I'm in an odd place this year too. I moved 600 miles away from my family the weekend after Thanksgiving 2006. Was too sick to do anything last year except make an appearance at my sister-in-law's house, which I barely remember.

This year, I'm going to the Mayo Clinic in December and have no idea how long I'll be there. Am too exhausted already to really come up with any cool things to do, so I'll probably just show up at the in-laws' again if I can. Maybe I'll be clear-headed enough next year to start a tradition or two of my own with my husband.

One thing my husband and I do sometime during the month of December is bundle up in the car with a city map, a flashlight and some Starbuck's (I only let myself have a small cafe mocha ONCE a year!) and drive around and look at holiday decorations. This was great fun in Denver because it's such a huge spread out city. Last year in Sioux Falls wasn't bad, and maybe if I'm stuck in Rochester, Minnesota for awhile, we'll take a look around there too.

fanfaire