This will be my last post before the trip. Things around here could certainly be better....my son has strep throat, my daughter has a cough, and I've been in agony from a dental procedure that happened on Friday. I was in the dentist's chair for two hours; it took the specialist eight needles to freeze me and it was a nightmare. I have never known such unrelenting pain in my life; this rivals childbirth. I haven't eaten a real meal since Thursday - it hurts to talk, to walk, to breathe. Last night, didn't sleep a wink - the pain was like a red alarm in my mouth, not letting up for a second. If you aren't in pain, you have nothing to complain about, and we take it for granted - not being in pain. When I get through this, I think I'll be a changed person. 

Suffice it to say, the holiday spirit is somewhat lacking. It's only been in the last couple of hours where I can actually see the light at the end of the tunnel - I'm just starting to feel some relief.  When the pain was at its worst, I thought of the recent massacre in Connecticut, which I can't even talk about... I thought, "I can handle anything. Anything but that."
What kind of a world is this? How can there be a god? Lorenzo said it seemed wrong that our lives just go on in the face of such horror, but they do. Life is cruel and unfair.

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Anyway...

I have this thing about the house being spotlessly clean before we go anywhere, and I was so grateful to my lovely daughter who cleaned out the fridge and pantry cupboard for me; it was one of the jobs I really wanted done before we left. My sons have been great too - even the sick one. Lorenzo has the energy of three men, thank goodness, so I've been leaning on him a lot. I feel so useless - today I got groceries, returned library materials, filled up the truck, and when I came home I had to lie down. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I'll have some energy tomorrow - I still have some errands to run, and I want to wash all the hardwood floors before we leave. And I have to pick up bunny pellets... oh these animals - I feel so guilty leaving them behind.

Well, this is it. Tomorrow we pack, and we'll crank the Holiday Jazz and have a stiff rum & eggnog  - I could use one.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas - I'll see you again in the New Year.