Tradition

Tradition - the car is packed, good-bye's have been said - and then someone says, "Wait, we need to take the picture."  And so we do.

And then the car rolled up the hill and the Christmas visit was over.  

The house is way too quiet, of course.  The refrigerator is full of good things for the week ahead, the presents are all unwrapped.

I have new Christmas pajamas to wear to bed tonight, along with many, many other nice gifts.  

The little dogs are no longer looking out the window waiting for dogs and people to bark at.

The single bathroom in my house is empty.  There are no plans being made.  No on-line after Christmas shopping.  No sisters' nights that may or may not involve a bottle of Tito's.

No Bengals do or die games for another week

It's been the best.