State of the Krees Address

I haven't written much lately. I am not apologizing.

I haven't written much:

• not because there's nothing to write about;
• not because I haven't had the time;
• I have been traveling a lot, it's true;
• I haven't felt the need to amuse myself by reminiscing about recent events; and
• I don't feel the need to explain my environment to you, dear friends and family, because I'm pretty sure you're already all too familiar with where I am - physically speaking, at least.

I do feel the need to further dissect my reactions to being back in the U.S., but not until I get back home. (Funny, isn't it, how in the Netherlands "home" is Ann Arbor, and in Ann Arbor "home" is in the Netherlands. It was bound to happen. I've become one of those people who doesn't fit anywhere. But there I go anyway, digressing down the road of dissection...)

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I'm currently reading (and recommend) "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. In the book about her four months in Italy, she says:

Still, when I look at myself in the mirror of the best pizzeria in Naples, I see a bright-eyed, clear-skinned, happy and healthy face. I haven't seen a face like that on me for a long time.

This reminds me of something I noticed as I went through all our photos from Korea: The Scowl was gone.

I can't say for certain - perhaps Charles has noticed - but I think The Scowl has been missing from this trip, as well. I can't say it's purely because of travel. I do love me some travel, but I know The Scowl still accompanied us on our whirlwind tour of Europe in 1996, and I have photographic evidence that it tagged along with us to Sicily, arguable the most enjoyable trip we've ever taken (witness Exhibit A, photo #5).

Truth be told, I think The Scowl usually appears as I pore through the guide book for wherever we are, trying to determine the most exciting or interesting thing to see or do and the best way to get there. But it didn't bother joining us in Korea, Michigan or North Carolina, I guess because we don't need no stinking guide books for those places.

Regardless, I'm pleased to say that the past two weeks have been extremely pleasant and Scowl-free. We have a couple more days yet of relaxation, hanging out and enjoying some of our favorite places, faces and foods in the U.S. And I'm looking forward to posting and sharing Scowl-free and Aldus-full photos in a few days, perhaps along with some emotional dissection of what it's been like to be back in Tree Town.

Comments

[Your mother]

Its not really a scowl - you are concentrating on the job at hand - even tho it may be currently an enjoyable job. On Saturday, you brother said to me in the kitchen - "what's wrong" and absolutely everything was right - I was just concentrting on feeding 10 wonderful family members and it was great but I must have been scowling. Alas - maybe it's hereditary.

[avs]

Great post, Krees! Have a very safe trip "home".

[Merrill]

Ah, I have just been getting myself some much needed Kristine exposure (oy - which sounds almost as bad as when I announced on stage last night that Aaron plays "the horny thing") and saw this post for the first time. I have a theory.

After being explicitly told that I never seem to be smiling in pictures, that I need to develop the ability to smile for pictures, that I always display a horrific "smirk" ("THE Smirk" as the band now says), I started seeing actual, pleasant, joyful smiles in pictures about 4 years ago. Right after my niece was born. It's those damned kids I tell ya. They keep the joy so close to the surface that The Smirk (and The Scowl?) don't quite fit anymore.