We went to "Black Sheep Brasserie" in Willow Glen for dinner on Tommy tonight. Sort of. He got two gift cards from Talon for his Birthday. From North Carolina. For a single-owner restaurant in Willow Glen, Califonia. We discussed it as we arrived, surmising that they were re-gifts, which it turns out they were. In the meantime, we found that the restaurant had changed owners and could not process the cards, but they worked out a deal with us. Their space was open and pleasant, and the food was good, particularly the burger. The Brussels and cheese stuffed olives were good, too, delicious, while neither floored me. Earlier this morning, I transported my mom to and from her latest round of treatments. Her bloodwork was so good that Tommy reached out to comment on that after seeing them come through online. She and I agreed that this routine is stable for the time being. Yet, at dinner tonight with Jen and Tommy, I started to reflect on the inevitable with more dread than usual. It takes balancing emotions and reality, and I'm glad to be conscious of that most of the time. Well, part of it, anyway. I returned to the bike mirror task, worked through a rusted screw issue with relative patience and determination, moved the lever, realigned the mirrors and took it for a short spin. It'll be a lot more useful now. I scheduled an appointment with Stanford to discuss the neck issues next week. I'm hoping to fast-track surgery before EOY. On the way home from dinner, Tommy, who was quite pleasant and connected all evening, shared some insights into his working through the loss of his mom and his gratitude for the home we've made together with Jen. It was a rewarding moment. More on that elsewhere and when.
