to come over and keep him company while he worked on updating his website? So that made me happy. I really do like how he takes my wishes and desires into account!
After taking a bath and getting dressed, I drove over to Redmond in the cold. Jack was amused by my "Mrs. Santa" hat, I think! He was in the throes of getting his personal website more the way he wanted it. I hope he wasn't handicapped by me sitting beside him and looking over his shoulder! He only worked about an hour before it was time to drive down to Olympia and pick up his older daughter A----.
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A stop at Starbucks to pick up large mochas and a scone, and we were headed down the road. Traffic wasn't too bad. It was still very cold, though. Jack remembered, too late to turn back, that he had wanted to pick up something from his office. "Another thing I've screwed up this weekend!" he exclaimed. "Well, something you did right was inviting me over, so don't feel too bad, and thanks!" I said.
Instead of doing the trip without stopping, we pulled off the highway south of Tacoma, at a big flea market type of place. Jack wanted to buy some birthday presents for his younger daughter H---, whose birthday is Monday. Having a birthday so close to Christmas is really not a good deal, I think; too many people combine birthday and Christmas gifts! The flea market was a former Costco that was filled with merchants, selling inexpensive gold jewelry, clothing, toys, and home decor. A lot of the stuff reminded me of things I've seen in stores in the International district: extremely frilly dresses for little girls, supplies to use if you are converting your car to a low-rider, or big folding screens in a pseudo-oriental style.
Jack surveyed the gold, and found a nice chain and heart, and a small ring with the initial H on it. He asked me if I saw anything I liked -- he hadn't bought me a Christmas present yet, but knew that I'd bought him some things. But I didn't feel right about picking out jewelry for a gift for myself. We walked around for a few minutes and surveyed the other booths. For some reason Jack didn't want to buy himself a g-string with the words "stocking stuffer" written on it! There were some good prices on plus-size stockings, but I can buy some on another trip.
* * * * * * * *
Jack told me that the drives to Olympia are a lot easier to take with me along to talk to, which pleased me very much! He was disappointed that his younger daughter wasn't at home when we arrived; he'd half thought that the girls' mother might ask him to take both daughters with him tonight! And he'd have liked to give H---- the gifts right then, instead of waiting until Christmas Eve when he picks her up for the holiday.
We picked up A---- and stopped in the neighborhood for dinner, since she (as per usual) hadn't eaten yet. We ate at a Mexican restaurant that had been a regular place for them when Jack and his wife had first separated. Nachos Chorizos, yum! A---- exclaimed repeatedly that she was very tired, and wanted to get in the car and go! so she could go to sleep. I asked her if she thought maybe she had Seasonal Affective Disorder? She's sleeping about ten hours a night these days, which she didn't do during the summer.
A---- slept in the back seat on the way back, and Jack and I continued talking. One Christmas present possibility for me: my own domain name! A truly geeky gift. I thought we had settled on this, but later on Jack mentioned that he'd seen The Lord of the Rings radio plays out on audio CD, and would I like that for Christmas? So I don't know if we reached a conclusion here. I'm just not used to saying "I want X!" and having that decide the matter. Part of the fun of a gift is seeing what the giver thinks will please you (not that I'm hard to please).
* * * * * * * *
A---- went directly to bed when we got to Jack's place. Jack returned to working on his web pages, and I, having decided to spend the night there, was very pleased to see Persuasion, the movie version with Amanda Root, showing on Masterpiece Theater. (My sister M--- used to say that this should be called Master-race Theater, since it's always stories about white people.) I curled up on the couch under a blanket and enjoyed myself thoroughly.
After the movie was over, and Jack got his website posted (Read his allegorical Rant about "coffee" and send him feedback!) I decided to give him his Christmas gifts, since (I thought) he'd decided on a gift for me, and I didn't want to wait any longer! From small to large:
- a pack of sandlewood incense in a Celtic design package. I don't think the Celts are known for their incense, but I liked the package and Jack likes sandlewood.
- a small enamel pin with a geometric design that looks something like an integrated chip, and something like a Celtic rune. Jack could wear this on a lapel or something.
- a Celtic design (again an abstract geometric) brass Christmas tree ornament. This could be hung in any window; it doesn't look very Christmas-y.
- a small bottle of Gray Flannel Cologne. This may be more for me!
- a book by Bruce Sterling: a hardback first edition of a collection of short stories, from a small press, that Jack didn't have. I slipped a brass bookmark (Celtic thistles for his Scots heritage) and a short note inside the book. I didn't want to write in the book because of its collectible value. Sterling is an important author for Jack.
Jack was very pleased with the gifts!
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