Skipper started at a new school today. He has been going to the Montessori School in the neighborhood for two and a half years. It's been fine but when an opening at Henry Barnard (my alma mater) occurred, we decided to take it. The school goes to the 5th grade and Hank will get in as a sibling next year.

Friday the Montessori School had a birthday and going away event for Skipper. Sarah started to cry, his teacher Michele started to cry, and I started to cry. Wait a minute, I said to myself. If I start to cry then Skipper will start to cry, and I caught myself.

Skipper has been nonplussed by the whole thing. He marched right into his new classroom this morning and got down to business. I drive him to school and the bus takes him home. Tonight he was very excited about the next day. "I can't wait till the morning." he said.

Today was Skipper's 6th birthday. We had the "Viking" party at our house with seven guests. It went Ok after recovering from the pre-party stress.

Skipper had wanted two things for his birthday. A Chinese checkers set and a suit. We purchased the latter yesterday for both Skipper and Hank. I will forward some of you a picture.

Hank has been all worked up about why Skipper's birthday is before his. "Explain it to me!?" he keeps saying.

A couple of weeks ago my uncle (who has moved into my mother's apartment) rammed his car into the McDonald's at University Heights after eating a cheeseburger. The rescue took him to Miriam Hospital where he was diagnosed with aspiration pneumonia. They stopped him from eating and drinking, although he attempts (usually successfully)to get visitors to sneak in cans of guava juice. He is being fed through the stomach.

Yesterday they moved him to Hallworth House where my mother convalesced after her surgery. He is very ornery and discouraged but is looking forward to the Super Bowl. Returning to Hallworth House has been a Groundhog Day experience for me. What next?