Packing up…

Two days to go.

Last evening we celebrated Christmas with Robin and his family—they came to the house and cooked a turkey dinner for us while we worked on packing up, and we went over the details they’ll need while living in our house for the next few months. They also put up their tree, since they’ll be here on Christmas morning. So the house has a Christmasy feel to it. Also a chaotic, pre-trip feel.

This morning, we woke up to a damp snow clinging to branches and railings. Beautiful. And I thought this is just the kind of winter day I hate to leave. It’s warmed up during the day, the clinging snow has dropped from the branches to the ground leaving little hollows where it fell, and there’s rain predicted for this evening. Let me remind you: It’s December 16 in northern Ontario. It should not be raining.

I fuss a lot about the weather and the changing climate and wonder if our grandchildren will ever experience winters like their parents did. And I feel responsible for my share of the millions of decisions made every day—like the one to take the road trip we’re about to embark on—that have gotten us where we are. But we’re off anyway, day after tomorrow, and within a week we’ll be in places where I don’t know what’s normal, so I can enjoy whatever’s on offer.

Our first stop will be in Wabasha, Minnesota, where we’ll spend a couple of nights with our niece, Jenny and her husband Steve.

No outdoor photo today. You all know what slushy snow looks like.