I am thankful for carpet cleaning machines.

There is nothing like family sharing to create lasting holiday memories. I spent the week in the mountains with my whole extended family. There were 18 of us in two houses, with 8 kids ranging in age from 9 months to 13 years old. There was food: a honeybaked ham, a smoked turkey, all the usual Thanksgiving stuff and stuffing. There were hikes to waterfalls and up rocky places. There were outdoor fires and roasted marshmallows. There were chess games and Uno games and naps. Oh, and let us not forget the ultimate in family sharing: a stomach bug. Over the course of six days, it felled 8 of us at the house, and another one bit the dust last night.

It began with my own WonderBoy, whose illness came up suddenly and just as quickly disappeared after he made an impressive projectile display on the carpet of the rental house. He was proud, and bounded up the stairs to report to his cousins with a big grin and restored energy. Mr. Incredible went and rented a carpet cleaner, which came in handy. After WonderBoy, the next to fall was the oldest nephew (more carpet, but also, memorably, on top of a mountain). He was followed by my mom, my youngest sister, third youngest niece, second youngest sister, oldest niece, and last night back at home, SuperGirl, who is skipping school and resting. She is sorry to have missed getting her share of attention from all the relatives, but happy to have her very own Gatorade. It is a quick and dirty virus, and no one seems to have suffered for more than about 24 hours, so I am hopeful the end is in sight.

My mom has her first appointment with the surgeon tomorrow. It will be good to have the beginnings of a plan. Tom Petty said it best: the waiting is the hardest part.