!J for Joy
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agk's diary 
17 Dec 2022 @ 15:15 UTC
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written on GPD Win 1 via puTTY
in my quiet kitchen
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My parents are here for a week. They love being 
First daughter's grandparents. Mom, Evy, & First
daughter are at the farmer's market. Dad's hiking
the mountain. Tevis is upstairs in the shower.

I'm enjoying a quiet morning in the kitchen. Only
sounds: refrigerator compressor, ticking clock,
clack of buckling-spring keyboard.

Last night, Olofi (Holy spirit) candle in window,
friends, family sang while baby slept. Dad picked
his mandolin. I passed my American Baptist and
Methodist hymnals around. We laughed about where
they differed.

We sounded good, our voices combined in the living
room. My soprano, Bugz' tenor, Brother-in-law the
former chaplain, who knows or can read the baritone
parts, the sisters who were never religious but can
sing, and my parents.

I've never had a hymn sing in my livingroom before.
I have good memories: well-appointed kitchens of
church members who hosted with mulled cider and wine
before wassailing; second cousins' cozy Ohio trailer
ringed by hawks and hounds. Now too, here, my house.

All the hymnals had Away in a Manger, Hark the
Herald, Angels We Have Heard on High. Only dad's 
book had The Holly and The Ivy and Good King Wence-
slas: some of us crowded around, others relaxed and
hummed along. We ended with Stille Nacht.

I refreshed the snacks. We all wrote nouns on paper
scraps for a game we love. Guests went home and Evy
to bed. Parents, roommate, and I ended the night at
this kitchen table with mixed nuts, seltzer, and
cards. We played my family's game, Pinochle.

And it brought joy, joy, joy to my wandering soul.