Yes, yes, I miss you terribly. The old folks are fine, in their way, and many are even interesting in that they’ve found real meaning in their crone-ness, but THIS old one seems to still gravitate towards the energetic and young of the species, so here I am - still can’t post a bloody picture since they’ve made it such a damned *project* here, but never mind. I’ll try to be descriptive. Today, after a week’s visit, my dear son flys back to sunny California, leaving Massachusetts that much drearier for his absence. It’s been a busy week - non-stop activity, really - and tomorrow I go back to work myself. Good thing it’s only for two days before the weekend. Over this past weekend, my daughter - the Heart Association daughter, that is - had a “Heart Walk” that she had to oversee in Connecticut. Right along the shore. Lovely location. But so much work! We all - Me, my other daughter and her DH and DD; my DS and his girlfriend and his girlfriend’s sister, my hear daughter’s husband, son, and mother-in-law, and of course MY DH - went down there on Saturday to help set up for the walk - luckily, there were also tons of other Heart Association staff and volunteers, because I never realized what a major undertaking these heart walks are. We had most of the tents and booths and such set up by dinner time, and we all went an checked in at the hotel and went out for supper. We had to be back at the walk site for 7:00 AM….Gawd! When we got over there, it was absolutely freezing - in the 20’s what with the ocean wind and all. Good thing we were forewarned and dressed in many layers. It did warm up some after the walk got started at 9:00. I was bowled over by the number of walkers - several THOUSAND! It was amazing. My DS did all the announcements and looked very professional up there on stage, I must say. THEN, when the walk was over, everything had to be taken down - I’m talking about some 20-odd tents and probably a hundred tables, banners, baloons, sound systems….Oh, I’ve got to tell you - we worked for sure, but it was terrific, really. The whole family pitching in and doing something useful together. Gotta love those kids of mine. Wish there was some way I could post some of the pictures here….darn.

We got home late Sunday afternoon, and I think everybody just crashed until Monday. We had supper together, of course, with DS home - and then last night, we had a regular Bacchanalian lobster-steak-shrimp fest. DS can’t get *real* lobsters out there on the west coast, and they don’t seem to have very good meat in their markets, either - at least not the tender cuts of steak that we can get here. PLUS, the lobster prices are at rock bottom right now - bad for the lobster fishermen, but awfully nice for us. We all got two apiece, and DS and one daughter had three each. And all those lobsters (14) came to under a hundred dollars! I can remember spending a hundred dollars and getting four or five lobsters! Yikes! Well, anyway, we had our feast, and at noon today DH & I will drive DS & his girlfriend to the airport. <sigh>. I have to keep reminding myself that he’ll be back at Christmas.

My youngest daughter, as many of you already know, is finally pregnant - three months, now, and things proceeding nicely except for morning sickness that seems to last all day long. She’s having an ultrasound today and has an appointment with her doctor tomorrow. I hope the nausea is about ready to pass, because she’s being having a terrible time with it.

DH & I are still walking with Leslie Sansone. Three miles a day, unless we’re doing outside activities, and if that’s the case, we just walk with Leslie morning and evening.

I have to run. Time to get ready.

Love,

Z