side ventures

On the last day of the year I winterized my house. A quilt hung over the big bedroom window and pages from old MCC calendars taped over the bathroom door vent. The kindergartners had New Year's performances, so I got to sleep into the dense morning fog. At midnight we toasted Karen with Phil's crappy sweet red wine. We sang Auld Lang Syne, badly, in the hallway, a terror, as always, to our neighbors. Then we sent Shelley off to party like a cool kid and we watched a movie. 

On the first day of the year there was sun, and groups of fathers and children playing badminton by the empty apartments. It's good to be a teacher, we all say. Two long vacations a year, and the work in between still leaves you plenty of time to hang out with your family. Or possibly open a business on the side. 

Fish was to come to Nanchong at Christmas. Then it was New Year's, then today. He called yesterday afternoon to push it to Friday. He'll spend his real two days off helping a friend. Something about preparation for the graduate entrance exam. He'll have to take two extra days off from work, but this is the friend who gave him answers so he could pass the dentist licensing exam.