It was this time of year back in 2006 that I first met Daniel's family. We had been dating since April. A beautiful romance that had blossomed through train rides to San Francisco, road trips to Mexico, and emails and postcards sent from Croatian islands and Prague pubs as I backpacked on a prior-to-meeting-him European adventure.
Finally, I was flying into the blue desert valley of a Vegas at winter to "meet the parents" (and sister). Daniel and I held hands and walked into the Bellagio to find his familial trio near the dangling glass flowers. We feasted on the elaborate buffet and I watched in awe as Annalisa piled a Rockett-sized ensemble of crab legs on her plate. I think she only ate crab legs. Neighboring children from the family next to us screamed and climbed behind Ma's head on the booth ledge...their feet occasionally kicking her. We all sat stunned with judgement (which I maintain is still justified) and in awe at how horribly they were allowed to behave. They did; however, in hindsight, provide a distracting backdrop to fill in any awkward silences.
We then walked through the winter wonderland that only a Vegas casino can provide.
Five winters later, Vegas still stuns me with her winter landscape...completely unlike both my urban LA home and snowy memories of a Northwest childhood. Nora's chest rattles with the second day of a chest cold. Daniel and I each sniffle and snort and snot through the beginning of our own pair of matching colds. Thus, I am able to blissfully post for the third time in three days.
Here are the striking photos of yesterday's walk in the desert scape behind my in-laws house. Stark in forms, rich in blue and sand and sky, cracked earth and one colorful explorer.
Guten Tag und viele liebe Gruesse aus Luxemburg, meine Tochter und ich wuensche Ihnen und Ihren lieben Familielle Happy New Year xxxx
Posted by: Erica | January 04, 2012 at 01:40 PM