Back from Middle Earth

Every few years, I take a couple of days and watch the entire extended cut of the Lord of the Rings films. It's such an indulgence. I get a long, satisfying visit with old friends (characters of course, and lines of dialog, and gorgeous scenery, and bits of action I particularly love) and discover new things each time. I cry most of the way through the last film. The Greeks knew a thing or two about catharsis. Now that I have a bit more skill at the piano, I want to spend a day playing Chopin.

This time had its own particular delights. Daughter Rose and Marcie had gone out of town, so I did cat care and got to use their huge and gorgeous TV system. (Mine is ancient but not quite paleozooic and does the glare thing.) My friend Tanja, who's staying with us for the rest of the year, came too. We figured out how to get a fire going in the wood stove, petted and fed the cats, and settled down with cups of tea to hours of delight. Neither of us is into "running commentary" but when we broke for lunch (and to change discs -- the system runs through a PS3, in which I am not at all fluent) we'd discuss and enthuse.

Now I'm in re-entry mode, with a little sadness-in-parting. A little piece of me wants to watch it all over again. Give it a few years, Deborah.