I road shotgun as a Meals on Wheels "runner" yesterday afternoon through the impoverished streets of Trenton, New Jersey.

My company sets up lots of philanthropic programs during the holiday season. I had never before delivered meals to the elderly or disabled, so I signed up. Yesterday’s hot meal was ravioli. I can still smell it. The day was sad and sobering and not one that I’ll forget anytime soon.

Like a tour guide, my driver added color commentary as we pulled up to each home.

"I call this one the Cat Lady," he said.

Aptly named. Three sets of tiny kitten eyes peeked out of the door when the Cat Lady opened it.

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Olivia's been at camp for five days now. It's always so much quieter around here when she's gone, but it's amazing how much I miss having her around. Oh, sure, the babies are still here, laughing and playing and crying and generally being their cute little selves, but without "LaLa" here, the noise level has dropped dramatically.

The phone doesn't ring, the computer only gets used once in a while. The Disney Channel does not get turned on at all. (No Hannah Montana! Whoohoo!) It's nice, but it's weird. She's always here.

I keep waking by her room and thinking "Gosh, what is she DOING in there?" And then I remember, duh, she isn't here. She's at camp. Having fun. Being a teen-ager. Going to the dances with the Joslin boys. Playing Cities and having backwards day and all sorts of other goofy things they do at camp. And while I miss her intensely, I wouldn't change that for the world. (READ MORE)