Life and Stuff

The sun is shining brightly outside my office window today, and we recently had a fluke warm front that melted a significant amount of our snow.  It’s one of those days when I’m reminded of the joys of living here, among intelligent, hard-working people with respect for each others’ individuality.  Later this week, however, temperatures are again forecast to plunge into the teens, and yet another snowstorm will arrive.  It will be more difficult then to recall why I’ve not relocated to a warmer, easier climate.  Yet I know one of my neighbors will snow-blow my driveway while I’m at work, and another might ask that I join his family gathering around their fireplace, and my love for the New England winter will promptly return.

If I was presented with the opportunity to have lunch with any three people, I would choose James Madison (primary author of the U.S. Constitution), George Washington (leader of the Constitutional Convention), and John Roberts (current Chief Justice of the Supreme Court).  Modern day judges have nothing but speculation of our founding fathers’ intentions upon which to base today’s court decisions.  It would be truly fascinating if a representative from our current age could probe the original authors’ motivations and clarify the interpretations of the Constitution as it is applied today.  It would also be astounding to hear Madison and Washington’s perspectives on current issues that they could never have foreseen, such as the widespread use of various technologies.

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It’s simple for me to state my favorite food and drink, as they’re the same thing: ice cream.  Growing up, I lived half a mile from an ice cream stand with the most incredible selection of flavors and the hugest serving sizes.  Having ice cream for dinner (or any meal for that matter) was perfectly normal for me.  My love for the dessert persists, and I feel that ice cream suits any hunger or thirst situation.  If I’m stressed out, I eat a bowl, and if it’s a hot day, I go for a cone.  The beverage form, a shake, is perfect for a sore throat or for any time I need something easier to eat (like if I’m driving).

I’m one of two children, and my younger brother and I get along very well.  We certainly had our share of arguments growing up, but never anything that went beyond a “Mom, he hit me!” or “Dad, she stole my toy!”  As adults, we have a good relationship that achieves a good balance of closeness (thanks to email) and distance (thanks to the fact that we live several hours apart from each other).  My parents were high school sweethearts and remain happily married to this day.  Frankly, it all seems a little dull – I remember actually envying my friends with divorced parents when I was younger because that meant they got two bedrooms, two sets of gifts at holidays, etc.!