Monday the 26th of December --- aka-- the day of the great return. Today people will flock to the stores to return gifts that don't fit or were unwanted. And of course there are the after Christmas sales. You won't find me within a mile of a store today. First of all, I didn't get any gifts that I didn't like, and secondly, I wouldn't get in that traffic. Julie and Jim plan to go to Fresh Market this morning as they head back to New Albany and that is in the heart of the mall district. Yuk for them.

It is 66 degrees this morning and that is entirely too warm for this region of the country at this time of the year. Thunderstorms are predicted today as one would expect there to be. Julie and Jim are no doubt going to be driving home in it. We are supposed to get maybe an inch of rain which, is better than getting several inches of snow.

The back yard buffet has been fairly empty this morning. Of course that might be because Julie's dogs keep going in and out. They love to run out and chase the squirrels. Of course they will never catch one and frankly, Fenway, the youngest of the two has no idea why she's even running out the door except that Auggie is going out and Fenway's nose is attached to Auggie's butt at that moment. Fenway runs out the door looking like "where? -- what? -- OK, let's run."  They sure are silly.

I've been writing this using little snatches of time in between conversations with the kids. The kids have just left for home and the instant quiet is deafening. I am so glad that Julie and Jim decided nine years ago to move here to Indiana and only 100 miles away. That's close enough and far enough; close enough to help one another when needed and far enough to live separate lives.

Amanda will be heading to rehab about and detox facility today. I think she's ready to get started on it. Ms. Kate and I will be heading out for NC in a couple of days and take the opportunity to share some hugging with Lisa. It will be good for all of us.

I think that is it for today. We have things that we need to get done to prepare for the trip. I hope your last few days of 2016 will be the best days of 2016 for you. It is time to re-evaluate your resolution from last year and see if they are still valid. If not, change them up. Have a blessed day.