memelaina | A Quiet House

It's quiet in the house this afternoon. And the only one who doesn't miss the children even one little bit is Sappho who perches calmly on the back of her chair and surveys her solitary realm. I'm back from my second run to the Denver airport in as many days and Megan and her brood have headed off to Crested Butte to ski. There's a fridge full of leftover roast beef and potatoes. I have more Christmas cards to send. And Christmas present's to enjoy - Stephen Mitchell's translation of the Odyssey and two "Minecraft" manuals from my grandkids who can't wait for me to start building things. I'm also reading Jodi Taylor's Chronicles of St. Mary's, and (having finished re-reading all the Samaria books) Sharon Shinn's first Elemental novel - Troubled Waters.

I have six more days of vacation after today - and then four days of work at the office and I'm done. Retired. Out of the corporate world.

Perhaps best of all, it's quiet in the house this afternoon.