I hope you are well. I took an unintentional long break from blogging. I have a duffle bag full of excuses for why I was gone for the last two years but a couple of reasons almost rise to the level of being true. I got really busy with work. And, as the kids grew up I got increasingly ambivalent about me telling their stories. The first issue got resolved pretty simply. I’m not working now. And I feel I can manoeuvre around the second by being sufficiently vague about the kids when needed.

So here we are in the summer of 2026. Vivian has finished her freshman year at college and has left for Spain for a couple of months of study. Evan got done with his sophomore year at high school and is in Nepal with his friend and his friend’s family. I’m taking a break after being in the trenches of an AI startup for the last almost 5 years. JoEllen recently convinced her mother to move in with us at the White Wooden House.

Jo’s brother and sister are coming to Austin over the next 2-3 weeks to help Carol and take care of the plants and animals (Sadie – Carol’s dog, is now a part of our menagerie along with Zeus, Phineas, and Ouiser). All of that and if the winds are blowing just right, the family just may be able to meet up in Spain for a few days.

This is us on Vivian’s birthday earlier this year. The kids aren’t kids anymore. And Jo and I must be heading towards a convergence because I’m looking older and she is looking younger.