back from vacation

I just got back from vacation in San Diego, and now notice that I had a big influx in web hits on March 23.  There must have been a conference where the url was shared.  Thanks, readers!  I do wish that people would write back though.

I went and visited my brother yesterday.  He was in good spirits, I think because the nursing home has been celebrating Passover, which breaks up the monotomy.

I mentioned to him as soon as it gets warm enough to sit outside, I might want to bring sandwiches for lunch and take him out to a park instead of sit inside a restaurant.  He liked that idea.  At the last nursing home, it was kind of in the middle of no where as far as parks go.  His new nursing home is much closer to parks I am familiar with.  The problem was that he moved last October, and it's been too cold to sit outside.

I have been feeling a little down though.  My brother really looks like his health has stabilized (assuming that his visit to the dermatologist later this week doesn't turn up any skin cancer).  I should be happy about that, but I'm also thinking he can live a long time and that visiting/taking care of him is a lot of work.

I used to think that I couldn't leave him for more than 2 weeks, but now I am thinking that maybe I could squeeze in a 3 week vacation.  It was really nice not having to visit him for 7-8 days.
I am wondering if my kids are both going to end up living in California, and how it would be difficult to "snow bird" for a few months every winter.  I suppose I should just wait and see how things are going to turn out, it's too early too tell, and I'm not ready to retire yet.