Waiting for Bilbo

The Road goes ever on and on,
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And whither then? I cannot say.

I first read The Hobbit in 1972 or 1973 - and have read it at least a dozen times since. I loved it so much that I included the above poem in my high school yearbook personal profile in 1974. The Peter Jackson movies have been incredibly faithful to the books, and live up to the world I conjured while reading them. I went to the three movie premieres on the first showing, but I don't think I can handle a midnight show and go to work the next day again...!
I am in Summerville, South Carolina as I write this, on a long weekend visiting my Dad. The weather is gentle for December (68 today) but the chill sets in as soon as the sun goes below the trees. The camellias are in bloom. I have to say I don't want to go back to chilly New England. I heard there was snow today. brrrrrrr. No sir, I am wearing my flipflops here!