Metchosin, hats off to you! We have much in common. Sad to have to make the point, but it shouldn't be unusual to nurse your children that long (it's not like you're the only source of nutrition that whole time!). It was the same with me and my two children. Love the story about the budgie, and I'm in awe of the electrical wiring! I'm tackling rerouting and wiring the television cable and telephone wires, but I haven't tried the electrical system. I need a fan installed, and would do it myself but for figuring out where the juice would connect (it'll be a new outlet, not replacing something in that part of the ceiling already) and installing the switches. . .

Anyway, nice to read your list! And Ella, I have a number of first aid stories that your list reminds me of. I was a member of a Mountain Rescue team, for those occasions when rescue and first aid were necessary for people in the mountains where technical skills were required to reach them. More than once, on my own hiking, I came across individuals who weren't going to make it out of their hike on their own. For example, on the trail from Kennedy Hot Springs that comes down from the Pacific Crest Trail I one time talked total strangers into carrying the backpack and gear for a fellow suffering from disorientation and dehydration and other health problems. I stayed with him and slowly walked him out, practically force-feeding him water along the way. When we reached the trailhead a couple of hours later everything was there and others in the parking lot were able to help him with salty food, etc. I'm afraid if I'd just walked past him, I'd have been called out later anyway, with the entire group, so we could carry him out. The only disadvantage to this kind of good deed is that my employer (the Forest Service) didn't pay me the overtime for the day because no official call for help had been issued.

SRS