I've been much too busy. Hadn't noticed until today, we're in the twelve days before Christmas, less than that, I think. Ten? Nine? Either way, no matter what's going on, Christmas will come.

I can feel it, sense it, eveywhere I go, especially since I'm not caught up in it, like usual. What I am caught up in is moving back to Denver. So instead of partying or wrapping lots of gifts, I'm packing, getting ready to go over the mountains again.

Still, it will be Christmas, so we should celebrate. Daughter, Barb, at A Chelsea Morning does it so well. She's good at that, much better than I am, so I will bring the shrimp. Those little ocean creatures that lend an elegance to any important meal, and this one is. Barb and I haven't been together at Christmas in a long, long time, and don't know when we can again.

My feelings are all tangled. Even though I'm eager to go back, as the time to leave nears, I wish we could spend more together, but understand it would never be enough. That's how moms and daughters are.

So I'm thankful, very thankful for emailing, and our being in what some call the blogging dynasty, so we can keep in touch, and know what's going on with each other almost any day.

It won't be the same as lunching together at Wrigley Field, or enjoying a shopping trip, but I'll come back when I can, and in the meantime, it will soon be Christmas again.