A big shout out (a current phrase i’m told for “great job” or the Navy’s “Bravo Zulu” (“BZ”) to Mac at Apple Care. After a reformat of my hard drive about a month ago, nothing seemed to work correctly. Today when i lost two important pieces of work i updated last night, i finally called “Apple Care.” For anyone who owns an Apple product, i strongly recommend you get Apple Care. It’s the best customer service i’ve encountered in a long while. For now, here is one of the pieces of work i lost:

It is raining still, harder than at party time. The party is over.

i took my sister Martha, the last of my relatives from out of town, to the airport today (Monday). A normal 20 minute trip one way took an hour and a half to get there and an hour to come home. You see, folks in the Southwest corner don’t know how to drive in the rain.

Later, Martha called to tell us she was on the plane and an hour after the scheduled takeoff, it was still on the ground. The delay is likely to cause her to miss her connection from Atlanta to Chattanooga.

It was raining during the party but thankfully, not enough as this, no, not this much. When it does rain here, the Southwest corner floods in lots of places because it was never intended to have much rain. And this folks, was and remains a rainstorm. It started on the morning of the afternoon party. Even though the party is over, it’s still going. This gully-washer is one of the longer water bearing storms we’ve had lately.

My brother-in-law Danny departed for Crossville, Tennessee early Sunday morning. Our daughter Sarah departed for Las Vegas after Sunday lunch at North. Our daughter Blythe, son-in-law Jason, and grandson Sam left Sunday morning for Austin, Texas.

The other party guests were gone by 8:00 p.m. Saturday evening. The party is over.

The house is back in order with only a few exceptions. The many loaned tables, chairs, tents, and coolers are staged in the garage to take back to neighbors and friends when the rain stops. The left over beer, wine, and non-alcoholic drinks are poised to be given to friends or properly stacked in our wine rack and refrigerators. The party is over.

All the gifts i requested folks not bring are opened. “Thank you’s” will ensue. The party is over.

It is one of the few parties i’ve hosted that met my goals. There were just short of 70 attendees, more than both of us expected. Our next door neighbors, Gabriella and Jesus Avila are the owner of Chuchy’s Taqueria catered with incredibly delicious carne asada, chicken, and birria tacos with sides.

i didn’t want the party to celebrate me. i wanted the wide range of folks who have had positive impact on my life to meet each and enjoy each other. That happened. i’m pleased and honored to have had them here.

Now, it is time for me to get back to work. Even past 80, i find my most satisfaction from taking on tasks and completing them. i don’t intend to stop although the tasks may change as i age further. i don’t know. i am in a good place, and have wonderful wife, family, and friends. Life is good.

My sister has landed in Atlanta but did miss her connection home to Chattanooga. After spending the night in the airport, she made it home this morning.

(From last night) Our brief respite from the rain ended about a half-hour ago and we can hear the raindrops again. It is supposed to end sometime tomorrow and be sunny in the mid to high 60s by the weekend. But we have fire in the fireplace, and it is quiet.

The party is over.