the holidays

sorry it's been so long, as a friend so gently reminded me tonight. i have been lax in my writing here, despite promises.

we went to texas for the holidays and spent christmas with my family. it's something we'd planned since sept. we kept it a secret from mom until a week and a half before. she was totally surprised. we thought we'd tell her to both prepare her and to extend her happiness.

we left wednesday, dec. 23 to chicago. i was panicked because the weather was so bad. there's been so many storms and snow. it was touch and go. but as we headed out, the rain hit (perfect), then as we headed around the lake, the rain stopped and as we hit chicago, the sun came out. as someone told me last week, "you're blessed." i guess i am. (and we had what amounted to the easiest time getting through o'hare that we've ever had).

we didn't arrive in san antonio until 11:35 p.m. (layover in dallas). we rushed to get a car, then almost didn't get our luggage. they'd put it away since they were closing up shop for the night. we persuaded a woman to let up get our luggage from a small room where the luggage that no one picks up goes. but by the time we headed out of town, it was late. at 2:30 a.m. we stopped in three rivers and slept for five hours and headed out to the ranch with some sleep in us.

mom was so happy to see us. she made us breakfast and we chatted for a bit. we headed off to see noel, arnold, rena, ricky and meri. then linda and emma. it was great to talk to them and hang. we got to eat good ole fashioned texas bbq. lots of meat. yeah, baby. there was a lot of laughs and talking that day. good times.

we also got to see lynn and her kids and joe and michelle and their kids. it was a treat because i never get to see them. whenever we got to texas they're not around since they live in laredo and dallas.

we took rena and ricky to the bookstores. it's become a tradition with us and that's cool. promote a lot of reading. and i got my world and texas almanacs. love 'em.

the trip wound down with a visit to the cemetery to visit dad's grave. i sawn someone had put tulips there. they're getting ready to put the stone. it was sad to be there, but ...

and that was the trip, a range of emotions from sad (missing my dad) to happy (seeing my family). overall, though, it was good. very good. good for all.