It remains surreal to sit on this patio, enjoying an evening outside beside the firepit, cool Jazz playing on the speaker by the open window, with my hammock out and positioned between the two trees on the opposite side of the property. Yet here I am. Tommy, who I watched from the hammock with awe and amazement over the past 20 years, has gone by so quickly and unnecessarily dramatically. He sits to my left, eating the chicken he barbecued himself only 10 minutes ago. I can't say enough how right it feels to have this space and its history, good and bad, us losing it all in what was already a horrible loss. I gazed earlier at the picket fence boards behind the St Francis statue with pride that it continues to be relevant. As do so many things throughout the house. Even when Tommy is out, and it's just Jen and me, embracing the path and influences that were found along the way will remain a comfort. I spent the day completing the excellent Bernie Taupin autobiography while doing "one more thing "in the garage, which resulted in it being cleaned rather thoroughly. We attended a small gathering at Marc's mom's in Monte Sereno. It is an awesome home and property that we both appreciated. Adu, his mom, was a sweet and engaging person. I was moved to see a wall of family photos in a hall and images of her as a mother, wife and active individual. Now, in her later years, does she feel the value her life has been?