This morning, starting at five, I began dropping people off; the last one was at 7:30. In about 15 minutes I will leave to start picking them up. I am cleaner on the pick-up trip, but that’s about the only difference.

I have been packing the car for a trip to the Ohio Redoubt, though. Actually, I leave it mostly packed so it’s ready for LaGrange, Ohio, and Kendallville. I think I have started to forget just what is packed where and may have to do an inventory soon – just not in Ohio – that’s an upstairs apartment. Since we have a balcony and the ground floor people only have patio slabs with no fencing, I don’t mind the stairs . . . that much.

I am taking garland and a wreath and lights and I believe I have cleared this with Der Bingle. I am not putting an inflatable on the balcony. Just thought I’d mention it in case you were worried.

Now, tomorrow is the test to see if Google sends me on the “winter road route” and avoids the narrow county roads that aren’t wide enough for a middle line. That will send me through Van Wert, which I haven’t seen since early spring. It’s an old Ohio town and there are some stately houses on my route, which may be sporting classy decorations for the holidays. You can see the Dutch influence in a lot of the architecture, especially in the farmhouses that dot some very flat land. FLAT, FLAT AND FLAT.

Van Wert is after the windmill fields, which are impressive and, in my opinion, not an eyesore at all. In the dark, each has a red light and the whole lower sky seems to twinkle.

Do I know where my car keys are? I changed my clothes and took them out of my pocket. Okay, going to try my luck here.