The parents have gone home. Now, for the first time in a month we czn get back to our regular lives... whatever that was.

Today is Independence Day. I used to enjoy that holiday but no longer. People do not understand it and especially here where Liberation Day eclipses it. I do not enjoy fireworks and have no inclination to go to the beach or BBQ or anything like that.

Regular lives... I wonder what that means? Last night I was up til 3:00 reading Fires of Azeroth by C. J. Cheryh. This morning I slept in until almost 9:00 and then went out to the carport for my morning exercises. Is that normal?

I have things to do this month. I need to clean and organize my side of the office. I need to repair the wooden chairs that have fallen apart. I need to build a cabinet to hold the water cooler and its bottles. And I have to contact SOMEONE at the college who will hear my questions and give me real answers.

I guess I know what I need to do. Now I need to do it.

Back home my father has relapsed. He needs regular blood transfusions. He is weak and uncomfortable. My mother is running ragged and having a difficult time dealing with his problems. It's more of an emotional difficulty than actual physical difficulty. I call once a week to check on them. Sometimes the calls are hard to do.