As my first Christmas in Arizona winds down, I reflect on how it is different and in some ways the same as many other Christmases I have celebrated... I did not have a tree this year (with all the "stuff" I brought with me, I just couldn't bring some other "stuff" into the apartment right away)... I will have a tree eventually (did anyone hear "after Christmas sale"?) but not at the moment... This is one of the first years, in a long time, where I actually got to spend Christmas at home...(of course I moved 2500 miles away to accomplish that feat). I did miss seeing family and friends but I reached out by phone and text message to a lot of people... It was tough being alone for the Holidays, but I knew this going into the adventure. It is one of the non-perks about moving so far away... however, as most of you know, barring my painful shyness, I hope to have a mess of new friends by this time next year... And don't worry, nobody is getting replaced... My friends in the East will always be my friends, no matter how many miles I put between us...
I took the Jeep around yesterday and today and did some exploring a little further out from the homebase. Tempe and the area around ASU is really pretty and all decked out for the Holidays... It sort of reminded me of my situation...the kid that stays at school while everyone else goes home for Christmas break... ASU looked like a ghost town, but it'll be hopping next week when the Fiesta Bowl Parade and the Fiesta Bowl itself are played...There be plenty of Ohio State and Texas fans in town also for the game...
The weather has been fairly crappy the last week or so...overcast and rain mostly with temperatures in the 50's (don't go sending more snow pictures and wind chill reports, please!)...All the natives keep telling me that in the summertime I will wish the weather was like it is now (I don't know--I like the heat---I say "bring it on!")...I have started running again this week, baby steps to see how the knees hold up, but it sure is good to get back out there...( 2 miles to Dunkin' Donuts and a pleasant walk back with my cup of joe)...
The weather and the palm trees are probably the most difficult to relate to Christmas...It just too nice to be December 25, although it was warmer in Virginia today... And do you know how difficult it is to decorate a palm tree with Christmas lights?
But all these things aside, I'd say my first Christmas here was a good one... The meal I prepared was very good and I did not poison myself...(always a plus). My apartment is shaping up better and better every day... Good things are still happening to the "Arizona Kid" or "Cactus Jim" as one of my cousins dubbed me... Yeah, I think I'm going to stay here a little while longer...
Merry Christmas and God Bless you and your families
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