Tomorrow---Tomorrow---(you all DID see Annie right?)

Tomorrow, the old dude ventures outside Valley Glen---to drive to the Laid back, quiet Village of Redlands, California. This quiet but interesting township, is where my Niece Melanie and her husband Bill reside.. The occasion is a surprise birthday bash for said Husband---(my family, bless them all, is really BIG on surprise parties---actually to be honest, they just fucking love parties, and will go or create them on the most flimsy of excuses.)---On any given gathering of the clan, on whatever excuse is offered, be it birthday, purchase of a new VCR, a milestone in education, aka 9Th grade to high school for example, -------and adoption of a new puppy, or kitten, , purchase of a new (or newer) vehicle---hey party time. My family lives from one Kodak moment to the next---and being as big a family as we are---its now an on going riot.

But I drift---tomorrow I will drive out to Redlands to make an appearance at Bill's surprised birthday bash. This will entail a 150 mile round trip, I will take a 12 pack of beer (the adults in the family no longer exchange gifts, ---its appear or be dead.) Why do I do this??---well damn I got this dumb reputation of being there------it comes from being the current living senior of the family---almost like gives the party throwers bragging rights ----"Uncle Gary was at MY party" kinda thing. Pressure, always pressure---not easy being old---not wanting to show favoritism's.

Actually will HAVE a good time, assuming I survive the southern California freeway system---my generation still calls the various freeways by name, while the younger use numbers, ---makes for inter=generational dis-connects, and confusion.

But HEY, 71 and counting here---somebody has to lord it over the kids---I worry about them and they're lack of experience?