Nomads

We are in Indiana about 12 hours early. We had planned to come over tomorrow morning; Kevin took a vacation day for tomorrow (which only means he'll work long distance via Blackberry rather than in the plant.) Then the weather forecast bumped up an incoming ice storm so we decided to head out early this evening. Kevin was at work today and missed the ugly chaos of last minute gift wrapping, food packing and list making to be certain nothing was missed in our hurried departure.

Traffic was terrible getting through Cincinnati and we stopped to eat a taco with Josh and his mom around Indy so it was a long trip over. We were gran-guilted into that stop by Joshua complaining that he "never gets to see us anymore." We were just over here 9 days ago! I don't believe for a minute that he missed us as much as he wanted a taco. And he's at that can't-ever-fill-the-boy age where a Second Supper appeals to him.

Kevin was ready to get out of the car anyway, though, by the time we hit the edges of Indianapolis. Long driving distances aggravate the chemotherapy neuropathy in his feet and hands. And it was a fun visit with Josh and his mom, who good naturedly took some teasing. Somehow we failed to communicate to her that we were actually going in to the restaurant to eat--she thought it was just a parking lot stop to say 'hello' as we passed through the area. So we had one little boy happily enjoying his quesadilla and a slightly embarrassed mom covered in the battle fatigue of a day spent shopping, cleaning, cooking and chasing after the aforementioned boy.

Kevin stepped in it in a big way by assuring her that it was ok to look like a mess at Taco Bell. I think she was hoping for some reassurances that she looked better than she imagined, not affirmation of her suspicions.

We were thankful my brother-in-law had turned on the water and turned up the heat at my father and Mary's home where we are staying. It was nice to come into a warm house after that drive!

Tomorrow we want to visit with one of the daycare families along with some adult friends we seldom get to visit with on our trips here. Kev's post-chemotherapy body still works against him if meals and rest aren't watched so we'll have to factor that into our days. Supper tomorrow night is at the farm; I'm glad they've invited us out so I don't have to worry about finding something suitable for Kev to eat.

Our Christmas celebrating will be different this year. Kelly and Tejas are not coming down from Michigan. They both travel for work and another trip just seemed overwhelming, I think. With the ice coming in I am glad they will not be driving. Tejas has a large extended family living in Michigan so they will have plenty of family around. Kate and James are already in Pennsylvanis for their visit with his father and step-mother. Kevin and I, along with Paige, Rob and Joshua, will not be in our own home on Christmas morning for the first time but we're very thankful we are able to borrow my father and Mary's home for our celebration. We'll be out at the farm for Christmas Eve day and evening, over to Lafayette for Midnight Mass then back here at my father and Mary's home for Christmas Day.

So we have some changes to work through this year. I brought some of the 'stuff' of Christmas with us though. Kevin was a little surprised in our frenzy of packing this afternoon when I instructed him to wrap our 4 foot tall Christmas tree, completely decorated, in a sheet and "shove it in the truck." He says it felt a little like The Grinch stealing CindyLou Who's Christmas tree but it looks nice now next to the fireplace here.

I think it's going to be fine to be nomads this Christmas. Josh asked me about being in Grandpa Leonard and Grandma Mary's house instead of ours. I pointed out to him that Mary and Joseph weren't in their home either for that first Christmas morning.

Turns out he was more interested in finding out the sleeping and eating arrangements than he was in my analogy to the nativity.

Oh well, his questioning brought me around to thinking this is ok, our nomadic holiday. Sometimes home is just where you are.