They arrived at 3am this morning. My brother, his girlfriend, and my cousin. He had a gig in Vegas yesterday evening, so they couldn’t hit the road until 10pm. I was up until 1:30 getting the house ready for them, so I am the embodiment of a reanimated corpse. Eyes are all puffy, right lower eyelid twitching as it does when I’m this tired, hard to stay focused., keep looking at the clock, counting down to leave the office for the day. It’s my mom’s birthday next week, but we’re celebrating this Saturday with a big dinner at a lovely French restaurant. I’m paying, of course. I printed an enlarged photo of the view from the window of my mother’s favorite flat in Paris. The actual window is in the photo, so it looks like you’re about five feet inside the flat, looking out. I’m building a wooden box, which will have lights inside at the top, so when the light is on, it will (hopefully) come through the photo and simulate sunlight. It’s a little last minute (especially considering I was going to do this five years ago), but I can get it done if I work on it tonight and tomorrow night. I’m betting that it’ll be one of those gifts that will make her cry. When I’m good, I’m really good. Then I’m off to Vegas on Sunday until Wednesday for a convention of broadcasters, tech, and other industry-related events and networking. Should be fun. On the company no less, so yay me.

Your texting from Mexico had my mind and body wandering, wanting, damn the consequences. You’re home. I had been imagining you in the arms of some tanned, limber yogi, making love under a starry sky. Vomit 🤮 (still!!). I understand you have the fear and feeling of safe self-preservation, so I don’t really think this will come to pass, but you know I’m there. But you also know that I won’t be anyone’s fool, even if it breaks my heart.