I have returned from a Christmas trip to Baltimore. Abby and I flew there to see her daughter Chele, husband Tom, and our grandson Paul, who is about to turn six.
The first couple of days were a little rough, as both Chele and I were nursing head colds, and Paul brought home a stomach bug that both Tom and Chele caught, but by Christmas Eve we were all feeling much better and had a great time.
The delay forced Tom and me to shop on Christmas Eve, which I hadn’t done in years, and it was as crowded and chaotic as you can imagine.
Medical Note: My cold didn’t seem to hang on as long as some have in the past, and I think part of that might be that I used a cough medicine called benzonatate (brand name Tessalon) that was very effective and allowed me to sleep through the nights.
The day after Christmas we all went for breakfast at the Bel-Loc Diner, a lovely Baltimore fixture which we have enjoyed since Chele and Tom’s wedding in March 2009. Abby and I were sad to learn that the Bel-Loc is slated to be replaced by a Starbucks. We enjoyed and relished our last breakfast there.
Trouble in Twos: Two weeks ago, the windshield on Tom’s Subaru Forester was broken by a flying rock. Since the crack spread, he had to replace the windshield. On Christmas Day, on the same highway, another flying rock broke the new windshield in the same spot. Fortunately, this time the crack didn’t spread, and he was able to get it repaired.
Later in the day we saw Rogue One: a Star Wars Story. Last year we saw Star Wars: The Force Awakens in a nearly-empty matinee, but because Chele had to work this year, we saw Rogue One in a packed theater. Despite the long lines, we all had a great time at the movie, which Tom, who is a lifelong Star Wars fan, and I discussed at length.
Spoiler alert: Less than 24 hours after seeing Rogue One, in which we see a digitally-young Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia Organa, we received word that Carrie Fisher died.
My Southwest Airlines flight home went without a hitch. Abby, who is now retired, won’t return for another few days.
As always, a great piece and a nice holiday treat. Um …. more photos?
As to Rogue One: it’s so bad-ass, so spectacularly successful on every level (but especially that of story) that is makes Star Wars: Episode IV, the ORIGINAL Star Wars … its SEQUEL. Amazing.
By the way, it took me about five minutes to figure out where you were in relation to the plane’s wing to get that photo from that angle. Very nice.
I’m getting me an “It’s Hard to be the Bard ” Something Rotten tee shirt. I did go see two movies though. I saw Lala Land and It’s a Wonderful Life.
I saw two plays too. Something Rotten and Perfect Crime.