The dryer is humming.  An orange cat is at my feet, busily cleaning his fur.  The bed is made and I’m sitting on top of the blankets with blue jeans, a flannel, and brown moccasins on.

I can hear Sarah’s movie from the other room, I can hear the cat licking itself, I can hear the dryer, but as I look around the room, everything is quiet and still.  Motionless.  The trees outside are like statues.  If I wasn’t typing, I would be motionless as well.  My eyes would stare; at the shiny doorknob of my bedroom door, at the curtains, the fan on the floor, the patterns of the wood grain of the dresser.

What a difference a day makes.  Yesterday at this time the kitchen and dining room were swarming with family, everyone talking, gesturing, laughing, working, eating, cleaning up, taking photos.

Everyone has gone.

It’s almost a lonely feeling.  To make so many plans and then have a holiday over.

Caleb is loudly whistling.  Rich is at the school setting up for wrestling season.  I can hear the boys digging through the lego bin.  Seth is singing a silly song.

I’m tired.  I’m wearing the day after thanksgiving like a cozy blanket.