My friend Athena called over the weekend.  Like me, she was marooned with a houseful of teenagers leftover from New Year’s Eve. I said I thought sleepovers were something that went out in elementary school and Athena, who has several off-spring in their 20’s, said sleepovers come back in, in high school, as a way for them to drink without driving. 

As a child, I had a very strong belief in Santa—so strong that when Sister Grace Miriam announced to our 3rd grade class that there was no such thing as Santa I got into  trouble telling her just how wrong she was. 

One of the Snapper’s friends (we’ll call him Max) showed up at our house last night, just in time for dinner.  I said sure—with Wally at college we usually have enough food left over to feed a small army. 

There’s a deep economic recession in the U.S., bombings in Mubai, violent protests in Thailand, American automakers who are so desperate for money they’re actually using their own product as transportation to get to Congress—but the big issue on everyone’s minds in my neighborhood is redistricting.   

Thanksgiving is approaching and a lot of people are fretting about spending time with their families.  Me, I’m fretting about eating my family’s food.