The Promised Land

In the Bible, The Promised Land (Canaan for the Bible scholars among us) was described as a land overflowing with milk and honey. To people wandering in the wilderness, to be overflowing with milk and honey represented abundance without back breaking work. This weekend I was in the Promised Land. My brother, Jonathan, is the youngest and only boy in our family. He also revels in the fact that his two older sisters believe him to be spoiled beyond belief by our mom. This belief is not without foundation. When my sister and I had left the house for college, my brother delighted in the fact that Mom now had time to make him waffles, pancakes and anything else he wanted for breakfast. Of course cooking for one kid is easier than cooking for three.

This weekend the man-child was in town for a visit. It is great to visit the parents when the man-child is in town. Not that my mom isn't happy to see hubby and me, but it isn't the same. Mom makes all of Jonathan's favorites. We visit my grandmother in Eastern Kentucky who makes sure to make all of Jonathan's favorites, which is great for Craig as he loves her chicken and dumplings, too. Again, none of us grandkids do any work, which is great for me because any other time, I would be doing what seems like an unending stack of dishes in water so hot it peels off the skin.

I knit my brother a hat in the same pattern as Craig's Valentine's Day gift. (See him in all his "hatted" glory below.)

Being from Phoenix, my brother wasn't really prepared for how cold it has been here. He wasn't sure he needed the hat, but given that my parents are living in an Antebellum house that lacks weatherstripping, double paned windows, and efficient heat, he changed his mind. Jonathan, Craig and I sat huddled in the front room under blankets, watching The Departed. Jack Nicholson as an Irish Mobster. Interesting. Matt Damon, luscious and real as always. Leonardo DiCaprio, a pleasant surprise. I have not and have vowed never to see that titanic piece of schlock, Titanic, and had wondered if Mr. DiCaprio would change my opinion of him after suffering from such colossal over exposure. He has.

Now before you start sending me comments about how the movie Titanic changed your life, is the greatest movie ever and how could I say something so horrible as vowing never to see it, please remember that after so many years of not succumbing to the mojo of Hollywood's epic of ill-fated teenage love, I am not likely to succumb now. Besides, when I want a story about teenagers in love with the wrong person that ends badly, I much prefer Shakespeare to James Cameron.

I have been spending a fair amount of time in Louisville since my parents have moved back to the States. If you have never been to Louisville, the city has embarked on this terrific campaign: "Keep Louisville Weird". The goal of this campaign is to promote locally owned, independent businesses. I did my part to keep Louisville weird by visiting three locally owned yarn shops and a locally owned coffee shop / roaster.

I am a bit sensitive to the issue of locally owned and operated stores versus franchises of national chains. What I find so interesting about Louisville's campaign is that it is a concerted effort to promote what makes Louisville different. I am so enamored of this idea that I think Cincinnati needs a similar campaign. The issue won't be keeping Cincinnati weird, as Cincinnati is the complete antithesis of good weird. The issue is making Cincinnati weird in the face of sprawling suburbia and chain restaurants. It can be done. It is being done. I am on a mission to find it and enjoy it. Let me know about your favorite weird place in Cincinnati. Perhaps we will me there sometime.

Kimberly