May all your winter holidays be as warm and bright as mine

[gerisullivan]

Twenty-six years ago, today, willshetterly and coffeeem called and asked if I'd like to drive to Menominee to help rescue Jerry Boyjian, dd_b, and pameladean. Their van had broken down on the freeway in the bitter cold of the night before, and they were holed up at the appropriately-named Holiday Inn.

I needed to wrap Christmas presents, and thought they meant the Menominee in Michigan, but I still said "sure, I'm in." It turned out to be the much closer Menominee, the one in Wisconsin, but icy roads kept our speed in the 20-25 mph range and the expedition proved an adventuresome way to spend pretty much the entirety of Christmas Eve day. Jan Appelbaum, Karen Johnson, and I brought Jerry to Minneapolis while Will & Emma took Pamela and David down to Northfield.

I have presents that need wrapping this year, too, and I'm about to set out for Menominee, WI, and points well beyond it. There's probably even snow falling from Black River Falls all the way into Chicago, but I'll be warm and bright all the way there because I'm carrying the sun in my car.

Many thanks to galaticvoyeur and mmagidow for rescuing the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars from the back yard of Toad Hall in the spring of 2004 and giving pieces of the sculpture a haven ever since. Many thanks to davidschroth for providing the quick and ready helping hand that Jeff said to bring this morning.

Perspective makes such a difference. I drove on this trip specifically so I could bring the sun back to Toad Woods with me at the end of the trip. The storms and brutal cold prevented the Sunday pick-up I had hoped to make, and it was in doubt until this morning whether it would come east with me at all. Now that it's safely in my car, I find I don't mind the prospect of today's drive nearly as much as I did when I thought I'd be making it sunless.

May the sun's warmth and brightness lighten these last 7 days of 2008, and all the days that follow in 2009 and long beyond even that improbable year.

(2009? How the heck did that get so close? And how did 1982 come to be 26 years ago?)

Much love, all around, forever. (For human values of forever, anyway.) The sun makes that possible. That, and so much more.

Comments

[elisem.livejournal.com]

Geri carries the sun!

(I once made a pendant called "Rhino Carries the Moon." I think that you carrying the sun is a beautiful piece of poetic counterpoint.)

Here are some hugs for your journey, and much love. No matter how fully packed the car is, I bet they'll fit.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Geri always carries the sun in her smile.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

(So what does it mean when I blush?)

Many thanks.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Y'know, I've never before considered hugs, large quantities of love, and Jell-O to be all that similar, but you were absolutely right -- there was plenty of room for your gifts in the car. Thank you!

[pameladean]

I was thinking of that just the other day! It was inexpressibly good to see all your shining faces. I had totally spaced that that was the year we drove out here to get married. In fact, I'm not completely sure it was, because I thought we had a full van that year, not just David and Jerry and me. But I could be mixed up.

I'm very sorry I missed all your gatherings this visit, and wish you a quick and easy trip wherever, as the airlines used to say, your final destination may take you.

P.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

I might be off a year, but I thought it was the winter that Jan and I lived in the little house on Oakland, the winter before we bought Toad Hall. It was early days in my fannish calendar, that's for sure.

I waived friendly greetings as I passed by Blaisdell Poly during trips between Larry's and visiting Gavi and her parents. If I am ever nuts enough to visit Minnesota in December again, I will endeavor to stay at least through Christmas and Boxing Day. I'm really sorry I can't be in at least three places at once this particular Christmas Day.

[daedala.livejournal.com]

Hooray!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Hip hip!

[netmouse.livejournal.com]

Do let me know when you're in range of me. Would love to see you. Travel safe!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

December 27th or the 28th are most likely. You'll be at a wedding the night of the 27th, IIRC. I have several hours of work I have to do sometime, and am booked with family the 25th and 26th.

I'll be in touch when I know more. I'd love to see you, too!

[elaine-brennan.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad that you've got your sun with you, and I look forward to seeing it in its new place and incarnation.

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Thank you!

I'm having fun considering where to put it.

[coffeeem.livejournal.com]

Oh, that brings back wonderful memories and associations!

And just as the canoe-paddlers bring the sun to shore every spring across Powderhorn Park Lake, you'll carry it east, so it can rise where it's meant to and bring the spring. Safe travels and joyful holidays!

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Speaking of wonderful memories and associations! Thank you!

[mjlayman.livejournal.com]

Do you have pictures of the Sun, the Moon, and the Stars?

(What a great memory!)

[gerisullivan.livejournal.com]

Yes, but I don't think any are in digital form.

There's a black and white photo of the sculpture on the inside back cover of Tor's trade papeback edition of the book that inspired me to commission it. (Steven Brust's inaugural Fairy Tales book from ace.)