Matt's Journal

Sunny at 10am as the day starts up, not too hot so far but we’re in the middle of a heat wave – it hit 104 yesterday. Will nevertheless worked on his car and when Laura and I took our evening walk it was quite nice.

Laura left one of her scrapbooks on the dining room table. I think I heard her and Will laughing over it – it is from when he was little, in preschool. The photos have held up well. This was before digital photography became ubiquitous. Many of them are group shots and it makes me happy that so many of the people are still in our circle.

We still know the kids (now college grads or in college). Mac and Will were in cahoots – they’ve gone down separate paths but are still in touch. It is the same with all those kids. It gives me pleasure to see their kid pictures and to know them as adults. Blood family is far away so we make family where we are.

I also recognized almost all of the adults. Laura looks so young. Back then we were all raising little kids and that bound us together. It’s different now. Many couples have split up and there’s been at least one death in the “family”. The issues of aging are starting to appear – some with aging parents to care for, others with health issues themselves, all a bit saggier, a bit grayer. It is the women who have kept the connections going. I benefit from it. We men tried a few things, poker, darts, dinner out, but it didn’t recur as with the ladies and despite a few attempts to connect we’ve drawn apart.

Speaking of health and aging – today I go in for a CT scan, following a resurgence of blood in my urine. I’m not nervous but I am worrying – what if it’s serious? It could be. I’m going to take it a step at a time, as Laura has done with her cancer.