Curtis's birthday

Today my brother Curtis is 56 years old. (Photo is of Curtis and his wife Tina, taken many years ago at a picnic we had for Daddy's birthday.) I hope he is taking better care of his health. When he and his wife and daughter were here summer before last, he was severely overweight and still sneaking around smoking (according to his wife). This, after having had a heart attack a couple of years before that! I'd love for him to live to a ripe old age, but the way he's going, it's not a likelihood. But then, neither Sally nor Sheila appears to be on the road to old age, either.

I had my doctor's check-up Friday. Everything was in the normal range and he pronounced me "cured" of diabetes. I'd gained back a little weight, but to my surprise, he didn't fuss at me, just praised me for the other good numbers. Low cholesterol (low enough to be envied by the doctor himself), low blood pressure (110 over 60), normal/average blood sugar, etc. The only thing he commented on was that some of my red blood cells seemed to be enlarged, but he thinks the vitamin B might be responsible for that.

We've pretty much decided not to buy the little house in Big Rapids OR have my husband's colleague's husband build our screened room. In fact, beginning Thursday night, we're doing the demolition ourselves. Then we're going to put Trex composite decking on the 12 x 12 footprint of the old original deck and add Trex railings. The areas covered by the old deck will become water gardens. I have plans to put paving stones, a bird bath, a trellis and a bench, and many rocks/stones and ground cover plants like English ivy. We may add a corner pergola to the deck so we can have a privacy screen.

We talked to our younger son last night. He had apparently gone to a concert with his ex-wife. I would love for them to get back together, but I doubt that will happen. I still am very fond of her and miss her.

Older son seemed down and depressed when we spoke Saturday. He feels like a loser and is having trouble focusing as he studies for the GMAT. I think he's worried that his wife is going to toss him out on his ear if he doesn't hurry up and get going on his life.

Motherhood never ends. I love them so much and worry so much about both of them. But they are grown men. I can't live their lives for them. I can barely live my own life. Too much to do, too much to think about.