I chose my vacation time for this past holiday season based on a rare alignment of planets. Well, alignment of people. It was going to be the first time that all the original core members of Bob Spelled Backwards, in addition to some of the essential newer participants, were all in the same place at the same time in several years. Every year there is a partial gathering, including one 2 years ago that included everyone but me. It stung to miss that one. In the ensuing 2 years our circle had grown considerably. Jesse had gotten married, and he and his wife, Sam (whom I've also known for a long time), had a child about a year ago. Josh married Colette, who I dig. Allen got engaged to a girl who's name I embarrasingly don't remember. Carrie, I think it is? Mike is even engaged to Maria. That leaves me and Reuben as the remaining bastions of solitude. Of course, Chris and Kelley were married years ago, and were also the first to produce offspring, Darby, who is a delightfully weird girl. This is not surprising considering her delightfully weird parents. (Yes, Darby, weird is a compliment coming from me, who wants to be normal?)

When I was waiting to get on the plane on the 29th, I started calling the guys just to finalize some plans when I found out that Mike's dad had passed away the day before. Needless to say this changed the complexion of our New Years plans. He had been sick for some time with a rare liver condition and never got the transplant he needed. It was comforting to know that he was at home with his family and that Mike did get to see him shortly before he passed.

Have you ever been to a New Years party that doubled as a wake? That was strange and fun and sad at the same time. It was what his dad would've wanted, lots of obnoxious loud music and obnoxious drunk people. I pointed out that his dad's timing, while seemingly bad on the surface, coming during the holidays and all, was actually quite brilliant, seeing as how his family was all still in town from xmas, and that all of Mike's friends were all together for the first time in ages, and could all be there for him. I told him that his father's timing of his death was his last gift to his family. Mike's mother, Jan, was awesome. I talked more with her that evening than I had during the rest of the time I've known her combined. At times, I almost felt guilty for having a good time, but I kept reminding myself that this was a celebration of Bill Shaffer, and that the funeral would be later, sadness could be saved for that. As should be expected, spontaneous a capella Bob songs erupted. A drunken Josh would not be denied, and we were more than happy to oblige. And, for the first time in my life, in honor of Bill Shaffer, I did a shot. (Shhh. Don't tell anyone).  It had to be the strangest new year of my life. I was with the people I wanted to be with, but under tragic circumstances. Nevertheless, we were all glad to see each other.

Most of my plans for the vacation were shuffled, altered, or otherwise cancelled, so I could hang around the hometown and be there to take Mike out every night, and on a couple of day trips, so he could get away from all the family stuff. It's not like this was a chore for me, I haven't gotten to spend this much time with Mike since we last lived together nearly a decade ago. We went out to Chris and Kelley's for an evening, and up to Boone for a day. Much fun.

The rest of my vacation consisted of 2 more trips to Statesville to see Chris and Kelley, one more day trip to Boone, and a stopover in Raleigh, along with A LOT of Greensboro. I got to spend several evenings with Josh, which was a rare treat, being that he lives in Hong Kong. One of the trips to Statesville was for the Mitchells' New Years Eve Eve party, the day after I got there. With Allen and fiance, and Josh and wife in tow. Well I guess I was in tow with Allen, since he drove.

One of the things I was looking forware upon returning to North Carolina in January from Southern California was actually experiencing some WINTER. Unfortunately, I was denied this simple hope. It stayed in the 60's most of my visit. The lone exception was my second day trip to Boone, a day after they'd had a snowstorm. It was nice to be cold again. Ahhhh. Pictures are here: www.fotolog.net/ambnibdai. As usual, I reluctantly returned from my visit to my homestate with fantasies about returning. I would very much love living near Chris and Kelley. I would most like to live in Asheville, the city that most closely matches everything I want in a place to live. But one thing I learned to appreciate upon speaking with my friends about jobs and such is that I have a great job with a great company working with people I like. And I have the greatest work schedule imaginable, something I'll never have again if I give up this job. And Mike has me half convinced to move to Colorado. Although I still maintain that I want to leave San Diego, I'm not going to move somewhere without a good reason to be there, like I did when I moved to San Diego, because I don't want to have to move yet again after that. Let's hope that 2007 gives me an answer to this question....