It’s been busy around here, that’s for sure.

Sometime around dinnertime tonight, Big Brother will return home with a duffel bag full of dirty laundry and lots of stories to tell. We’re looking forward to that. I’m planning on making an apple pie to go with those stories.

I’ve barely started my Christmas shopping (for that matter, I’ve barely started making a list, never mind checking it twice.) But at one of my freelance writing jobs, it’s been all-Black Friday, all the time. It’s creeping over to the other site where I write as well.

There’s a bunch to get done before Big Brother’s Eagle Scout ceremony in two weeks. Looks like there will be quite a crowd attending.

Four weeks from now, the Secular Franciscans will once again host our “Living Nativity at Greccio.” If you’re local, why not join us? We’re getting things all set–so far we’ve arranged for the animals, the hay, the music, and Baby Jesus. Gifts for each family attending are in progress, and there will be cookies and hot chocolate to top off the day.

But today, before much else goes on, my house is going to be invaded by Cub Scouts–20 or so Cub Scouts–and their parents. It’s Scouting for Food day. They’ll be collecting canned goods in my neighborhood, then sorting them and delivering them to the local food pantry. Last year we had 10 Cub Scouts and the back porch was buried in food. We’re hoping to top that this year, as we have double the Scouts!

It’s all about ties around here, all of a sudden.

TheDad works in a rather casual environment. He’s more dressed-up than most when he wears chinos and a golf shirt to work. But today he came downstairs wearing a dress shirt with his chinos and asking if I’d seen his tie. He has several ties, but he really only wears one–so I knew which one he meant.

I told him where it was, then added, “That tie doesn’t match with those pants.”

“I’ll change my pants, then,” he replied, and went back upstairs. He really likes that tie!

Meanwhile, Big Brother is getting ready for this weekend’s Homecoming Dance. Apparently, if you take a date to the dance, you have to make sure your tie matches her dress. (He already did this once, for Prom.) So his date took a picture of her dress with her cell phone, and he went to Burlington Coat Factory to look for a tie. From there, he took pictures of ties with his cell phone until they found one that would work. And here I thought that guys had it easy when it was time for a school dance. Wear a suit, buy flowers, and you’re done. Not anymore! Now you have to have a Matching Tie. I hope he really likes this tie, because it’s kind of a waste to buy a tie and wear it once. I haven’t seen him put on that prom tie again.

So far so good today.

Only 2 cavities at the dentist–not bad for skipping out on appointments for 18 months. And she was too busy showing off her “Glinda, Good Witch of the North” costume (yeah, my dentist wore a costume to work today!) to bother me about much.

There’s a Wawa right across the street from the dentist, so I got a good cup of coffee after I left.

I got home pretty quickly and got some of my work done before it was time to watch the kids’ Halloween Parade at school.

The parade was cute, as always. I’m glad I went. Clever, last-minute “costume” from one boy who didn’t bring one to school: a coin taped to the back of his t-shirt. He was a “quarterback.” (Would have been more effective if he had a giant-sized fake quarter on his back, but oh well. It’s the thought that counts.)

I stopped at the library to pick up the 2 books that were on reserve for me–only to find out that I had 9 waiting there! Guess the notices are backed up in the system. Good thing I had an empty tote bag in the car.

Then it was off to Sam’s to stock up on “Gummy” vitamins, iron supplements, and plastic cups for Middle Sister’s party today. She’s having some friends over. I’d rather they hang out here on Mischief Night, so I can confine them to my own family room and not worry about whose neighborhood they are wandering. BONUS: Sam’s had big bags of ice, so I didn’t have to make another stop at a convenience store to get that.

All I have to do for this party is supervise a tidy-up (and vacuuming) of the family room, do a swish through the bathrooms, and make some pizza roll-ups and pepperoni bread. Maybe I’ll get really motivated and get the recipe for that pepperoni bread posted to my recipe blog.

At first, it was anger. How could this happen?

Only later did the regret come, for the words not said, the opportunities missed.

“While we have time, let us do good.” But had we?

And what good can come from mourning those unsaid words, those missed opportunities?

All week long the news has just been getting worse.

My father-in-law has an abscess in his aorta, and the doctors say that his aorta and his year-old valve replacement must be replaced. He is not in strong condition like he was last year when he had the valve replacement. Fortunately he has just been moved to a better hospital.

Little Brother doesn’t get why everyone else is on edge, poor guy.

TheDad is staying near the hospital (better than 1 1/2 hours away)–he was here last night for the first time since Monday. He has asked me to be ready to bring the kids up there and be prepared to stay. So I am using up leftovers for dinner, even though I am not hungry to eat it–I have to eat if I might have to drive tonight. And I am thinking about what needs to be packed, like the cell-phone charger and TheDad’s favorite coffee, because he will be wanting that creature comfort. I also need to dig out my map of the area where the hospital is, because for the past two days I have been making wrong turns on familiar territory. (I guess that is where my anxieties are coming out. I don’t cry much, so people think I am strong. News flash: that’s not always how it works. I just hide it better.)

Otherwise, I wait, and I dread phone calls.

Right now there are several children in my backyard conducting what appear to be the Olympic Games.

Rumor has it that there’s a triathlon in progress.

First they had the hurdles. One by one, the 6-and-unders jumped over little lacrosse sticks, soccer balls, light sabres, and for the grand finale, a small wagon. Adventure Boy scored a 7. Little Brother scored a 6. Adventure Boy cheered: “You did it! You got it in 6 weapons!”

Then they moved on to the front sidewalk for the bicycle portion of the race.

As to the swimming, maybe they plan to wait until after the rain comes and hold that one tomorrow.