Billy

I woke at 4.05 a.m. yesterday. I drove in the rain to Dallas Love Field. I flew to Austin. The plane was late due to a mechanical issue. I still made my meeting with time to spare.

My first cousin Billy died over the weekend, at age 70. I did not know him very well but thought him a good fellow. My brother is driving to Louisiana for today's funeral. He left at dawn for the 10 hour round trip. I did not join him but will miss being with family. Billy left behind family and friends. I learned from his obituary that his friends called him "Sweetness". That reminds me of all the small town Dubs and Tigers and Stonys of my small town childhood.

My dog developed the sincere conviction that I should awake at 4 a.m. each day.

odd day

When I looked at my watch, it was 7 p.m. The work day flew by. I felt badly to miss the funeral in my family, a five hours' drive away in Louisiana. I felt good to meet my clients' needs. On my drive home, I listened to Texas Senator Ted Cruz drop out of the election cycle for the Republican presidential nomination. Now Donald Trump is,incredibly, the presumptive nominee. This is a strange year.

At lunch I walked in Salmon Park in Sachse and took pictures of an Eastern Bluebird while three nearby Mormon missionaries sat on picnic tables under a shelter and talked.