Mrs. Humane and I are empty nesters. The kids have families of their own, and my grandson has his first girlfriend. The cavernous four bedroom home 1400 feet up the side of a Southern California mountain is now the quiet and peaceful home that allows for deep thought and insight, as I gaze out over the city lights and distant mountains at sunset, while listening to Dead Can Dance Anywhere Out of the World or Lacuna Coil's Humane or Cold Heritage, or Miles Davis, Bach, Beethoven and other inspirational...

OK, so I realized I haven't updated this blog in centuries and things have actually kind of reversed from the last time I posted, so here is the latest:

The last time I blogged my son was living at home and going nowhere fast: working minimum wage jobs at bistros and such and then drinking his money away, and was a leaf blowing in the wind.

Well, what a difference a couple of years can make! He has been in the US Army the past two years! He spent a year in South Korea,...

Tuesday evening my whole nuclear family and grandson enjoyed a casual dinner at Chili's and then watched cartoons in my recliner with my grandson by my side, laughing, tickling and eating almond cookies. I retired to bed contentedly.

Then, early Wednesday morning my daughter and grandson left for Texas. They arrived last night at their new home, with my grandson's father and daughter's boyfriend of 7 years. My grandson's paternal grandfather lives nearby.

My grandson's...

Contrary emotions flutter their leathery wings in the night over my bed as I lay awake, staring at the ceiling:

Every parent wants to see their children grow up and leave the nest, and to part on happy and loving terms.

But every grandparent loves to see their grandchildren and to spend time with them.

So when my daughter moves out, and takes her son (my grandson) with her, I am glad to see her leave (not glad in the sense of animosity, but in pride),...