Bittersweet Endings

 We huddled in the warmth of the kitchen over blueberry pancakes and cocoa.  The chef was at his station by the grill, spatula in hand. 

 It was before dawn on December 31, 2014, time for Lisa and her tribe to migrate home to Seattle.  Outside, the SUV was packed and turned towards the road, with a huge blue box of Christmas loot attached to the bumper.

 We wished the Flindts Godspeed and no mishaps like last year, when their carefully packed box slithered off the top of the car as they drove through Boise!