Ready or not: 2009 will soon be here

Hubby and I have been busy today just taking care of business: paying property taxes; getting medicines lined up for the next few months; getting all the clothes and linens washed, dried, and put away; and, taking down some of the Christmas decorations. I had the young guns to bring down from the attic my storages boxes yesterday before they went to their respective homes. With Hubby's bum shoulder and my lack of stamina, it was very nice to have some strong guys in the house. They were so willing to help and actually did a little more than I expected. The house was left in great condition, no messes anywhere except the kitchen, of course, so Hubby and I spent an hour or more in there getting the rest of the ham off the bone and other necessary duties. We were so happy to have all of them here even though everyone was sleeping all over the house; there was no room except the kitchen that was unoccupied for the night. We had 2 air mattresses and all beds being used plus the couch. My granddaughter wanted to hit the couch about 2:00AM when her husband decided to shake the rafters; however, when she tiptoed in the den, there was my hubby sacked out! He has difficulty sleeping in a bed with his bad shoulder (which he pushes up against the back of the couch and he cannot do that in the bed); also, he said that his wife was also making vibrations and he couldn't sleep!). Anyway, we all made it through the night and woke up ready for a bunch of homemade sausage and biscuits! Different family members lingered around until about noon when they staggered the departure, the last couple leaving around 3:30 PM. I really feel so lonely after they all leave and I have to get used to a quiet house again; I do miss them so much. Now, I only have visits from the little grands to look forward to but I do enjoy visits from the two of them and my daughter and her husband. Tonight we will be meeting some of our best friends at a nearby steak house then return to their house for some more fellowship. We just don't get together with them often enough anymore; everyone is so busy these days that we don't make the time to be with friends as we should. Perhaps this is something all of us need to work on for 2009. Ready or not, the new year will soon be here so we better start getting preparing for it; time moves on.