Happy Holidays From Victoria & Reese in Santiago de Compostela!

You thought I didn't go outside. Well, I do. You thought my wife wasn't real. Well, she is.

Victoria and Reese here to wish you a Happy Holiday (in Technicolor)!

As of tomorrow, December 22nd, we’ll have been in Spain for exactly three months. We love Galicia. We’re so glad we picked Santiago de Compostela as our newfound home. It’s an amazing city, brimming with people who’ve shown us unbounded patience and grace. Never before have either of us so casually shared laughs with strangers — despite the language barrier. (We’re working on that!)

In all of our years, we’ve never felt more welcome anywhere outside the presence of immediate family.

And in no other place have we observed a man in a full-on Santa costume, beard and all, riding a comically-tiny moped with such gusto. There’s no scarcity of silliness, light-heartedness, and sheer hilarity in this city. Festive attitudes extend far beyond the walls of homes and into these walkable streets, alleyways, and parks. It’s impossible not to smile on the train, or even on a short taxi ride. This place feels like a happiness preserve, and we’ll go to the furthest lengths possible to keep it that way.

At night, our neighbors’ echoes of cackling laughter and raucous shouting are open invitations to come out and celebrate the human experience. While it’s true that Victoria and I tend to be introverted homebodies, likely from the conditioning of our former environs, we’re thankful to be surrounded by those who refuse to hide underneath a rock in what is objectively a scary fucking time to be alive. It’s with extreme gratitude that we are permitted to be in the presence of those with such a contagious form of hope.

Bebop Libre, this experimental blog-thing, is just over a month old. In truth, I’ve harbored second thoughts about it because I’ve been skeptical — for many years — that I’ve anything worth sharing with anyone, let alone those close to me. I stopped writing long ago because I had decided that my voice, perspective, and attitude were of no value.

Thus, what you find here is not reinvention… it’s a return to form, consequences be damned.

I’ve my wife Victoria to thank more than anyone else, even more so than the fine people of this beautiful city and country, for always being there for me. She ensures I meet my responsibilities. And to my utmost bewilderment, she says I’m doing a good job. I’m not so sure, but who do I have to trust if not her?

I don’t know who’s reading this, but I want to thank you for taking the time to do so. I’d also like to remind you that — no matter who insinuates to the contrary — it’s okay to be you. “You,” as it would happen, is inclusive of your hopes, dreams, passions, mannerisms, talents, faults, etc. Separation from these qualities — from anything — is illusory. Don’t stray from who you are to accommodate others, accommodate others in the pursuit of being who you are. Do it not for yourself, but to embolden others to be themselves.

Anyway, I thought we could all use a break from my usual ritualized assholery to get a bit sentimental.

But not for long 😏! I’ve conceived of a “Spainfrastructure” series, to be continued this Tuesday. A prior post of mine was an inadvertent template for an ongoing education about the country I now inhabit. As an enduring misadventure, I’ll occasionally pass on what I learn to you in the aforementioned series in the only way I know how: as absurdly as possible.

🧑‍🎄 Anyway… go have fun! 🎄