Convenience

     There are benefits to living in the city. Things are close. We have every store you could want. There are two large airports within 30 miles. Diversity of peoples is fantastic. International people live in the neighborhood, even in our building, and others attend our church.

     Candace, Jedidiah and I went to the mall tonight to redeem some gift-cards. I don’t usually think this, but tonight I thought, “I do not like the mall.” I used to really love the mall. But I don’t like the mall right now. And not just because it’s busy and people are crazy. No, I think it has to do with taking another look at capitalism, and obligatory gift giving, and fair trade, and teenagers with a sense of entitlement, and on and on.

     We are addicted to comfort. Convenience is why some people move to the city. The rural people we used to live among would dream big about one day having an Olive Garden. They would love the variety of restaurants I can walk to on a lunch break. I love that too. And also, I don’t love that. Simplicity in this time and place is counter-cultural.

 

     In other (perhaps more interesting) news: We were very privileged to travel to Tampa to see Josh’s folks and grand folks and brother and sister and other McCallister-like folk. We had a traditional thanksgiving, starting with the parade, and separating kids and adults for the meal (4 out of 5 “kids” are married, the other is manager of a bank in San Diego) – we were forced to use plastic-ware and paper plates while the over 50 crowd used the china… 

Following the meal we had the traditional Thanksgiving gift-exchange (not going to see these people at Christmas). Merrpy Thanksmas!