Myra Lee

2003-11-03 - 10:21 a.m.

Our whirlwind trip to Jim and Pennellope�s was so much fun. We arrived bearing two dozen Krispy Kremes, and Jim answered the door, completely surprised. We hung out talking, went out to eat (something they don�t do very often, since they�re frugal), went hiking, played board games, played with their amazingly cute baby (Sophie), drove up to Mammoth and experienced 24�Fahrenheit air and snow (snow!), ate too much, etc.

Jim is the funniest person I�ve ever known. Ever. I can�t explain it. If I tried, it would sound something like this: So, we were playing Trivial Pursuit, and the question was, "Which crooner was born weighing 13 pounds and was thought to be stillborn until his grandmother doused him with water?" And then Jim said something like, "No, that was broth." And a moment later, "Nana, why are there pearl onions in his bassinet?!" And a moment later, "Thanksgiving is coming, and he looks hardy!"

See, I can�t explain it. At one point, everyone in the room was crying with laughter. Crying with laughter is one of my favorite things.

One of the presents I tossed into his b-day gift bag was a Magic Growing Lobster (little plastic lobster that�s supposed to grow in water) that I�d purchased a few weeks ago in Boston. I actually bought 10 of them at �99 apiece, since those are the sorts of cheesy gifts that provide hours of entertainment. And that�s what it did. First, we were entertained by the packaging that said something like "Magic grows to 600% times!" among other poorly translated phrases. (It was made in Taiwan.) Then we were entertained by how the magic did not grow to any % times. No % times at all. The thing stayed the same size, even overnight. Twenty-four hours after we immersed the damn magic lobster in water, Jim shouted, "What does this thing matter, anyway?! I mean, imagine all the work that went into producing and delivering this dumb thing!" And we discussed all the steps: A mold probably had to be made at a factory in Taiwan. Taiwan doesn�t have many wood-like resources, so they had to import the cardboard part of the packaging. Someone had to write the terrible packaging text. So, the thing had to be produced, was probably shipped into the U.S. via the L.A. harbor (which is really Long Beach), and was then shipped to New England. Erik and I flew to New England for vacation, made the purchase, then brought it right back to Long Beach and drove it up to Central California to deliver it as a gift. And it doesn�t even work. Oh, the miracles of free trade.

Jim and Pen are very, very far to the left politically. We always end up bashing Bush and talking about The Big Picture. Every time I�m around them, I�m reminded of how little it takes to be happy. They�ve chosen to live at a really slow pace and are content. I don't think I could do it, but it's inspirational anyway. They subscribe to Harper�s, the Atlantic Monthly, the New Yorker, and they both read every one from cover to cover. They go for walks every evening. Pen is an amazing cook. I always feel wasteful and scatterbrained around them; they�re so cerebral and centered and content. And Pen is such a great mother. She has the kind of devotion that it takes to be a great mother. When we went out to eat, she focused all her attention on the baby, didn�t participate in the conversation, just made sure the baby was well behaved and happy. And when we went adventuring, she stayed home. Her life revolves around the child. I don�t think I have that chip.


<< Previous - Next >>

here are some words |older words |say hi |here i am |the land

art by Ida

design by K. Maria