A Full House

Donna and I drove to the airport Sunday night to pick up Anna. She has become such a sunny and enthusiastic person- almost grown up. I am so proud of her. She is fun to be around. Last night we took our accordion Christmas photo together. As I made dinner Donna and I could hear Joey, Anna and Truckee laughing in the back room. I commented, "It's really nice to have them home here and getting along so well." Donna came close to me and gave me a hug. It looked as if she was about to cry. "We really had some hard years there, didn't we?" We look at things differently. I do not see my life or trials as over. I somehow try to prepare myself for unexpected crises, even thought I don't look forward to them. I cooked for five and it was good. I admit it. Donna said about how lucky we were to have three delicious home cooked meals in a row.

Then the visitors stared arriving. First Krista and Naomi arrived and went to the basement with Anna to catch up. Next thing Truckee says, "I'm going to the basement to play Joey. You can play the winner." Then Eric and Harley arrived and there was an instant party in the basement. As usual Joey beat Truckee. Joey and I were neck and neck up to 20- 20. He hit a couple of lucky shots and beat me 22 to 20. That sat around the nook in the basement chatting and laughing.

Then the party moved up stairs. Noami wanted to print a paper that was due in her college class. I had just changed the cartridge. Joey said, "My dad knows more about this than I do." I spent a half hour trying to fix the printer. I succeed in a half hour printing one document but not the other. Frustrated I moved to the easy chair where Truckee was sitting and I asked him to move for me. I guess I must have acted a little pushy, because most everybody in the room laughed at how I had pushed Truckee out of the chair.

I returned to the basement to do a little more work on the Christmas card. I noticed the time on my computer and it shocked me- 12:30 A.M. and I had to get up at six A.M.. When I came back upstairs the guests had gone. Donna, Joey and Anna were sitting on the couch laughing while watching Drew Cary's improv program. "Did you guys know that it is way after midnight?" I said. They replied, "We don't care. We don't have to get up in the morning." "That's nice. Goodnight!"