It is so outside of my lifetime family experience. All of my immediate family, siblings, cousins, and beyond have always been so close. If any of them showed up at my door at any time with or without notice I would be delighted and they are always welcome to stay. I know that the same holds true for them. Brendon is super close with all of his family too. It is a tradition in our family to surprise people by just showing up from out of town to visit and it has always been joyous fun. It is just the way we were raised. To not only not feel welcome by my own child, but to be completely rejected by him is just something I don't think I'll ever be able to understand.

tl;dr Parenting sucks.

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I'm sorry, Laura, it breaks my heart that he's made this choice.

I've actually been more in touch with my sister in the last year than the previous ten. This is because she got a smart phone and we could start texting each other.

Also, I was just checking on her more regularly during her cancer treatments. This is how I got all the new context on fucked up family lore.

I want to fly her out to stay with us, but I was putting that off until we got the windows fixed. But that back order supply chain issue on curved glass stays stuck. They did finish one complete window out of the eight being fixed, though, so I can see how nice it will look when it's done.

Also, she's super busy with her work right now, so I think that will taper off come the fall and I can get her out for a visit. She hasn't been to SF since Matilda was christened.

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Sheryl I hope the trip goes well. I know you didn't ask for advise but if you have cimfort things for him and work in some transition time for the spots and watching out for things that are loud or bright it might help.

That sucks Laura

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It's wonderful that you have reconnected. The only reason I still deal with FB is the connection to family I wouldn't see otherwise. I have to find some better method of pet care so that I can travel and visit family and friends more easily. Animals complicate life. Particularly Skinner because he is so accustomed to having me around all day and night.

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Laura, it is heartbreaking, and unfathomable. /Not a hairpat

Sheryl, travel mercies to you.

I finally believe that whole "find something you like to do, and you'll do it!" thing with respect to exercise. If there's a pool involved, I'm happy.

Why it took 54 years, I don't know, but whatever. I went lap walking (bouncing, hopping, fake swimming, water-yoga-ing) this morning, and it was so fun.

And the 15 mins. in the hot tub/spa thing didn't suck either.

Now I can never move, because we're only four mins. away from the community center.

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Water exercise has the added bonus of not being stinky when you finish!

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Yes!

Man, we are having quite the deluge here, with bonus thunder and lightening. One of the cats is hiding, and the other hasn't moved from her (my) pillow on the bed.

Poor Zoë. I checked to see whether she was in the closet, and she dashed out and bolted under the bed.

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Chiro told him just to ice regularly, do a set of exercises and just don’t do shit that hurts, basically

That worked with my sciatica - that and never ever sleeping on that side again.

Laura, I'm so sorry. Elder son came around on his troubles, I can't help think younger son will too.

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Dear woman on FB, when I say something like "the vast majority of us who are autistic prefer identity first language to person first language" then that means, that yes, what you learned a decade ago in college has changed and instead of saying something like "when I was in college we were taught person first language, has it changed?" you could use reading and reasoning skills one assumed you learned through out your years in school AND college to recognize that , yes, it has in fact changed. And maybe say something like "I hadn't realized it had changed since I was in college a decade ago".

I was nicer than that.

David- I forgot to mention, my brother and I have been texting and communicating more, although he has been swamped with work so he hasn't responded much. But it's been nice to start to develop a friendship with him.

I've been thinking about my neurologist visit on Monday and asking about changing my hours, and getting a copy of the work note from her. I've done 3 hours a day ok and it's been getting easier. I'm thinking of asking to start back to 4 hours a day 5 days a week starting on the 28th and doing that for 3 weeks and then doing 5 hours a day for 5 days a week for 2 weeks and see her either after that week or doing that final week to see how I'm doing. Partly because when I'm at wok I feel like I can work another hour or so. But then I have a busy week like last week and I'm not sure I'm ready for it. So I don't know.

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I just skimmed about 100 messages. Oh goodness, friends, you're dealing with so much. My love and support to those who need it. Askye, I'm sorry your workers comp situation has been so fraught. Gud, you are a worthy person who does not deserve to be treated like a burden. David & JZ, I hope your new pigs will be a better fit for Prubs; pet dynamics are so hard. Laura, I just can't imagine a more loving pair of people than you and B. I'm so sorry your younger son is causing you so much pain. Sheryl, I wish you calm-ma and patience and fortitude. I hope the trip is great. Jen, yay for pool exercise! Jesse, dog sitting on a beach in Maine sounds amazing! My mom is visiting a friend on a beach in Maine right now, and she keeps sending me photos and videos and making me jealous. Also, David! That stretch is amazing! Thank you. And Scrappy, I hope it helps your spouse and that you had a very happy birthday.

I'm truly worried about whether our country can survive the propaganda on the right, but I if I think about it too much, I'll have a panic attack. So I'm just going to be very happy about the raid and hope what they find ends in him being barred from public office.

ND just got home. He hasn't slept in way too many hours and has to push through for a meeting tonight, but I'm hopeful he will get a solid night tonight and be able to shift back onto a day schedule without too much stress. Our adorable puppy (Shepherd Book, aka Book) got his final vaccinations today, and he starts his first puppy training class on Saturday. He's four months old and 43 pounds already. He's an adorable, sweet, willful velociraptor at the moment.

Oh! And Erin and I are headed to Tulum on Friday for a last hurrah before I go back to school! I'm so excited. I've traveled this summer, but it's all been for family — this is the only real vacation I've had, and since I already had the 10-days-in-Mom's-guestroom Covid experience this summer, it should be safe. Wish us uneventful travel and good weather!

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