Things I Appreciate About Being Home

Having returned home from the minor holiday excursion to my parents’ house, I find that I am grateful to be here, in my own place, with my own rules and schedule and preferences.

I appreciate:

1. setting the thermostat at something less than “Tropical Rain Forest in the Heat of the Day.”


2. eating dinner later than 5:00 p.m.


3. staying up past 9:30 p.m.


4. sleeping on a mattress that is firmer than marshmallows.


5. internet access.


6. tuning the TV to something other than Fox News.

In other news, N has asked that we have a Kwanzaa celebration this year. To that end, I am planning a dinner for tomorrow night where we will light the kinara, have something of a traditional menu (which I’m sure he will not eat so I am trying to modify at least some things so he won’t complain that he will surely starve), and talk about the seven principles. I’m doing this all based on my internet research plus one children’s book N has about Kwanzaa since none of my African American friends celebrate Kwanzaa, a fact that shocked N who is all about exploring all aspects of his African American heritage. I think he feels somewhat betrayed by the local African American community here that they don’t have some big Kwanzaa celebration. So we will start our own Kwanzaa tradition at home and will celebrate it in our own way and make it our own.