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Yes, that! Realistically, because my parents had 7 kids by the time I was in college, I can't imagine they had any leftover bandwidth to worry about me. I remember even as a child being amazed at everything they went through just to feed and house us. My dad grew a full acre garden of vegetables and fruits, and he and Mother canned their butts off in the summers. I still don't know how they pulled it off.

And of course, we always only ever had one bathroom. Can you imagine a family of 8-9 today having only a single bathroom!

And now I'm obviously deep in old codger land. But mostly I'm just having one of those "How much everyday life has changed in the last nearly 8 decades" moments.

I'll see myself out now.

Yesterday, with the help of the strong woman who for the last 5-6 years out here in the country has been my right-hand person, we got the attic emptied. She bounded up and down the stairs carrying boxes of ancient tax returns, emptied picture frames, forgotten clothes, and other crap I don?t need. Then we drove to town and donated stuff to the hospital thrift store that someone else may love.

What I did discover and am now plowing through and loving were hundreds of photographs, letters, and other memorabilia saved by my mother who lived with us for nearly 10 years before she passed. One of the best treasure troves are the letters I wrote to my parents in 1966-67 when I was at university in West Germany (that's what it was called then) detailing my wide-eyed enthusiasm for being 20 and 21 years old in Europe with no adult supervision.

During the ten months I spent overseas I never once talked on the phone to my parents or anyone else stateside. We only wrote and received letters written on thin blue paper delivered via airmail, which as I recall required a more expensive stamp. Nearly 60 years ago, the passage from youth to adulthood was unfettered by helicoptering parents, cell phone connectivity, requests for permission, or well-meaning, unsolicited advice. Back then, independence was so much more available to young adults than it now is. I realize that makes me sound like an old codger longing for the good old days (I don't), but I so appreciate how much that year shaped me and how I have lived my life since then.

I hope we all have a good, productive day today. I have so much more to get done. It seems there are layers and layers to moving on.

Foie gras -- ermagerd! I don't have it often, but I love every fatty molecule of it when I have a chance to enjoy some.

You are the best wife! What a scary dream - you really have to get fully awake after those kind of dreams but sometimes the feeling lingers. DH felt that way the other day after having a bad dream about being in a fight with 2 of the people he worked with at his last job 6 years ago (strange how one's mind conjures up things).

Looong day here, but very productive--one of the most productive in a long time. I'll have time to be chattier tomorrow. Wishes for all to enjoy this evening and to get a good night's rest. :)