Alternative Lifestyle

Tonight I'm nestled all snug in my bed at the kick off of the Christmas Season with a sad and heavy heart.

Tonight, Brandon and I took the babies downtown Indianapolis to see the lighting of the world's tallest "Christmas Tree". I put it in quotes because what it really is is a monument at the heart of the Circle City that the electricians union suspends multi-colored lights in the shape of a cylindrical cone resulting in a pseudo-Christmas Tree.

Anyway, around here it's a big deal and usually quite fun. I take the kids every other year when it's my turn for Thanksgiving. I've even gone a couple of times without them. Every lighting a wonderful experience that makes me all glowy with the warmth and excitement of the coming festivities.

Brandon hates large crowds, so after laying it on thicker and heavier as I went, he finally consented to coming along. It was disaster. It was gridlock and madness. In all the years we've gone I haven't seen crowd this size. It was unseasonably warm so maybe that's why the numbers were at peak. All I know is that I saw that ugliness of humanity tonight. There was almost a fist fight. Two very intoxicated women with three children pushing their way through the crowd. A man in a colts jacket threatening physical violence in order to move into an area that was barricaded off. I myself had a confrontation with a man who was at least a foot taller than myself because he proceeded to get in Emma's face when she said excuse me as she was trying to not let go of Lily's hand and be separated from the rest of her family. "Sir, she's 14. She's just trying to not be separated," was met with vehement hostility. I was asked him to not be hateful to a child...I even said and I quote "It's Christmas!"

This was the pinnacle of a day marked with news of 5 smashed car windows at a local mall to steal presents. A woman who pepper sprayed several others in order to get the wal-mart deals she wanted. And stores who open at 9pm instead of letting employees be with their families.

The kindest person we came across tonight was a homeless man who sitting with his little black dog was wishing people Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas as they passed by. A man with little to nothing was generous with his kindness. I have wept openly with a heaviness in my spirit tonight.

Lord, Oh Lord, my heart cries out for the blackness in the hearts of your people. Lord, oh Lord let me not be one of those masses. Open the eyes of my heart that I can see where I am like these. Correct my steps and the words of my mouth so that the sweetness of Your Spirit pours from me. Let my life be an example of how we can be a different people. I want an alternative lifestyle.

Clan Maxwell

Brandon is Scottish in heritage. Being that I am Anglo/Irish Indian on my momma's side, we embrace the anglophile connection we share. In Scotland, families are divided into clans. Inside each clan are several different families i.e. several different last names. They are still apart of the Clan even though the name is different because they fall under the protection of the Laird of the Clan. How perfect is this. In this house we have 3 different last names, but we all fall under the protection of Brandon. He is our Laird. We are Clan Maxwell.

Here's a quick update on where every body's been over the past .... WOW! 8 MONTHS!

We bought a house! The kids and I left rural central Indiana and moved to the near east side of Indianapolis about 7 minutes from downtown. It's been an adjustment and there are times that I love the convenience of it. Then there are times I having corn fields for as far as the eye can see.

Brandon is working full time for Lowe's as a delivery driver. I'm still in school until February. Emma is in the eighth grade and we have started touring high schools (blech blech blech). Lily is living at her dad's right now. She really didn't want to make the move to Indianapolis, so in July she moved in with him in the suburb of Greenfield. Belle is  Belle. She hasn't changed much...gotten taller. She still sings everywhere and thinks if she can't see you than you can't hear her....even at school! NiNi (who was laid off 6 months after me) went back to school at IUPUI. She's finishing up her first semester back. The best part about that (other than her following her dreams and all)? IUPUI is only 10 minutes from ma new place :)

That's a recap in a super quick nutshell...Just to get ya up to speed...

And Sarah, I'm glad to be back too! Thanks, Sweet Girl and congrats on the new cupcake!