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
