With rosy cheeks and ruby lips

E-word,

It's been a while, man. We're settling into the doldrums of marriage and getting older, and the steady dullness that is life generally, I think. I still plot and scheme for the future, but they seem like small things compared to just having my wife around, and that's not to say that we even get along all the time, because we don't. We still have bitter and terrible fights and moments of gentleness, and they eclipse any ambitions I have otherwise.

There's this great old song that the Pogues cover called 'The Parting Glass' that really reflects the way I feel about life. Like, I sometimes trick myself into thinking that I'm ambitious, but at my core I think all I really want to do is drink and laugh with friends and strangers. I guess that now that I'm married, my goal should be growing and nurturing my marriage, but I must say that a simple life of hard work and drinking is often more appealing.

What I'm trying to get at is is that I don't quite understand 'ambition'. Who really needs that much more money? Money doesn't buy friendship and camaraderie, and alcohol doesn't cost that much. Money does buy getting laid, but if you're married, then what motivates?

I don't know. It's the same old thought, the same old reflection I have about my life. You know, there's a good chance that I'm going to India this coming Christmas. My good friend B's brother in-law is getting married, and he's inviting us to Mumbai and Pune. It reminds me of the trip to India you took years ago now. I'm pretty sure that it's not going to be nearly as rugged as your trip was, but I am looking forward to it, I've always wanted to go to India.

I am going to try hard to update this thing more often. There are enough small moments in life to collect. I hope that there are small things that you want to write about as well- don't feel that you necessarily have to respond to everything I write, I'd just like to hear what's happening with you.

Love,

Toe