02-16-03 - 7:51 a.m.
a sold out saturday night in my little version of the bates motel; in spite of rain, every parking space and trashcan is filled. wine charm guy, who takes over next month, will be pleased.
patrick is in san diego at a granddaughter's swim meet and g's leash is short this trip, so we are temporarily out of contact. i'm antsy, anxious to hear the outcome of jessica's match. my codger's six children and ten grandkids have become extended family whose trials and tribulations are as real as my own. i know history and skeletons and milestones. i know birthdays and tragedies. i know the oldest son has aids and a devoted wife who keeps a lover. i know the oldest daughter spent 25 years with a gay husband, to protect his reputation with the family. i know patrick swallows his contempt at holiday gatherings for a daughter-in-law who drove his company into bankruptcy and squandered his retirement. he is tough on his boys and grumpy with the grandkids, but unusually patient and loving to my own radical little berries. he remembers her on every holiday- even valentine's day, when he manuevers the disaster of her bedroom to embellish her mirror with lipstick:
p loves b.