The snow that we got last night has disappeared, even the ice on the deck is gone. This is a good thing because I don't like driving on ice. Actually, I do great, it's just those other people...

I think that the main thing that bothers me about Karen's parents moving, and giving up more of the stuff that they've accumulated over a lifetime... the camera that Charlie will never again use, the tools that he's used and loved for decades... the slides, the pictures... much of this stuff will end up in my basement. And in twenty years, or maybe sooner, my kids will be forced to go through all of my junk, throwing away stuff that they don't understand the value of, making all of these heart-breaking decisions... "Wow, here's his old Commodore! Remember how he loved this SX-70? He'd carry it with him everywhere..."

Ultimately selfish. I look at Karen's father and I see not him, but me. I feel sorry not for him and Betty, but for me and Karen. We've (collectively) taken away almost everything that keeps them alive, and given them... sustenance? A place to live, people to care for them... food, shelter, and their memories. The end of a life should be celebrated. How can that work? How is there not misery in every moment, with every movement of a body that is eighty years old? How can there be hope? You have to admire the people who do find hope in their situation. It would be so easy to just quit.

On a more positive note (?) I believe that Lisa is doing a lot more socializing. That is good for her; she is meeting a lot more people at school and broadening her horizons a lot.

I'm going to get this up and get started on my day, I fear that it will be another long one. I hate driving by myself, but I will have Karen to keep me company on the way back. We've kinda decided to just put the loaded trailer in the garage at the rental house for a while, since we don't have places to put everything. We're going to haul away about half of their furniture, including the twin beds that Karen and I have slept on (and I've cursed) every time we visited them since we got married. Lacee will inherit one of them, the other...(?) I believe that these very beds and mattresses are the same ones that Karen and Chuck slept on when they were kids.

There will be more later, hopefully...

Bad news bear, I am. Good trip down, the tale of the trip back will wait until tomorrow. Except for the part where I tell you that we listened to the KU-Missouri game. It was an excellent game, but the ending sucked. And the OJ verdict. That sucked too, in that I heard about it, and will continue hearing about it forever more.

Just a little teaser, to get you to come back tomorrow... the van wasn't heavily damaged, and nobody was physically injured.

Interesting call on the answering machine... "hello, this is Ms.___ at 273-XXXX, I'm living in the house where your children used to live, please give me a call..." I'm dying of curiosity, but I won't call her now, it's 23:25, fer chrissake!

The other call was from JD, he said that he loved me. I always like to hear that. Actually, I love to hear that from anybody, just ask Karen, she knows how easy I am.

Other news... I'm completely exhausted, as is Karen, and we're going to sleep now....