Ooh, thank you for the stars!

I listen to audiobooks, too, yah. My mind wanders more with those than when I'm reading, so I often have to rewind. It's pretty funny. And I also put them on to fall asleep to and invariably fall asleep before the sleep timer, so... rewind. I'm good with them in the car, though.

I'm better at listening to podcasts. Something about following a conversation is easier for me or something? I don't know.

I read so much online between social media, news, and troubleshooting for work that I've gotten out of the habit of actually sitting back with a book that isn't a comic. I did pick up A Very Punchable Face from the library and start reading it this week, though, so maybe I can get back to old habits.

So I've invited the Sacred Circle and G&T Society over on this anniversary of Jacqueline's death. Emily, Hannah, Lisa and Marta will join Matilda and me.

Matilda has been very depressed lately, and she had asked if Emmett could come over too. He's not somebody who was doing the hospice caretaking so I didn't really think to have him here with us. But I asked him to come over at noon today before everybody else arrived to give some support to Matilda.

I dragged her out of bed at noon with bagel and coffee, and got him a coffee and BLT and she sat there at the kitchen table being very low energy and radiating sad. Finally I prompted her to talk about the bureaucratic academic bullshit her boyfriend is dealing with as he's starting City College (and a subject Emmett is all too acquainted with) and once she got to complaining with outrage her energy ramped up.

Next thing you know, he's got her laughing again, and he said, "We're going downstairs."

"Are you going to watch anime?"

"Yeah, but she's bringing her laptop so I'll also help her with her college application."

It is one of the verities: When Matilda is in pain, apply Emmett to the emotional wound.

That is lovely and sweet and hard. Love to all of you always, and especially today.

Much love to you and yours, David.

The hug Emmett gave me at JZ's gathering felt like it added three years to my life. He's a remarkable man. I am so very glad that he and Matilda have each other.

David, you have really added great humans to this world.

Emmett is such a wonderful big brother and I’m so glad Matilda has him.

My brother tries to help and usually makes stuff worse. We're just not on the same page. Glad to know that somebody gets that whole...Sibling thing (reminds self to send E. thank you note for extending Karl's life--If this were a movie, I'd send it too. Probably not in real life, though. Got enough kids online thinking I'm mental, probably. But the thought is with me right now.)ETA: insent, Hec.