We went to Steve's parents house on Long Island for Father's Day. We weren't going to go at first - but the family cat died and somehow that made us feel like we should go there. Steve's father had been sick with no diagnosis: pain in his belly, elevated liver enzymes, high blood pressure, no appetite. He had a CAT scan on Monday and went to the doctor that night for the results. He came home before going to the hospital - they found tumors in his pancreas and liver. Steve's family is handling it very well, but I have a familiar feeling, recycled I think from when my father died: that the whole world is turning upside down, that sometimes life is just too powerful to handle, that everything is going to change quickly so hold onto your seat.

So we stayed on Long Island longer than we had planned and I have been busy finishing up Back Street Blues' website. There is just the directions page left and I am waiting for the owner to send me copy for it.

I met a dreadlocked woman yesterday at the health food store - or rather, she met me! I noticed her and her dreadlocked little boy and as I was taking Aidan to my car (he sits at a little table in front of the store while I load up my groceries) she approached me, excited about our common hair, and was so friendly and wonderful. I felt just elated to have met someone who might be a kindred spirit. I thanked her for being so outgoing and we exchanged numbers. Her name is Stephanie and her son is Elijah - he is older than Aidan, maybe 5 or 6, but they were interacting right away in their own way. They moved here from Yonkers a year ago.