Homesick at Christmas

Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home

The packages have been shopped for.  They have been wrapped and carefully placed under the tree. Now we wait for the magic day to arrive and then we get back to life as we know it.



It has been a very full two weeks for us.  I want to repeat that.  It has been a very full two weeks for us.

First of all we made the 1246 mile trip to spend the holidays with our kids and their families.  Next, we foolishly agreed to spend two nights at one house and two nights at the next for a total of 12 nights.  In other words we were packing up and moving every two days.  If we ever do this again, we’ll think twice before we decide to move this often. 

At Lee’s house we just carry our bags out the door and load the car.  At Tammi’s house it’s not quite that easy.  There are 44 steps, three flights, just to get to her front door.  We weren’t done once we reached that door.  We had another flight of 16 steps to the upstairs bedroom.  Ask me if we got a workout.  Ask Duchess her opinion about all those steps.

We did an awful lot in those two weeks.  We have had an absolutely amazing time with family and enjoyed every minute of it.  Well, except for the packing, moving and climbing steps, we had an amazing time.  We visited my 93 year-old aunt and dropped a package off at my brother’s.  Terry is still on check-ups every three months and had that appointment slid in during our time in the Portland area.   We were thrilled to hear that he is still cancer free!!

Peeking through the ICE  !!  

Over all the weather wasn’t bad.  We had a little rain and a lot of fog.  Matter of fact, one morning we even had to scrape ice off the windows.  That we weren’t prepared for as we do not carry ice scrapers with us.

Christmas Eve Eve Jordie and I hit the mall.  She had a few more gifts to buy and I needed a haircut.  We were surprised that the mall wasn’t packed but it was early and we weren’t there long.

The next day was back to Tammi’s and 44 more steps up and then the additional 16 steps or so up to the loft.  It’s amazing how much easier the steps get the more you crawl up them.

Christmas Eve starts party number one.  Church services are on Saturday instead of Sunday.  Usually there are so many people attending Christmas services that a few extra time slots were added.  The first was at 3:00.  That was the time we chose to go.  It’s a family affair.  From there it was back to Tammi’s house …. our last move of this trip until we head south.   

As departure time gets closer we also watch the predictions change from sunny to cloudy to rainy to snowy.  Are we prepared?  Well, again there is a window .  The window is on Monday and according to the trusty weatherman, the passes are clear with no rain, no snow and no wind but just on Monday.  So, Monday it is. After the packages are opened, we’ll start our travels back to “Q”.  Our little Honda 2000 generator is packed and ready for it’s workout at “Q”. Are we prepared for travel?  We are even though we really don’t know what to be prepared for.

For Christmas Eve …. we even tried to catch a glimpse of the man in the red suit streaking through the skies in a sleigh being transported from house to house by his team of reindeer.

In the morning …. we hit the road but for today it is family day. We have presents to open and we’re happy that we’ll be around those we love the most.  Well, except for Justin.  The Navy gets him this year. 

‘Tis life on the road … a wonderful life.