BRUCE WILLIS

Dad's hair has been falling out since he started his new chemo. Last week his friend Sam got out the clippers and shaved Dad's head. It was quite startling to come home and see his bald head. He says he thinks he looks like Bruce Willis only better. Way to have a good attitude about it, Dad. He has a nice round head without a lot of dips and bumps so it's really not so bad.

Today is my birthday. I went over to Dad's and there was brownies and cake. It was a surprise. Kelly is over and staying with Dad tonight so I was settling in at my house and wasn't expecting anything. Debbie and the kids were there, Rob, Steve, Kelly, and Dad.

My life is very odd right now. I've been staying at Dad's and coming home once or twice a week to pick up mail and check the house. Then one of his nine kids calls and someone else comes and stays with him to "give me a break." It is unsettling. I don't need "a break." I'm trying to get used to going back and forth. I know the other kids need to be with him and I don't want to interfere with that. But hauling my stuff back and forth between his house and mine is cumbersome at best, totally disconcerting at worst. Now what is it I need and where am I sleeping tonight?

Dad is getting stronger and may not need the attention, but I hesitate leaving him home at night because if he falls I hate the thought of him being down all night.

I cleaned out my basement today. Steve and Rob brought a truck of mom's stuff up today. She'll get a uhaul and get the rest of her stuff up here in the next few weeks. She's pooped. She'll probably have time here without me to decorate the house, get her stuff put away, and get settled in.

Some days I do really good with the uncertainty. I know the Lord is in charge and his tender mercies bless my life daily. Some days I just want to crawl in bed, curl up in a ball and stay there for awhile. No time for that, however.

A year has dripped away with barely a notice. Happy Birthday to me.

Flyboy

My dad is a pilot. Even after he crashed his spray plane and was in a body cast for six months and had to learn to walk all over again, he returned to flying. He was telling Carmen a couple weeks ago maybe he should start flying again. They laughed. He laughed. She sorta laughed...she wasn't all the way sure he wouldn't. Dad is like that.

Good looking guy, yes?