*'Twas the midnight ride through freezing rain that we headed for South Carolina again. We were to babysit our 3 granddaughters from 12/16 - 12/23, giving our daughter and son-in-law a much needed "R&R" in Aruba. Given the typical "nasty December" forecast for Pittsburgh, we cast off in the dark of night to beat the impending storm due to arrive at the time we'd originally planned our departure. Thus began our "2005 Griswold Christmas" If you've never seen the Chevy Chase movie, "Christmas Vacation", do so. If you've seen it, then you'll identify with our ordeal.

*We stayed ahead of freezing rain for 5 hours, then spent 3 hours engaged in prayer as windshield wipers, headlights and care became encased in ice. Prayer is so powerful and God's protection saw us through the night for a safe arrival in S.C. 11 hours later. Weary and bleary eyed we were greeted by 3 lively and excited granddaughters wanting to play and a very concerned daughter who tearfully thanked us for coming, but was surprised we'd chosen to drive all night. She said, "I guess I'd call this unconditional love, right?" Our frantic fun began the following day after their parent's departure to sand, surf, sun  and sightseeing.

*Efforts to finish Christmas projects (baking, decorating and gift wrapping) were put on hold several times as household appliances began a drop-dead domino departure for us. First to go was the kitchen phone. So, all in-coming calls required a swift sprint or marathon march to find a phone elsewhere before the answering machine engaged itself (sigh #1). As Pappy Dave helped Allison (age 12) to string the lights on their very tall tree and found many not to be working, I headed upstairs to do a Nanny check of bedrooms and bathrooms. Finding a tub filled to the overflow drain, I made a futile attempt to drain it. The girls explanation for this was that when the aquarium where the 3 residing pet turtles (Heidi, Slider and Myrtle) was cleaned, this happened and it would take "a little while" for the tub to drain. Their definition of "a little while".... 3-4 hours!! (sigh #2). As I baled out 30 gallons of H20, Pappy headed to the hardware store to purchase a plumber's helper and a gallons of industrial drain solution! The ice cube maker/water dispenser was already indisposed and if used the refrigerator "piddled" a puddle on the hardwood floor. Even though a "DO NOT USE" sign was very visible, non-reader, 4 year old Haley decided to get a drink (and not at the sink) (sigh #3) Also, much to her chagrin was the AWOL departure of her very necessary DVD remote (one of 4 for her technologically challenged Nanny) (sigh #4). It did surface from under the sofa a week later so only VHS tapes could be viewed. (Haley sighed a lot.)

*Meanwhile, Buddy, their BIG brown dog unearthed a large portion of their underground sprinkler system as he felt it his daily duty and canine cause to strip mine moles from the lawn. (sigh #5) Michelle (age 8) helped me make candy cane and gingerbread cookies plus all 3 girls enjoyed decoration a large gingerbread house and creating cranberry and popcorn garlands for the tree. Wanting a break, the girls decided to enjoy the sunny 60's day and went outside for a while. It was great until they came in soaked to their skin saying they'd forgotten where Buddy's favorite "doggie-doo" spot was and had run through it. In their attempt to hose clean their shoes, they "accidentally" hosed each other. (Right-hmmmm!!!) (add sigh #6) One day Haley took a late day nap, then just could NOT go to bed until well after midnight. Finally I retired at 1:30 am and was awakened 2 hours later when the smoke alarm decided it was time for a new battery, (sigh #7), which required an 8 ft. ladder... such fun!

Deciding to do a couple loads of laundry the day their parents came home, I was sadly stopped when the spin cycle refused to engage in it's part of the wash cycle. (sigh #8) I've not hand wrung sheets before -- much work involved!! An unwelcome soda can tab managed to find it's way into the garbage disposal after our Christmas dinner. (sigh #9). Indeed this was truly a survivor story. Hope you managed to survive with less stress and fewer breakdowns than our experience. It's interesting though how grief can put such trials into perspective. Nothing compares to the tragic loss of a child, I'll remember 2005's Christmas catastrophes that created many Merry memories. Hope I made you smile for a while.