This is a special day in our household.  It's Sunday morning.  There is approximately six inches of snow on the ground outside.  All around the Atlantic City area, to the west in Philadelphia and to the north in New York City, snow accumulations are in the 12"-20" range.

There is a big fire in the fireplace in the den.  I fixed bacon and eggs and biscuits for breakfast.  Only Casey was out of bed, but we ate a good country breakfast and had a nice talk.  There is a large pot of coffee brewing.  Casey is debating whether he should try to get back to New Brunswick today, where he attends Rutgers.   He probably won't make it- the weather is too bad.

Casey came home to visit with Scott, his older brother and my oldest child.  Scott goes into the Army on Wednesday.  This is the last Sunday (has, in fact, been the last weekend) that all five of us will be together for some time.  My wife Kim is now up.  Scott and Meredith are sleeping in on this snowbound day.

I am aware of every nuance.  Will we ever be together again like this?  We have always been close, and have usually taken it for granted.  Scott has been gone, but always close by.  Now he will be in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, for basic training.  He'll be gone for almost six months, before he comes home again, and before he is shipped off to...????

Yes, I am aware of evey nuance today.  And so is everyone else, in their own, unspoken way.  We are all very quiet.  We are all warm.  We are all safe.  It is cold and miserable outside.  We have a warm fire going.

Scott leaves on Wednesday.  I'm on vacation, so that I can spend a little extra time with him these next couple of days. 

This is a special day in our household.