Megan, who loves dogs but does not like to be licked;
Benji, who loves to lick.
Four grown children, one terrificson-in-law, one grandson, a new dog, and fifty or sixty people that one way oranother make my world go around. What more could I ask for? Sunday, Jordan andChristian did their usual great job of hosting and invited family and friends tocelebrate Jacob’s high school graduation. These days at such events I getparked in the living room, but there was a visitor’s chair next to me, and Ihad a constant stream of guests to talk with. I like to take a bit of creditfor Jordan’s hostess skills—after all I did throw those huge Christmas partiesfor years, and she was at my elbow helping every minute. She knows how to set apretty table, decorate the house, and, most of all, make everyone feel they arethe special guest of the day. There was lots of picture-taking, a TV basketballgame for folks to watch, visiting on the front porch. The party started at three—Ithink the last guest departed about ten-thirty, though I had long sinceretreated to the cottage. Next morning, Jordan said to me, “Was that not thebest part we’ve ever done?” and I agreed.

Special entertainment at theparty was a trip to the back yard to watch Benji, who knew he had an audienceand tossed his rope toy with class and a lot of little leaps. General consensuswas that he is a great dog. The family certainly approves, and Colin keptoffering to take him home and keep him for a while, an offer I declined.

Of course a bonus for me washaving my other three kids home. Colin slept on the couch in the cottage fortwo nights, which I loved even though it meant he made my cottage cold as ameat locker. Megan was on the front couch in the house and Jamie in Jacob’sroom since Jacob sleeps in the TV room these days. Talk about musical beds!Once my kids were grown and began to scatter, it was always special to me to havethem all four once again under my roof. For a while, when the grands wereyounger, I could even accommodate most of the young families. But in recentyears as our numbers have grown and we’ve absorbed a couple of boyfriends,there’s no way. The kids generally find nearby hotel accommodations. So it wasa real treat to have my four all under my roof again—I am not sure why thatpleases me so much, because if anybody is protecting or looking out forsomeone, it’s a reversal from childhood. When they are here, they wait on myhand and foot. But still I guess it’s the feeling that I know where they areand they are all safe for the night. We missed some spouses and the othergrands, but it was still a highlight weekend.

Saturday we had take-outRailhead barbecue—Megan questioned why we weren’t going to Angelo’s, the shrineshe remembers from childhood, and I answered proximity—Railhead is blocks awaywhile Angelo’s is across town. And we’ve come to think Railhead is just asgood. Since I’m supposed to eat soft food that goes down easily, there was somequestion, but I convinced them that I could eat a chopped sandwich. I did, noproblem, and enjoyed it thoroughly. Still catering to my cravings, Colin wentto Carshon’s Deli Monday before he left and got me the chopped liver I had beenwanting—full of protein and soft so it goes down easily (he also got himself aRebecca, his favorite sandwich, for his long drive back to Tomball).

The happy weekend ended with acrash. Sunday morning, early, Christian’s father texted that he was in thehospital with gall bladder troubles. We presume he drove himself to thehospital, which scares everybody. Surgery was scheduled for last night, butthey postponed it until this morning—I am always in favor of morning surgerywhen both doctor and patient are well rested (we hope).

Monday afternoon Megan rushedme off to an unexpected appointment with an oral surgeon, only to find I willhave four molars pulled before the radiation treatment. To me, that proceduremay be the worst part of the whole ordeal. I am, to be honest, a dental phobic,a carryover from my long-ago childhood when dental work on a pre-teen with badteeth was pretty brutal.

By early afternoon Monday, thechildren were gone—Jamie had flown back to Denver on a standby basis lateSunday night and, fortunately, got on the flight. Colin left after his Carshon’srun, and Megan headed to Austin after the dental appointment. So we are back toreality. The next two weeks will be filled with appointments, not a peasant prospect.But I also have lots of work on my desk, which is a good thing. Today I hope towrap up the neighborhood newsletter for June, and then I have proofingcorrections to key in for Irene in a Ghost Kitchen. I still have my eyeon that late June publication date. I am counting my blessings and saying myprayers.