I went over last night for my dad’s 83rd birthday. It was my folks, my sister, her husband and me. My dad is so much brighter and more energetic now that he’s on morphine. I kidded him about how we’d gotten a great deal on a tombstone and now are going to have to pay to have part of the 8 in 2008 filled in to make it read 2009. He thought that was hilarious. I donated money to Save the Redwoods to have a redwood seedling planted on protected land in honor of him and my mother. (I didn’t want him growing out there all alone and they’ll be separated soon enough.) He and my mom were happy about that. He loved the cake and we all had a good time.

On a side note, man, my family talks a lot and loud! I sat back and listened, mostly. It takes a lot of energy to find an opening and dart into our rapid fire conversations and I was in a quiet place.