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8:30a

I took my kids to their new school this morning. I walked with them into the cafeteria thinking that I would pay for their lunches for the week. They weren’t in the computer yet. “Well guys, I’ll see you on Friday. We forgot to get our hugs at the car.” Brandi gave me a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek. She is in fourth grade this year. Evidently, fourth grade is old enough to give mom’s hugs. Robbie gave me a big hug! And a smoochy kiss. Right there in the cafeteria of the school where he is a new student. Seems second graders can still be young enough to kiss their mom in public.

Jaymi said, “Oh-Kay. Bye mom. See ya. You can go. It’s all right.”

“No hugs?”

“No.”

“No Kiss either?”

“No.”

“Can we step out that door and go around the corner and have a hug?”

“No. I won’t have time for breakfast then.”

“OK, then.” I looked around to see if anyone was listening and then whispered, “love you.”

And the smile on her face said, “ditto.” Evidently, it’s only third graders this year that can’t kiss their moms.

I stopped off at the office to pay for the kids lunch. “My kids aren’t in the computer yet.” And I told her who they were.

“Oh, your kids are so cute! And your husband is very nice too. He cares a lot about you. How are you doing?”

“I’m good. Last week and then I can stay home. Dan has a lot on his plate.”

“Oh, he does, he does.”

Dan doesn’t see it. He sees his kids and his wife and his life. The people who look in at him see something else. When I got back home, Dan was just leaving for work. “Boy, you have the ladies at that school snowed! They think your great!” I said with a grin and a hug. “You don’t see it. When people hear I have to leave town for radiation they ask me ‘who’s watching your children?’ and I say, ‘They have a father!’ ”

“Why don’t they think I can do it?”

Women, especially think Dan is a superman. “I think you should get with ‘your kind’ and change the reputation of fathers.”

“I think it’s women. They need to give us dad’s some credit.”

And you know what? We really do. From now on, I’m going to be an Equal Rights for Dad’s person. Dad now has the right to cook dinner. Dad now has the right to referee fights. Dad now has the right to . . . aww, just to be daddy.

********

5:00p

With the kids at school and Dan off to work, the motorhome was quiet. It was hard to leave it. During the long drive back to the city, I busied myself making phone calls. Before I knew it, I was checking in the hotel again. Then I was walking into the treatment center again. But this time it’s the last week.

I was anxious today to tell everyone that I felt better! I do feel better. It was the Vicodin that made me sick. I will think twice before loading up on Acetaminophen in the future.

I have noticed, however, that I am having some trouble getting up from a sitting position. It’s new. Maybe it’s just today, I’ll let you know.

********

9:00p

I’ll let you know, but not tomorrow.

I have decided not to write tomorrow. This Tomorrow is more important than my problems. Out of respect for those who lost their lives on September 11th, I have decided to put my own problems and jokes away for one day. I will have a day of posting silence for those who did not get a chance to fight the Monster that threaten them.

You have not been forgotten.