Fire

I could write about all the things we are doing here in Melbourne. I could write about our plans, or lack of plans, for our near and far future. I could write about myself because why not. But really this is a busy time of year where I am sure folks would rather just bake cookies and think about beaches than read about how we bake cookies and play on the beach. Yes we do both frequently. And so I will instead write a bit about fire because it is the festival of lights and we do like fire. Now that we are in Australia I suspect we are supposed to dislike fire immensely and try to control it at all costs. But I guess we haven't been here long enough. We have spent the past 6 nights staring at our candles as they twinkle and dance. On the first night of this novelty Sophia looked mesmerized. She sat there with a gleam in her eye and a mischievous smile and then stated "I want to touch it." I was happy she on a whim shared this with me because it would have gone poorly if she hadn't. But that's the way fire is. It looks so majestic and benign. It glimmers like jewels. It is constantly in motion and dancing and responding to every whisper and every gesticulation. It is comforting and companionable. It draws you closer. It illuminates our best features and casts a shadow over our blemishes. It turns wax into rivulets of puffy flowing color. And I haven't even touched on all the things we can do with it. Really is there any greater seducer, any greater miracle?