. .prosodic arson. . . . . . .(header pic tribute to Zilon).

I am 'home" for Xmas. Visiting my parents that is to say and back in my home town (the one that I have lived in the longest at least). It has really got me thinking about the concept of home and what it means to me. For the past 4 years, as far as I can remember, I have been in South Africa over the Xmas holiday visiting, with my parents, the rest of our relatives. I'd like to say that it is there where I feel most at home yet staying in other people's houses, family or not, and living on top of them just takes away from the idea, even though it is the greatest feeling to be there this time of year. Still, it is strange to be in Canada, once again, over December shovelling snow and layering to keep warm. I love the snow and have missed it these past few years, leaving the country with a sky preparing to fall and returning to a blanketed ground. But I suppose you trade one good thing for the next.
Moving along with the concept of home, I think it has become a fairly foreign concept to me (in the physical form). While I'm not the most nomadic of all, I have spent the better part of my childhood hopping from place to place and in new light of college, fires and, hopefully, soon to be university, the whole cycle has begun again. home has become a myth that floats about the air of the people that I hold close and dear. That's where I find my home. Finnie, Simon, my mother and father, all my wonderful aunties and cousins, my new friends at Sheridan and all my old friends who are home for the week, once very close or not even that much at all. Home is about being with all these people, rekindling old lost friendships, giving effort and appreciation. I'm getting pretty nostalgic here but I often wonder where I would be without even just one of these people.

So, lastnight I went to the bar to meet with some old schoole friends and have a drink. Turns out it was an organized event for recent Ridley College alumni and a good 50+ of my old piers turned up. Drinks were free so no complaints were voiced and I actually stayed until 2:30. I remember feeling extremely overwhelmed, taken by surprise having not readied myself for so many old new faces, but I was pleasantly surprised. All the good kids came out of the woodwork lastnight. I hade long conversations with people I barely talked to in highschool and rediscovered an old world in a very new and far more positive way. I also met a tall Texan girl who was staying with Martine. There's just something about that subtle accent. Here's to new friends and here's to the old!

I had so many premonitions for this break: I knew I would get myself into trouble, which I have, I knew it would be strange not seeing most of my family and then leaving for Florida before I could even blink and I knew I would have to endure endless explanations of my recent, aghem, endeavors and stand being the centre of many a wise cracks that which there have been no end. But after having experienced last night I am in good spirits and shall embrace it for the season. I have seen more friends than i had ever expected and I think I'll manage to get myself out of troubloe before the new year just so that I can start afresh and get myself into some more.
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I could write so much more as the past few days have been ridiculously eventful but I should think I'll leave it at this and take my exit now. Much love to all!
(Elizabeth, I'm so jealous that you get to go snowboarding and in such newfound style!)