Hey Dan

Thanksgiving weekend is done and folks are getting back to the ‘real’ world. It was a very good weekend in Dan land. Wednesday K and I flew out to California to meet my brother Dean. The flight was good K and I both napped on the way out. Once we landed in California, Dean collected us and pilled stuff in the car for the 8 hour drive up to Mom’s house. The drive was hard due to the fact it was late we did not get in until about 2am and the fact Dean does not listen to music in the car. I can not imagine how he does that I would go crazy.

Thursday was filled with food and family. While Mom was getting the last of the dinner for 25 people done, Dean, K and I went to find my friend Gary. Gary is a on of my friends from about high school. He is a funny human and a very odd duck, if you know what I mean.

We got back to the house about the time people started to show. Sass’s daughters and their families were there. It was very nice to see them. I have not seen them since Sass died. I wanted to tell them how much I miss Sass. Although Sass did make an appearance in a fashion, the fire place in the living room kept coming on when no-one was in the room. We assumed it was Sass. His daughters are all doing really well.

A vast number of nieces and nephews were there, all of whom had grown a lot. My nephew Brent is a man now and sounds like he is from New York most of the time. It was a hoot getting to talk to him. Gene and I talked about the art he is doing. The last art I remember of Genes hung on refrigerators. He is blowing glass and sounds like he is good. He talks about it with passion. I meet relatives and I never seen and more that I had not seen since we were both much younger.

Friday was filled with talking to grandpa and showing K the world I grew up in. Grandpa is an amazing man. I pointed out to K that when compared to my Grandpa, Dean and I have rather slacked off in our lives. He was an engineer for Lockheed and worked at the Skunk-works. He has great stories about being flown to remote air bases to work on top secret projects. BTW those remote bases turned out to be Area 51. His projects included the U2 and the F-117. Although his love was the SR-71 project, you can see his eye light up when he talks about working on it. Dean and I just do not have the same level of stories.

In Oregon some stuff has changed and most has stayed the same. It was good to go home and see it. It is good to be home. K was a hit with everyone. They all feel in love with her. So much so, that on Saturday she was feeling ill and I had to fight off Mom try to take care of her. I pointed out that is my job. You remember “…in sickness and in health…”

Now we are back and it is going to be another busy week. Dickens is this weekend and we have dance class, rehearsal, meeting with the minister, and I have to turn in keys for the apartment this week. Sigh… anyway keep those card and letters coming.