To Sleep, Perchance

I write from Brookhaven, PA, where a plurality of Zach's family has gathered for a very secular and predominantly gustatory Christmas celebration. Other than a couple of quick overnights upstate, this is the first time we've been away from home together since school began in early August, and the company and change of scene have been as restorative as I'd hoped.

We're staying with Zach's older brother, Cyrus; his wife, Caroline; our nephew, Ben, age five; and our niece, Madeleine, age two. Zach's mother, Rosemary, is here, too. It's the first time I've gotten to see everyone since the summer. Zach's sister, Torre, called from Tasmania, where she and her husband, Ed, are vacationing after an expedition to Antarctica (nice work if you can get it!). We toasted Zach's father, Barry, who we hope was looking down on us with satisfaction.

The Brookhaven Knowers live in a wonderful house, with a great big kitchen we envy and a wood stove that makes for the coziest of mornings, afternoons, and evenings. We had a most leisurely and indulgent day that included, in my case, never getting out of my pajamas. That seemed appropriate—after sleeping in this morning, I gave Maddie a run for her money with two separate naps later in the day (one induced by the wickedly potent Knower family eggnog). It didn't quite make up for the all-nighters of the past semester, but it was a nice start. Another cup of eggnog later, and I'm off to slumberland again. Aaahh.