I was just sitting here in the TV room and it occurred that today was a pretty spectacular one for me. It has been the first in a long time where I didn’t spend the day avoiding pain—so I actually got out and ran errands that your dad needed done. I got to hear Lauren tell me about how she is worried about Adam getting started back in school this fall. Nathan came and found me outside and asked me to come inside because he needed my company. You then called and asked me about something that was really, really important to you. I got to hear Jon do some of his vocalizations. I actually found several things around the house that I had been looking for this week. It seems like the kind of day that I would like to have more often. Nathan will be home soon with your dad. At school this morning, we were walking out of the building together and another student—a woman about my age who is going through this for her first time—asked if we were related. When she heard that I was Nate’s mom, she was really happily surprised. It is not something that many moms get to do with any of their children.
These are two renderings of the same photo. When I look at the rabbit against the 12”x12” paving stone and see that she could easily fit into just one corner, I smile at her small size. Though I suppose that the rabbit is probably rather a he than a she—just the look in his/her eye. I looked on-line to see if I could ID the species—none of the images were better than mine. HAH!!! I haven’t seen our rabbit swimming yet, but I am pretty sure that s/he is a genuine Florida marsh rabbit.

Peter snooches underneath Nate's elbow to see if he can escape.

Here is a photo of Nate and Peter. Tonight Nate brought Peter in to see me while I did some computer stuff. After picking Peter up, Nate offered him a raisin--apparently Peter is still huffy about us leaving him for a week with just a twice-daily babysitter check. He refused the treat--"SMFFF!" He later accepted with his traditional exuberance. We must be forgiven.

One of the latest crane couples to meet me in the driveway each morning for breakfast. His feathers are still wet from a morning downpour. It will always be amazing to me that I can walk out of my front door and have birds like this one follow me around. Over the weekend, I was at a meeting where we were asked to introduce ourselves. One couple told us their names and then added that their favorite place to vacation was where they lived: Florida. I very much agree.

We also have a lone teenager who comes around in the afternoons now. He looks so lonely I will sometimes just walk around the front gardens while he eats, so he'll have some company. There is also a lone ibis--still dark feathers from his baby days--who meanders about the neighborhood all by himself. It's too bad that they can't keep each other company until they find a group to fit into.