Sunday, December 25, 2011

December 25 - Break Forth O Beauteous

 
The sun arises on old and new,


commemorating birth and solstice,


and we're up, thanks to Claire,


for the gifts of the day


(so much for peace on earth, with some assembly required).


The festivities occurring early, Tisha and Tom retire once more, while Harriet and Claire spend time together -- a perfect cue to take a Christmas adventure


down 


Walla


Walla


Valley


to


the



Horse Heaven


Hills


and


Wallula


Gap,


where the sun


breaks forth beauteously


over


Twin Sisters,


Port


Kelly


and


the


western walls


on the way


south past


Spring Gulch


and the


Oregon border to


Juniper Canyon,


for a walk,


well-bundled (hat, five coats, socks for mittens, two pairs of pants) and stretched in the car's reflection against the


incredible cold


to


the


first


large


namesakes

 
shivering


in the wetlands


and


clinging to the


north-facing slopes.


Mission


accomplished,

 
as


low stratus begins sweeping in from the west,


it's


time


to


reverse


course


to


Wallula Junction,


then head further north


and east,


via


124


for


a


looping


looksee


at the Burbank Flats,


Blue


Mountains,


Touchet


River


Valley,


and


Prescott --


on


the


way


to


Waitsburg,


visited


two summers


ago with a


destination of


lunch at the


Mexican restaurant.


From here,



south


on


12


through Dixie,


completing the


rough rectangle


back to


point of origin.


Arrive


just in time for


departure to head across town to meet


Tom's 


children


and


more


relatives --


one


newcomer,


Jim (ex's mother's beau), being a particularly engaging co-conversationist, who grew up in nearby Dayton (just beyond the day's itinerary) and has lived large in the west (California, Montana, Canada, Utah).


After fine chats and a filling meal (ham, turkey, and all da trimmins),


we


return to Tisha's.


The ladies read runes


and


climb


walls


while


Christmas Day


phone calls are made in the


setting sun.

Playlist on the road is all definitive George Crumb (truly by 1963 a "niño busca su voz"), including

Night Music I
Madrigals, I-IV
Echoes of Time and the River
Night of the Four Moons
Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death
Ancient Voices of Children
Black Angels



Videos during the celebrations include

The Search for Santa Paws
Twilight Zone: Night of the Meek



Giacomo Rossini - The Barber of Seville