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It's a new month, a new season. I should have something new to say. But surprise, I don't. I just drove home on Friday night and barely got my cards in the mail on Saturday, so with luck, they'll be distributed before Thursday. There were a lot of people I'd have liked to send my holiday greetings to, but I didn't know where to send them. I considered making an e-card of my own design and sending it along with a quick little blurb about what I've been doing. Yes, a Christmas letter. But then I thought how so many people feel like mass mailings are impersonal and that the annual holiday letter is just gloating about all of the great things that happened. So as of today, (Monday, December 22nd) I'm not going to do it. On the one hand, I still want to send out a greeting to everyone, but I don't want them to be all bah humbug about it.
Personally, I appreciate any sort of notice from anyone. Whether it be an amusing photo or a questionaire or a dumb joke. Okay, maybe not so much the dumb jokes, but I really do appreciate when someone sends a quick update on what they're doing and where they are. With everyone graduating and moving out into the grown-up world, I love to hear from anyone who's willing to take the time to write it, even if it means I'm one of twenty recipients.
This morning there was a a substantial (6.5 magnitude) earthquake centered around San Simeon. I quickly went to my computer and checked http://earthquake.usgs.gov/ for the magnitude and exact time and location. Indeed, I am a nerd. I have the site bookmarked. Over the course of the day the news spread. The local midday news had reporters out everywhere, checking with the Office of Emergency Services and researching the damage. By early afternoon it had made news on MSNBC and CNBC. They said that buildings in LA were damaged by the quake, but I find that hard to believe. They must have been on their last legs and rather than repairing it themselves, they blame it on an earthquake and collect insurance. Yes, I'm pessimistic.
There's been a video clip of one building in downtown Paso Robles circling the news stations. The whole building was flattened, causing two casualties. Dan Green says that this is the largest earthquake to hit the state since a 7.1 in the deserts around Joshua Tree National Park four years ago. At least most cities have been undertaking seismic retrofitting to reinforce buildings and overpasses so the damage wasn't as great as it could have been. I hope everyone in San Luis is okay.
With that, I think I've written enough. School starts again on Tuesday, January 20th, so I'll be around until that weekend. I don't know who else if anyone, will be home, but I'll see who I can round up for a possible evening jaunt out. I know it's terribly cliched, but this season really makes me appreciate everything and everyone I have. So if the only way I can contact you is through a mass mailing or a proposed gathering, so be it. One of these days, when I try, things will work out. Whether it be in one year or five, I'll eventually do it. Until that day comes, I hope that all of our ties stay bound and that you have the Merriest of Christmases and Happiest of New Years.
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