Though this break is an active one, it’s amazing how much extra sitting around there is. Even with a job as low in physicality as ours, we are often up and down and moving about, even if it’s just to the lunch room to check on the treats status. Now, if we aren’t doing something specifically athletic,we are probably sitting. We were sitting as we listened to a podcast on the perils of chairs and sitting. General doughy-ness is setting in. I may have to rig a standing control center for driving. There is certainly ample room. I am, fortunately, away from the chocolate and baked goods fest that is the Christmas season at the cancer clinic. The staff that remain will be amazed to see how much they get to enjoy with me not wolfing it all down.

Telluride provided the fresh snow we desired and the storm abated in time to let the state clear the highways, allowing us to get us to Denver without worry. Spectacular driving. Well, the scenery was spectacular; the driving was just adequate.

We went directly to Earthroamer Headquarters and snuck the camper in between a few others for a quiet night, camouflaged in the parking lot.

We were happy to abandon the truck for a 6 and (early, due to unrelenting abuse) 12 month tune up and to repair a few fiddly things. I am amazed I haven’t wrecked something major yet. Anyone who’s watched me with rented sports equipment will be equally surprised. It was an admitted relief to be in the city without it. My fear of crushing a Smart Car was stronger than I’d realized.

The following night we had an incredible dinner with a med school classmate, Kim B.and his splendid wife Mona and one of his splendid children. Wonderful to see that none of us had aged a minute in the 21–odd years since we last saw each other.

The next night was an NBA game, played with ennui until the last five minutes (go figure) and then excellent. Then a flight to Vancouver, some hugs, some family hanging around, lots of bridge and then a tree decorating evening to give my sister some Christmas action before she heads off for a Christmas-avoiding holiday. We Skyped in to the cookie decorating party we’ve enjoyed since reproducing. Brenda felt like she was right there with everyone while Garth felt Skype-akward but it was lovely to see everyone.

We had dinner out with friend Dave and his Best Girl Colette.You will remember him from his breaking his neck a few postings ago. He is 10 days out of his brace now (now only wearing it to access handicapped parking stalls and to elicit sympathy from cute waitresses) and is veritably tearing his way back to doing all the things he loves. It’s all very inspiring and I would be very glad to approach life like he does, except for the crash-into-a-car part. The night before that was a great beer (as defined by the situation in which any old beer is consumed) with Nels and Mel, Victoria friends who, I rightly guessed, were passing through enroute to Christmas in their old city of Vernon. More inspiration as Mel manages to be very funny while remaining impossibly glamorous and Nelson is enthusiastic about all and sundry and her equal in brightandfunny.

Christmas is here in Vancouver, then Brenda has a quick trip to Edmonton to see her family and we meet in Denver on New Year’s eve to re-start the journey with a Cracker/Camper van Beethoven concert (woohoo). Snow seems to be piling up all over Colorado and Utah so we should be knee deep for a few months.

It has been very nice, being able to keep in touch with everyone with these updates and we appreciate the feedback, though I just delete all the critical stuff unread.

As much as we’re enjoying ourselves, we genuinely miss everyone very much.

Our hopes are for peace and compassion and warmth for you all as you nestle in the bosom of your loved ones this Christmas (or Christmas season, accordingly).