Well… the Lenten abstention from soda lasted all of a day and a half. Oh yeah… I also ate meat on Friday.Â? Were it not for my two afghan squares a day, my soul might be in mortal danger.Â? 😛

Things are not as severe as I thought they were going to be.Â? Physiologically, my grandfather isn’t doing badly but his mind is really confused. Â? He can still recite MANY stanzas of poetry (since they had to do lots of memory work in school back in his day) and I’ve sung a couple hymns to him.Â? It’s actually been not that sad for me to be here and see this — it’s been more of a time of blessing for me because I’m getting about 7 hours a day with him and I’m able to sit and hold his hand and be present.Â? The sadness will probably come when I head home.

On a more positive note, I was able to have a lovely evening with my friend Melissa with whom I spent 3 years at UCSC.Â? The two of us headed to Applebees and then back to her apartment to watch the Oscars and talk.Â? She is literally the world’s most sweet and giving person and I’m really blessed to have her as my friend and to get to see her the last couple times I’ve been in Washington.Â? I really miss having her around since she’s very much like me in terms of faith and convictions.

I head back to Montana tomorrow and I’ll arrive sometime on Wednesday morning/afternoon depending on how late Amtrak is.Â? One nice thing: they messed up my reservation date coming here so my accomodation got upgraded to a deluxe family bedroom (i.e. my own sink and bathroom as well as more space).

Back to the crocheting I go!