I have to start out with an apology because I didn’t have a column last week. It happened because the deadline for my column to be submitted had been changed to a Monday instead of Wednesday and I totally forgot about it. By the time I remembered, it was too late and the paper had already been put together for the week. The change was due to the Thanksgiving holiday so this week we are back to normal.

About those Packers.

They almost have to win the rest of their games if they want to have any chance to make the playoffs this year. It’s getting more doubtful every week. It just goes to show how important Aaron Rogers is to the team. It just doesn’t seem to function very well without him.

However, Hundley did show improvement last week against the Steelers. But they still lost by a last minute field goal.

The Packers have five games left to play this season and winning out will definitely be a challenge. They face the Buccaneers next, followed by the Browns, the Panthers, Vikings and Lions. Will Rogers be able to come back before the season is over?  And we all know that opposing teams will be gunning for him if he does come back in the next few weeks. According to local news, he is practicing and throwing the ball around. And apparently he’s looking good doing it.

It’s hard to believe it’s December already. Where did this year go? I guess the old saying, “The older you get, the faster the time goes,” is true. The months seem to last about two weeks lately. Before we know it, the holidays will be over and we’ll be staring at 2018. That is hard to believe.

It seems like just a short time ago, we went from 1999 to the year 2000. And that was almost 18 years ago, just two years short of two decades. I’m having a hard time wrapping my old brain around that.

I am still adjusting to the loss of my good friend, Lou this fall. I keep hearing stuff and think that I’ll have to tell Lou that. Then I remember that she is no longer with us. I’m sure that eventually, it will get easier, but until then, it’s difficult to accept.

I found this definition of Friends on Facebook this morning. It goes like this: “Friends are the fruitcake of our lives. Some are nutty, some are soaked in alcohol, some are firm, some are sweet, but together, they are great to have in your life.”

And that, my friends is the truth. Have a great week everyone and as winter sets in, be careful driving and walking on slippery surfaces.

Barb Ludlow is a former Kewaunee County reporter. Email her at [email protected]

This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Packers have to win, or it's 'goodbye, playoffs'