On the whole, a very good day...

I really enjoyed the day, marred somewhat only by the fact that I allowed almost 5,000 words due this evening to sit until the last minute, though I had the best of excuses. As one of my Marine Dis used to say, however, excuses are like navels: everybody's got one, and they really don't serve any useful purpose. The work still had to be done, so I sat down and did it. I managed to complete everything, and I sent those documents off a few minutes ago.

I am now savoring the aftertaste of the day.

The kids and grandkids came over for lunch, and we made an effort to set everything up outside, on the verandah, to take advantage of the lovely weather. I tried to keep the menu simple (grilled brats, steak, and cob corn), but with a little of this here (a veggie platter with guacamole), and a little of that there (garlic butter for the corn), and some other enhancements, our outing experienced some serendipitous "mission creep," and I think we were all the better for it.

The grandkids expressed a desire to spend the night, which was agreed to by all parties, and in the short breaks I've been taking between chunks of translation, I've gone upstairs and watched Huntur and Mathew doing much the same kind of things that I did at my grandmother's apartment whenever my folks took me there for an overnight stay.

And friend, let me tell you, that brings back a flood of memories, all good. Maybe too good, because I'm starting to cry, remembering those times and feeling both a joy and an emptiness I haven't felt for a while.

I think it's time to break out the old photo album, and let the tears fall where they may.

Cheers...