Leftovers

I'm still smacking my lips over the garlic mashed potatoes and divine gravy at Thanksgiving, gravy drippings provided by my brother-in-law's perfectly roasted and stuffed turkey. As usual, Jesse and his cousin Logan alone required five pounds of potatoes between them. Jesse also put away a full quarter of the apple pie from home--good thing there were two other pies and a cobbler for the rest of us. Nathan arrived in time for dessert, having missed his flight out of Manchester on the east coast, which provided him with a hilarious story. For one thing, Security is a little touchy about bricks of cheese in large quantities in carry-on luggage.

After overindulging in all our traditional Thanksgiving fare, we Hamms plunged into a raucous solitaire tournament with cards recycled by Jesse from his days as a professional poker dealer. I have to say I'm really not much of a game or card player--it has to do with my limited attention span--but ever since I joined the Hamm clan decades ago I've been a solitaire aficionado--multiple-player solitaire, you understand. As in 4, 5, 6 players all throwing their aces into the communal pot to build on. Oh the shouts, the curses, the shrieks of dismay! (I did have to forcibly remove Jeff's jack of spades from a pile I'd been watching Forever to put my own jack on.) We finished the day with a grand slam 8-person frenzy, played on the floor. My stomach muscles are still complaining about those 3-foot reaches across the playing field.

Jeff and I were able to have a quiet day with Nathan before he returned to Dartmouth. Nathan's my fellow artist, and it was great to have his encouragement on the greeting cards lined up on the piano that I've made in hopes of someday writing you all. He also appreciated a painting I did last winter for Valarie that keeps having to return to the artist for "adjustments". Imagine my pique when Jeff and I sneaked the altered painting over to Valarie's for reinstalation while she was still on Thanksgiving sabbatical in Port Townsend, only to discover we no longer had her house key on our key ring.

I've now put away my paint brushes in preparation for the writing prescription Nathan is sending me. The whole family seems to feel that my brain may evaporate entirely if I don't at least Make An Attempt to exercise my writing muscle every day. The good news is an editor who saw a preview of my work in October has written that she'd be happy to look at my entire middle grade manuscript as soon as I finish some revisions she suggested. That kind of revision concentration will have to wait till after Christmas. For now, being able to make Christmas lists will be challenge enough. Thank goodness for my sweet sis Lorie and her daughter Alesia who are coming this week to help with Christmas shopping. I have the best sister and sisters-in-law ever. May you, yourself, have at least one.

Diane