The neighbors across the street have their Christmas lights up. I went inside and told Dad and the kids that they had to come see them so they did. We call them “the rich neighbors” because they have a huge house with horses. Dad said not to call them that. But anyway everyone came out and it was kind of fun because outside it was pitch black and yet we all were walking through the pine trees toward the road to see the lights.

Then we stood at the road in what felt like one of those innocent movie family moments. Casper had followed us and one of the boys picked him up and cradled him saying, “Aw, Dip, you’re such a good boy”. We were walking back and I pulled out my phone because I was thinking there’d be puddles. There weren’t, but at least we could see. It poured the other day in the afternoon for just a very short time.