Weíre home.

Except for Dianeís sickness almost unto death, and Brianís early departure, it was a great visit. My mother is loving, resilient, generous, and truly an inspiring example that as one ages, one does not have to become, as Susan describes it, less crisp. And for that matter, given my fatherís deft touch in the stock market at eighty-nine, he too is a shining role model.

Iím ambivalent about posting this, not because Chris wouldnít want me to, she laughed when she related it to me, but perhaps because my duckís back has picked up some velcro. I might add that when I repeated it to Diane, she laughed and hard, but it all ended in another round of bronchial paroxysms.

Matthew, age seven, and his older brother, Michael, were watching TV, when Michael turned to Chris and said, ì Mom, the woman in that commercial reminds me of you.î

Chris replied that she was flattered that Michael was thinking about her and comparing her to someone on TV, to which Matthew interjected, ìMom, you donít understand. She reminds Michael of you because sheís stupid.î

Our Matthew takes his driver’s test today… .