We made it to Vermont for Christmas 2008 as we had a number of times over the years when Laura was with us. Reminders of Laura seem more keen during winter visits to Vermont.  This time I quietly reflected and looked back in my memories as we drove past places we once all stayed for ski trips (going back a number of years before cancer) like The Woods on the access road, past stores and ski shops where Laura was with us as we browsed, and right on by restaurants like the Baja Burrito where Laura was with us for a memorable meal after a day enjoyed outdoors.  

This photo of Suse and Tony in 2008 is taken not far from where Laura once slowed down to a snowplow to have her picture taken by the on slope photographer in 2004.

At the house, the 2nd bathroom renovation has just been completed. We marvel at the results.
The whole family, Laura included, picked out the tiles in 2004. All of us liked the pattern of sea creature fossils. (To see the pattern, click on one of the photos.)  Plans were made then and the tiles bought but all that came to a halt and was forgotten when Laura was diagnosed in May 2005.  In our world since Dec 2006 without Laura, nothing mattered anymore, but eventually in 2008, going ahead with the renovation and using those tiles that we already owned afforded a kind of project, something to occupy our time. 

For Christmas dinner, we put out Sleighride china just as we did nearly every Christmas of Laura's life. It was while shopping in 1995 accompanied by little baby Laura that I first saw and became entranced with this pattern which seemed to capture the beauty of the season and winter.  

After this year's initially good snow cover becoming greatly diminished by rain, we decided to head home.  But first a visit to the town transfer station (many small rural NE towns have no garbage pickup in my experience) an activity that starts out as a chore but proves to be interesting with seeing the many recycling options available (just some shown here.)

The drive from central Vermont is  a 250 mile trip  and just 15 miles from home, a sudden surprise -a flat tire.  Luckily we were right next to an exit ramp and could pull right off I-287 into the conveniently located Stop and Shop parking lot in Wanaque, New Jersey. I used to sometimes worry that a flat tire or a breakdown would happen when driving Laura during her illness on those 100 miles trips to Philly or back and forth to Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York but it never did.  But if it should ever happen to anyone, I hope it will go as well as this flat tire did.  The local towing contractor, Towing King of Bloomingdale, was driving past the supermarket when it received the call from AAA and pulled in immediately.  Here a photo of the scene:  the towman lowering the spare "donut" tire from under the back of the Venture minivan while Suse keeps Sam (in his crate) occupied with some kibble dole-outs.

Last night as we watched the 1951 Alastair Sim version of A Christmas Carol, I sadly reflected that it has been nine years now since my father died.  This movie was a favorite of my father's and growing up, we often watched this movie with him if we could. My father was an avid reader and his volumes of Dickens and other books found around the living room seemed almost like part of the furniture of my childhood to me. 

New Year's Eve today and our world here in Boonton Township is once again snow covered. 
Right: The ghost of Jacob Marley visits Scrooge (from Wikimedia images)