Status Report

Here’s the news on this end.

Blake recently left to serve his country in the Middle East. I find this has given me another reason to be ill-tempered; I really notice now when people, even dear old friends, don’t have a clue about what’s going on in the country and the world. A couple of old friends visited a couple of days ago for my birthday and in the course of conversation it came out that one of them did not know who Sarah Palin is and neither of knew what ACORN is.

My speech went something like this. “Now that I have a son who’s putting his life on the line to defend the American people, I have just discovered that I don’t have much patience for those who are benefiting from the sacrifices of so many but who don’t care enough to find out what’s happening to this country.”

Pretty rude, eh? On the other hand, I was quite gentle – considering what I was feeling at the time.

Trent remains consistent – continuing to pursue his music, and to otherwise swim in the youth culture of Seattle - With at least two happy items that distinguish him: he actually is a very good, disciplined, hard-working musician, and he is holding down a good job when a lot of other people aren’t.

Having gone through the struggling musician experience myself at his age, it’s somewhat painful to watch it in someone you love. But like pet cats who insist on running around in the dangerous woods at night, it’s right and good for people to pursue their most singular passions.

Speaking of consistency, Kathy and I certainly seem to have established some. I guess that’s what being on the downhill side of Mt. Fifty is supposed to be – stability (by which we mean, predictability). So anyway, nursing (her) and teaching (me) and hoping to continue till retirement age; being parents, in-laws and grandparents; watching the body turn back into soil; having a few friends with whom to do a few fun things every now and then. That’s what it’s all about for people at our age, right?