I woke up around 8:45 this morning… but promptly returned to The Dreaming. I was finally roused to consciousness a couple of hours later when Don called and asked me if I wanted to get lunch with him and Thomas (his son). I agreed and got ready to go. I ran into town, took care of a couple of errands, came home, talked with Don again (to determine a time and place) and headed out.

Lunch was good; we went to Steak & Shake, a 50s-themed restaurant (which, like many things, doesn’t exist in Utah). There was much catching-up to do. Sure, we talk on the phone or online, but there’s nothing like a good, old-fashioned face-to-face talk. We may do something tomorrow night… like our traditional holiday night movie.

Came home, saw Kris (my youngest sister) for the first time in too long. She just finished up her undergrad studies, pre-law, this month; she has an internship for next semester and she graduates in May. So, I guess I know when I’ll be home again… Then, Mom and I were off to Greensboro.

Before heading to the airport, Mom and I stopped to pick up some last-minute giftage. I ran into Laura, whom I used to work with about 10 years ago. *stunned* We chatted for a few minutes. We stopped at another store, the one where I (and Laura) worked many rains ago. Overall, the store hasn’t changed too much, but there were a few subtle differences. And, I couldn’t resist checking whether or not they had repaired the hole that I had punched in a fitting room wall while I worked there. They had. Did a good job of it, too.

On, to the airport. No major difficulties. In a nice measure of “holiday cheer,” a man who was leaving the parking deck offered us his parking space – and lots of time on the meter – as he was getting into his Jeep. We parked, went inside and waited for my uncle. The flight was on time, so we didn’t have to wait long.

Back home. Now, we’re sitting around and hanging out. We are going to Midnight Mass with my uncle. I’ll probably run into a couple of the kids with whom I used to carpool. *shrug*

And that’s all the news from Lake Wobegon Lake Saline just north of Lake Townsend… where the women are genteel Southern ladies, the men are looking for a good stiff drink and the children are waiting for sleigh bells and reindeer hooves.

I hope that everyone has a good Christmas Eve and a Merry Christmas.

Namaste.