Saturday, December 24, 2016

It's Almost Here





The second refrigerator is humming in the basement, the holiday cookies have been pulled from their hiding place, and the dog is looking nervous.
Christmas is just about to pull into the driveway.

          Still, I need an advent calendar.

          In one week we’ll be channeling the Joads as we fill every available cranny in the car and turn it toward Florida. This is our first year as snowbirds and the anticipation is making us a little crazy. Maybe if I had a little chart with flaps to lift until the Big Day it might help. Behind one door could be a tiny bicycle, another a palm tree, followed perhaps by grass that is snow-free.

          Meantime, there are little piles all over the house. One corner of the bedroom has a bag with items that I cannot forget: pills, checkbook, charging cables. The porch has golf clubs, the ship model My Guy plans to assemble, those glasses that would-be-so-great-in-Florida-but-we-forgot-we-have-to-transport-them-there. Right by the basement stairs are the end tables that were such a good deal (see afore-mentioned glasses) and the stool I reupholstered because why buy a new one when I had this (again, note glasses). And we haven’t even thought about clothes yet. I figure mine will travel in trash bags that can be stuffed into the empty spots (ha,ha!).

          Thank heaven I have Christmas Eve and fifteen people arriving for dinner tonight followed by madcap present opening the next day and a hysterical dog to temporarily distract me from pacing the house like a senior in high school awaiting the mailman.

          Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas everyone. May your presents all fit and your relatives be rational.

15 comments:

  1. I just returned from a week in sunny Florida, to be met at home by freezing rain and snow. I do hope you enjoy your time in Florida, I sure did! Merry Christmas to you and yours, Marty. :-)

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    1. Thanks, DJan! And we have exactly that same weather here right now.

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  2. yes, may it be so. although christmas has been a non-event around here for at least 20 years.

    back before we bought luggage, when we had to stay in a hotel/motel for whatever reason, we packed our clothes in paper grocery bags. I'm sure the employees got lots of elbows in ribs when we walked in.

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    1. I'm pretty sure brown paper bags are one step up from black plastic trash bags.

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  3. Merry Christmas and have a s trip to Florida, wave as you pass Richmond Hill in Georgia.

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    1. Will do - check outside your window on Monday!

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  4. Ahhh, the frenzy of packing. Do enjoy your time in Florida. Let us all know how it goes. -Jenn

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  5. A very happy Christmas to you and yours. It has landed here, and will be hot.
    I am yearning to be able to fly to the snow rather than away from it.

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    1. As much as I'm yearning to get to Florida, I have to admit that a hot Christmas would take some adjustment.
      Happy Christmas to you, too.

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  6. Oh my, sounds like a busy place. I would be a nervous wreck with fifteen people headed here for dinner. Our plans got changed at the last minute and it will just be Poppy and me here for Christmas. Our plans were to be in Virginia. I've been out grocery shopping today, of all things! That cartoon cracks me up, and so does your writing. You always make me laugh.

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    1. I'm not as big a martyr as I appear. My sainted sister-in-law is bringing a big pan of lasagna, bless her heart!
      At least you won't be on the road with the rest of the world.
      Merry Christmas!

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  7. Wait, doesn't there always have to be a crazy uncle to make Christmas Christmas? Have a very Merry Christmas and a safe trip to the sunny South!

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  8. It sounds rather exciting but also stressful.Take your time to get to the south.
    Happy hoidays to you and your loved ones.

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  9. Merry Christmas and and off to a good time in Florida.

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  10. Merry Christmas! You need to make a Florida list and check it twice:)

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