Here's me embracing the New Year:

What is it like to progress?  In which areas is that welcome?  I've been pondering such questions lately.  The fodder was everything from the direction of personal relationships to this head cold threatening to settle in.  In lieu of contemplating that more here, I will cover Christmas week.  I had written a whole lot, with details, of Dave's & my trip to Houston.  I think I'll downsize it and share some visuals.

We had a great time!  It was satisfying to both get what we wanted out of the trip.  I wanted to get to know some of his family and for them to know me and me to know Dave as well.  When we didn't run in different directions after landing back in DC, I knew it was a good sign.  ;)
I felt very welcomed and like I could easily fit in and see us having a family with kids & hanging out with them all.  :0  But it also reaffirmed some things I've always wanted, such as a welcoming home open to guests.

Although we spent most of the time in Houston, we also took a side-trip to San Antonio w/ Dave's bro and sis-in-law.  It was the most fun I've had in a while.  They're pictured above, but since I didn't ask permission to do so, I hope the obscure nature of the pics is discretion enough.  The one with lights is Riverwalk.  The other is in a cave!
Continuing clockwise, you will find evidence of our Armand Nature (bayou?) visit.  It may have been the most perfect date I've been on.  It was also very sunny, especially reflecting off the water.  Later that day, we continued hanging out w/ a cousin of his and her family at Kemah (harbor city), eating at the Aquarium (where he befriended this shark).  That day, we also checked out that rocket at NASA.

"Turtles and other wild creatures do not prosper on potato
chips, bread or other food anymore than humans do.  Please do not
feed the turtles in the pond, as they have plenty of
nutritious natural foods available to them."

You know the feeling of a strong lack of something?  That's what I'm experiencing right now.  I'm not sure where my head cold is hiding now, but my nose & throat seem perfectly clear.  On the opposite side of things, do you know the feeling where something/someone is there and it seems so natural & like there could be no better way, and it's a new thing?