Vacating For The Holidays

We'll be headed up to the hills again, this year, to spend Christmas where winter is really winter. Our plans to move have been slowed down by the housing market in FL. But we are going out to the land and doing some prelim work if the road is passable. Meanwhile, my hubby is making good on his promise that I never have to spend another Christmas in Florida.

I am taking two books with me and looking forward to reading by the fire where I can relax and really delve into the subjects. I usually read fiction, but I am taking Rohan McEnor's "Rebecca's Law: Sojourn Of A Stolen Father" and "The Purity Myth: How America's Obsession With Virginity Is Hurting Young Women," by Jessica Valenti. These are two decidedly different views that converge in the same tragedy and reach similar conclusions about how and why people are used and abused by the system, especially in the area of child custody. Rohan's story is more personal and Valenti's book is more..well, political and philosophical, but they both are important parts of a whole.

The picture is one we took on the 24th of last year while walking through the Carnifex Ferry Cottages area. It was sunny, but there was too much snow from the blizzard to melt and we had a very white Christmas. In fact, it started snowing again before we left and we enjoyed a walk up to the Civil War Battleground in the snow with our little guy in his argyle sweater. We'll have Dolly with us this year, but we will be missing Rocky. Like you cannot replace children you lost with another child, you can't replace one best buddy with another dog...but there is enough love to allow another one into your life. Dolly will be a, well...a challenge.

So I am airing out heavy coats and sweaters, making sure our cords and fleece are clean and ready to go and getting things packed, including our Christmas stockings and gifts for each other. We have taken the precaution of buying tire chains, even though we managed fine last year with our front wheel drive PT. You never know about those mountain roads and the cut-back to our property is steep and narrow.

There is no Internet at the cabins and I don't have an Internet-access cell phone. Us old farts are doing Jitterbugs, now and cutting costs. So I will be missing but thinking about everyone from Sunday the 19th through Tuesday the 28th. Of course, if Hubby can't pry me away from the hills, we will have to see about getting Internet service. There might be a struggle ensuing.

Meanwhile, to all those who have kept me blogging, I thank you, I appreciate you and I wish you all the Happiest of whatever Holiday you celebrate. I do secular Christmas, but I do it up big. See you after the trip. I am sure, after reading those books, I will have a lot to say.

Merry, Happy and Safe Holiday Wishes from Robin, Darrell and Dolly!!

And a word from Rocky..........