I compose this post before crawling off to bed in anticipation of two grueling weeks of Broker Pre-Licensing class. That's right, I'm taking the plunge, and as Teddy Roosevelt decreed, becoming a "man in the arena."

My confidence has been shaken with a lost deal in a very important farm area. The deal went away because I failed to ask the right questions about the buyers. The sellers, my clients (for now) are furious, and I am catching the lion's share of their wrath. It is with good reason that they blame me, but I'm still going to beg their forgiveness for my oversight and ask for another chance to close the loop on their home. I've got to get up, dust myself off, and proceed. But I can't say as I am looking forward to it.

Ryan is now in Special Care, which is the last stage before the trip home. He's growing in clutches and gulps; he is literally devouring life as it is presented to him. We find ourselves crying over the most pedestrian of instances. Laura is tinselly with anticipation, and I'm the supportive and scared senseless dad. All trepidation is extinguished with each trip to Orlando. We marvel at every single twitch and flutter.

I've no energy to narrate, so here are the latest memories, courtesy of the binary age.

Asleep

Blissful

Blissful revisited

Daddy feeds

"fearfully and wonderfully made"

Mmmm, milk! (red spot from the tape holding his breathing apparatus, which is no longer necessary!)

Pacing himself

Real life

Taking charge!

Garden spot

Pacing myself

Worth every moment

and, finally a small ode to our feline senior citizen. His name is Thurthton Thithtertinton, and he is round about 19 years of age, which is well over 20,000 human years. He is brittle and arthritic, blind, and has a tendency to upchuck at the most inopportune times, in the most inopportune places. There are but two teeth standing as lonely sentinels in his head, and he sleeps so much you'd think he was part alligator.

He is also holding on for the express purpose of seeing that our little boy is home safely. Every other human and cat in the house knows this, and we give him a wide berth and loads of love whenever he settles on which lap to occupy. I've had him since he was six months old, through eleven changes of address, and will be inconsolable when he's gone. Last night I found a noxious hairball on the keyboard and lost my ever-lovin' mind at him for a full ten minutes. Then I realized that he was looking at me with fear in what's left of his eyes. I scooped him up and stroked his chin for a moment, and he began to purr and feel secure again.

He's priceless.

We are so blessed.

Posted by: Paul @ 12:00 AM