It’s nearing sunset on the last day of this, the year of the Golden Tiger. The first tentative booms and celebratory ka-kracks are sounding over the grey tiles of Minwang Hutong, occasional bursts of nervous energy, harbingers of what’s to come, like the claws of a wannabe werewolf clacking on the bars of his cage before letting out for a full-on full-moon rumble.
It’s my first Spring Festival in Beijing after many years of celebrating in Tianjin. This year we asked Tianjin to come to our house and I think we’re better for it. All of the things I like about the Spring Festival — dumplings, immediate family, bad television — are gathered in one place, leaving such things as crowded rail stations and traversing streets of drunken artillery for less fortunate souls.
In any case, wishing all of you the happiest of New Years and best wishes for the Year of the Golden Rabbit, may this year be full of joy, health, and good fortune.
Same to you and yours, Jeremiah. Keep the great posts rolling between dissertation chapters.
Same to you, Jeremiah. I know with the time change you’re already fully in the Year of the Rabbit, but New Years Eve is just ending over here. I thought a lot about you today and our pow wows in your office and on the train across Yunnan. Say hello to Ai Laoshi, Xiao Meng, Liu Laoshi and the gang. Know that I wish you all the best and would give anything to be there in Beijing now.
~ Lyndsey Gray
Thanks, Stuart.
Thanks, Lyndsey. Any thought to coming back over to China? Lots of good things happening here right now. Happy New Year!