I just finished packing for our family’s trip over Thanksgiving. We are very excited about the trip to see Chuck’s family in Indianapolis. We’ve made the trek to Indiana for Thanksgiving several times. It’s a perfect time of year to visit Indiana. We avoid our southern relatives in the hot and muggy spring and summer. That’s the best time for them to make the trip north to visit the woods and continue the never-ending quest to spot a moose. My dear sister-in-law, Lois, has visited at least a dozen times and has yet to see one of our famed behemoths! It never fails that a day or two after she leaves— after we drive every back road that’s been a moose “hot spot”—we see one right on the Gunflint Trail or the highway!
We have a good time looking for a moose for Lois anyway. We always have fun with Lois and our other Indiana family members— Chuck’s brother, Mike and his wife, Mary, and all the nieces and nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews. It is fun to see everyone and enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner together. This year our oldest son, Ben, his wife Michele, and their kids, RaeAnne and Carter, will be traveling with us.
As always, the drive will be a challenge. We’ll probably drive through the night while the kids are sleeping. I’ll probably sleep most of the way as well, since I’ve got a lot to do between now and our departure. That’s why I’m already packed, except for a few last minute essentials—and of course, my laptop computer.
I have to bring my computer to keep up with what is happening at the office and in Cook County, of course, but also because it is an integral part of my holiday shopping.
I have done quite a bit of Christmas shopping already and I’m looking forward to doing more when we hit Indianapolis.
I’m not sure if I’m going to take part in the “Black Friday” tradition. Our nieces do—they gather Thanksgiving evening and comb through the sales flyers, deciding which stores to hit first. I don’t know if I’m up for 4:00 a.m. shopping. I’ve done it other years and it is fun in a crazed consumer kind of way. But even if we don’t do the early, early, morning shopping, I’m sure I’ll get the chance to find some items for my list.
I’ve picked some things up in town of course, enjoying Cook County’s more laidback shopping style. There is little to compare with our wonderful gift shops. I’m also looking forward to getting home and using the “North Shore Holiday” coupons that were in last week’s News-Herald.
But I still need my laptop, to keep an eye on the things I’ve ordered on-line. Chuck and I share an e-mail address, so those helpful e-mail notices telling us that an item has shipped are not so helpful in keeping holiday secrets. There is a particular sporting goods company that sends order confirmations, order shipped notices, order tracking notices, a “thanks for your order” coupon, and a customer satisfaction survey once the order is received. For the first time ever, I also did some bidding on eBay for a holiday gift. Little did I realize I would receive numerous, “You’ve been outbid” notices. So there’s a new Christmas tradition in my house—the dash to the computer to delete order confirmation e-mails!
It adds a whole new dimension to hiding a Christmas present!
As we struggle with shopping
lists and invitations,
compounded by December’s
bad weather, it is good to be
reminded that there are people
in our lives who are worth this
aggravation, and people to
whom we are worth the same.
Donald E. Westlake
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