i’ve been having a difficult time with some friends here, but

my recent visit home for the holidays has gifted me many blessings. i was reminded the privilege of having a large family within reaching (even walking) distance, and although my cousins and i had no choice but to squeeze a 5:00am secret santa for sake of everyone’s presence, it shows how difficult party planning can be nowadays — and how much we love each other. my lawd, and how my cousins have grown — seeing them felt like a break in the linearity of time — like a fast forward feature. i think having my own kids would be the biggest trip.

speaking of trips,

i made pot brownies for the first time with my fam. to me, it was the best celebration and symbol of the end of prohibition, and the liberation of a highly controversial and medicinal plant (i discuss this topic often, very hot topic nowadays).

all of the lovely greetings and graces have fluffed me with love for the people and place that raised me. for context, there’s always been a division between my nuclear and extended family over the holiday time. something my dad doesn’t appreciate about spending time with the entire family, i guess, and it’s resulted to the most random and undesiring annual dinners. i won’t get too far, it gets sad. the last few holiday dinners, however, we’ve been having fancy sushi at a local joint thanks to my dad’s affair for free giveaways from those awful timeshare meetings. this is our 3rd year in, we’re now holiday regulars, and the business owners love us. this new trend has also healed many anxieties of my past, and adds to why the recent holiday is blog-worthy.

there was simply not enough time to spend this past holiday for me. and i’d be damned if i repeated planning such a short trip. thanks, fam.