Supposedly
Had an actually nice cruise, which was undertaken as an opportunity to see the branch of the extended family what lives in Florida, and Indiana and such.
Be a part of the little kid cousins' lives, and such.
I do need to revisit David Foster Wallace's essay on the subject. While I had a generally good time, and was not filled with existential despair, I did have to spend basically a ton of energy combatting the urge to microanalyse the bits of the experience that are at a "war effort" level of dehumanizing monstrousness.
I can sort of do that now, because I did my best to pay attention to that stuff without digging too deeply into it at the time.
Important to keep in mind: these cousins (and associated uncle, aunt) are not folks with whom I can reasonably talk about politics or philosophy. We stick to things like family, entertainment, recreation, as otherwise the questions will create the kind of tension that would have ended all efforts at communication or familial connection. I made the mistake of raising the issue of American news media at our last get together. I won't make that mistake again.
In the meantime, I got some sun, snorkeled, zip-lined and generally saw a part of the world in which I'd never really spent any time. And also a part of the family for which the same applies. It was well worth it.
Tomorrow I begin Python Class, so I'm not right back at school yet.
Be a part of the little kid cousins' lives, and such.
I do need to revisit David Foster Wallace's essay on the subject. While I had a generally good time, and was not filled with existential despair, I did have to spend basically a ton of energy combatting the urge to microanalyse the bits of the experience that are at a "war effort" level of dehumanizing monstrousness.
I can sort of do that now, because I did my best to pay attention to that stuff without digging too deeply into it at the time.
Important to keep in mind: these cousins (and associated uncle, aunt) are not folks with whom I can reasonably talk about politics or philosophy. We stick to things like family, entertainment, recreation, as otherwise the questions will create the kind of tension that would have ended all efforts at communication or familial connection. I made the mistake of raising the issue of American news media at our last get together. I won't make that mistake again.
In the meantime, I got some sun, snorkeled, zip-lined and generally saw a part of the world in which I'd never really spent any time. And also a part of the family for which the same applies. It was well worth it.
Tomorrow I begin Python Class, so I'm not right back at school yet.