Out in the thick of it
It was about 2 o'clock this afternoon when I realized I still needed to grab stuff for the kids' stockings, as well as a few cosmetic items that Bonnie had requested. So there I am, at the local pharmacy, along with all the other last-minute Christmas shoppers.
The parking lot was terrifying. Normally I can park right around the corner from the pharmacy and walk right in. There wasn't a single space to be found anywhere in the parking lot, except for a few unmarked spots literally in back of the building, where the delivery trucks pull up to unload their wares.
When I walked in, there were four lines to the register -- each line at least 10 shoppers long.
Amazingly, by the time I left, the lines had dwindled to just two shoppers each -- I think I must have come in at the very peak. Either that, or when one or two of the cashiers had just returned from break.
I got everything on the list then made the dash next door to the grocery store to pick up a few last minute provisions, then bolted home.
As I was pulling in the driveway, I realized I'd forgotten to get anything for the cat -- Emmeline had asked Santa to bring him treats, and I knew she'd have a fit if the cat was forgotten. Then Bonnie reminded me when I came back inside that we needed to pick up a card for my brother in law and his wife, who just had a new baby.
So I went back out, this time to a different grocery store.
Now I'm home, hopefully for the evening. But we'll see.