Water Leak

Old village. Old water pipes. Repairs done Saturday, Feb 24th. Hope the system can hold up until the USDA loan comes through. Cost: $150 to MCA, $195 to Mark, $40 to JT. Experience: priceless. Matt & Mel seem to be at odds. Actually, Matt is at odds with everybody.

John Steinbeck's 105th Birthday

Of course he wasn't available. However, his son looks like him.

My birthday 2/25. Yvette took me out to lunch the 24th--at the Steinbeck House [Restaurant]. The House is where Steinbeck's family lived at 231 Central Ave., Salinas, CA. Got a cute card from Janet [& Tim, & Katie].

Matt gave me 2 cards the 25th. Shirley called 2/24, then remembered that I was having a birthday 2/25. Calls from Courtney & Em. Card & gift from Mel.

I was glad Mom [Shirley] called, because I realized I am 61 & I'd been thinking I was 62! That's because I felt 61 for several months before it happened.

Drivel. Anyway, from now on it's just nice to have one more [miserable] day. Gives me time to correct a few things & clean up whatever needs to be cleaned up.

My Dad 07/13/1921 - 01/22/2007

Maybe more details later.

The visitation, the funeral, even the weather. The town, church, friends, family.

(And--glad I didn't shorten the $1 coat. It was just right with higher shoes and two weeks of below freezing weather. )

Home Again 2/08/2007

Home Again Home Again. Jiggity Jig. Jan 22-Feb 7 trip. Strange in a good way.

Back from my old hometown. On Jan 22 my dad passed away. He'd been hanging on for a long time and was just "worn out". I went back to help my stepmother & brother. Unfortunately, my stepmother is now getting dependent and sometimes has some dementia. Stress. Bad knees, but has an appt with her knee doctor, Dr Stephen Huss. She's trying & isn't a whiner. She has really taken good care of Dad. But she was much easier to get along with this trip. I've been promoted from "Keith's daughter" to "stepdaughter". Okay, not too different, but I know the difference. I'm also one of two beneficiaries even though some others in her life have done more for her. Length over strength. I'm switching over to calling her "Mom" even though I'm still very self-conscience about it. I just don't want others to take it wrong. I heard from her that she seems to want & need it. She gave me a heartfelt good-bye. I think she did appreciate my presence.

I guess I really have two "homes" now. The hometown I grew up living in and the spot I'm in now. In some ways they look a lot alike.