Bubble, Bubble, Toil and Trouble

The worst gift someone I knew received was a bunch of work-out clothes and a step aerobics video. The gift was from her dad and when she was opening them he said, Now you can do something about that ass of yours. Merry Christmas, baby! Gifts are a reflection of ourselves, our feelings, who we are, and our sense of the other person -- it's a lot to pin on something you pick up while manically searching Target on the Thursday before Christmas. New couples are in a particular bind having to face the Where are we in the relationship question? A student once told me she received a scrapbook from her boyfriend forecasting every event of their lives together and even putting pictures of their "children" (computer-simulated versions of what these gremlins might look like) and ending with matching tombstones. I suppose now that you can buy coffins at Costco, a dreary journey in a dreary place (who can possibly face those industrial-sized jars of peanut butter?), he could have even gone so far as to put a down payment on their future.

Although when you've been with someone a long time, it's still tough -- you've run out of all the cool stuff that you know they'll love. I once had a boyfriend who bought multiple copies of The Love Poems of Kenneth Patchen for gifts. Every time he saw one used, he'd purchase it to squirrel away for his next new love even while with his current love, i.e., me. The poems are all about how Patchen's wife is the only one for him and other such pablum. I have my copy that I received with great excitement, especially when he said he needed to take it back so he could write something "personal" in it. My heart leapt with joy. Something personal! Mind you, this was a man of few words so any words were welcome. I took the book back and sat down on my bed to read it. It said "Enjoy." That's it. I shook off my disappointment and laughed out loud. Enjoy, indeed. I hope everyone who got a copy did and does. Who says you can't step into the same river twice?

Michelle's Spell of the Day

"It's strange how the simple things in life go on while we become more difficult." Richard Brautigan

Cocktail Hour

I never realized how lovely tequila could be since most of my early experience was with El Torro! And those horrible bottles of mix with tequila already in them. I'm all for time-saving devices, but this is drinking, people! Have you no pride? If you're that eager to get the drink down your gullet, you need to reevaluate your priorities. This said, I never realized that certain tequilas could be sipped as they are so very smooth. My suggestion for this is Milagro. It means miracle in Spanish, and I'm not inclined to disagree.

Benedictions and Maledictions

Happy Sunday!