Hello Void, as I type, little Benjamin sleeps.

So far in Southern CA:

I survived meeting the parents and Ralph thinks I’m more funny than Ben.

I survived meeting the assistant Alison who wants to know if I’m going into film editing.

I survived having the first “family dinner” of steak and meeting Beth and Matt.

I survived the small group Christmas party of about 25 people with lots of close friends and many little children running around.

I survived the talk with Chap, professor at Fuller, who thinks I should think about becoming ordained.

I survived a four hour shopping trip with Judy and lunch at some restaurant I cannot pronounce the name of.

I survived meeting Ben’s friend, Russ, from high school who cannot for the life of him use air quotes correctly.

I survived the conversation with Ralph and Judy on progressivism in the church, feminism, and the idea of inclusive language in the bible.

And I impatiently wait to survive the introduction of Kristian into my trip.

And after surviving, and waiting to survive, all that (and participating in other activities such as dinner with Nina and Justin) I have learned the following:

Judy cannot remember I’m vegan and continues to ask me if I would like chicken on my salad, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t care.

Ralph cooks meat like a pro, and when I tell him so, I get a double-take.

Jokes about the age difference between Ben and I are a good thing.

If you push the correct buttons on the phone, you can page the house and tell them about the blue light special on aisle 3.

Ben continually likes to come up with new nicknames, the latest is “Squishy”.

It doesn’t matter what I get the members of the Winter family for Christmas, they probably already have it or they could easily obtain it without me, but it’s the thought that counts.

And, oh yeah, I love Ben Winter.

And, Ben Winter loves me.

-Squishy

EU, of course you can become an honorary member…Nina, you too if you want. Ben and I can give you all the information that you need from the meetings and we can teach you the secret handshake and password when we see you in December.

The club name, by the way, was one of many suggestions that we received from students and faculty on campus who we asked to help us come up with a name. The girls and I knew that we wanted an acronym, but we weren’t very adept with coming up with one ourselves. I’m still laughing at a friend who suggested W.I.S.A.L. (Women in Society are Lesbians)… I think he just wanted the word lesbian to be included somewhere whether or not it made sense…

Right now, I’m watching our Ben play golf, eat rice, and try to keep it down. Yes, our young man is sick again, was up all night, and deserves much sympathy. Good news though, he is making new records on his golf game and feeling very satisfied with himself. I’m sure you can picture both the face and the noise he makes when he gets the shot he wanted (as well as the choice words he says when he doesn’t)… The reasons to love this man are abundant.

Other than that, I know that I am looking forward to seeing the semester end and finals complete. Nothing huge on the docket for finals week, but a couple large papers and some fiction writing that will keep me busy this weekend.

I am so looking forward to seeing you when I come down in a couple weeks. I want to hear all about the EU’s trip to Florida and the finals that Ben tells me that you had, Nina.

I’m off to go sit by the fire and read a little Rushdie. Best to you both.