Well I hope everyone had a lovely Christmas Day! We did — we drove to Cleveland for some casino fun, then came home, had dinner, did some light chores (the living room is back to its normal state, per the Christmas Day custom around here), and watched War Horse for our evening entertainment. A good day.

But there are changes.

Our sister and sister-in-law were supposed to be here today, but thanks to this…

Hello, blizzard

…it’s not happening yet. And they’re still weighing their options with regard to being able to make the drive from Kenosha (WI) at all, which makes us sad. Dang blizzards anyhow. Nary a flake since last winter, and the minute you schedule out-of-town guests, it’s all this. Nuts. Hopefully, it won’t be as serious as the weather guys are saying it will be, and they’ll be able to make the drive with little or no problems tomorrow or Friday. Not likely, though.

I just let Rousseau in, and — as you can see on the little white area we’re in on the radar image — the snow is not falling yet (6:02 a.m.). But, any minute now it’ll be here, and the beginning of everyone’s week will change.

But that’s only half the change I’m talking about this day.

The Thriller and I use Christmas Day, when our kids are all visiting other relatives and having Christmases of their own with their children, to discuss plans for our upcoming summer vacation — which, in this case, is a mere six months hence. Since last summer, the plan has been to go to New Orleans and some other Gulf cities. Usually, once we get the major destination in mind, we’re beside ourselves with excitement, and it’s all we talk about for weeks after. For some reason, it wasn’t that way this time. Not that we didn’t want to go to N.O. — we did, and we do. But, just maybe not this summer.

We have basically one more shot at a large, long vacation, since the Thriller graduates seminary (hopefully) this April, and the kind of time frame we’re accustomed to in the summers will evaporate. So we decided to put New Orleans on the back burner and go when we had 4-5 days to escape in the future.

And where is this summer’s destination?, you ask. Welp — Vancouver, BC. Now that’s a big ol’ change, yes? Nothing slight about that. We’re excited, though. The magpie chatter is back, so we think this might be where we’re supposed to go this year, saving the Gulf for next time. And with that, let the monastic lifestyle begin. Gotta save some bones so we can drive to the other side of Canada in six months.

Yay. Have you been to Vancouver? We have not. And when we hit North Dakota, Oregon and Washington, I will have been to every state in the lower 48. (The Thriller is only one state behind me: he’s never been to Maryland.) After this, if we want to expand, we’re going to have to resign ourselves to the unlovely prospect of getting on an airplane.

OK — it’s now 6:23, and I looked at an updated map. Fort Wayne is about to get it,  as are most points west and south of us. Yikes. It might be a bumpy ride after all. Stay inside and safe, everyone.

FO, maybe to Wally to stock up

Hello, fiends. Yesterday morning was crazy, so I didn’t get to talk to you. Did you miss me?

As Christmas Eve approaches, I am often overtaken by powerful memories of childhood, home, and especially, my parents (both passed away in the mid-90s).

I clearly remember Mother telling Mavis and me to go to sleep quickly, because Santa wouldn’t stop at our house if he knew we were awake. So at bedtime, I’d pull up the blankets reeeeally close to my neck and shut my eyes reeeeally tight. And one year, I knew — I just knew — that I heard sleigh bells in the distance. I was terrified that Santa would come to our house and find me awake, and that he’d be disappointed. 

Like there were rules. Haha.

What I know to be true now is that we were probably driving Mother crazy with our questions and excitement (we were never “wild” or “unruly” as children; it simply was not allowed, and we’d never dream of risking the consequences), and she wanted to make sure that when it was bedtime, we got down to business.

Still, the memory of those nights is strong and treasured and fond. I think the years of 1965-69 were among the happiest in my life, and I keep the Christmas memories of those times close to my heart. Even the ones that didn’t start out so happy.

So, if you’re around today, give us a fond Christmas memory, because Christmas, to me, is as much a time for reminiscing as for celebration.

I mean, since I’ve been up since 5 and all…

I put this on Facebook this morning, to illustrate my mild embarrassment at getting all uppity for being on vacation. Heh.

OK, some punny things for your amusement this day:

Haha. OK, go on with your day now. But gimme some guesses first. I’m off to get ready to do some awesome sugared pecans and deliver them to all my sick family members. Get better, luvs!

FO

YEEEEEEE HAWWWWWWWWW

Last day. Shortened schedule. Then school is done. That is all.

Fink out.