Fifty-two years ago on this day was born a male-child at Hahnemann General Hospital in Portland, Oregon. This child was named Douglas, for a tugboat that his father saw in the harbor, according to his father. And his middle name was Clifton, after his father's favorite uncle, Cliff Hull.

The child was allowed to live, for he was very fair. His parents did worry about him drowning in the Oregon climate, however, because his nose was very puggish, and apt to take on water when he was carried outside..

And the child was returned to a dryer climate, that of North-Central Oklahoma, where he thrived. Well, kinda thrived, anyway...

And the child, when of age, dutifully served his term in the military, enduring the hardships thereof..

And in due time, the child took a wife and had his own children. Eventually, both the wife and the children were gone..

And the child took a new wife, and she was fair and pleasant; and they plan to live happily ever after..

And lo! One child of the child's children returns; and another, of the second wife's former marriage. And many are the children and grandchildren and friends who live, on and off, in the house with the child and his wife Karen. And they find that yes, they are living happily ever after... for this is what living is about..

And the child is surprised that this is his fifty-second birthday, for he had only planned to live thirty... and he was surprised to pass that point, too. There are still many things that surprise the child.... some of them good, some not..

But there is only one thing that makes the child happy... and that is what goes on in his brain. For happiness may only be obtained from the brain... and the child knows how to do that..

And he does, and will continue to do so..

Happy Birthday, me!.

Home finally... easy night last night. I got ten hours of sleep again yesterday. Karen and I are going to Wichita early, I can sleep down there while she visits... so no updates until Sunday evening probably!