it was a wild birthday party today, #10 turned 18, and had family from far and wide and a few friends, out in the park, under the hot june sun, with everything very green all around.

one of the wild aspects of it was getting parts of the family together that haven't gotten along in the past. #9 and her boyfriend might not have got along with all of them, but they were all at the same party and that was perhaps the high point - whole immediate family together in one place. #11, 12 & 13, all foster, were all there. #8, hypersensitive, came and brought friends. 1-7 are grown and gone. those who were left, were there and got along.

she's very low on meds. she's been having outbursts and has been very fragile since her boyfriend broke up with her and she came home. when she did come home, we discovered that she hadn't been taking enough - confused about doses, maybe. kind of a subdrama in that, as birthday girl, she's the center of all attention. but that part was difficult. also, i tried to play badminton. i believe it's one of the better games. i got some birdies out and some people willing to bat them around with me. unfortunately i'm very old for sudden turns, wild arm swings. hand-to-eye coordination. i was appalled and actually had to rest. often.

about fourteen years ago we were adopting these girls, 9 & 10, and i pointed out to my wife that i'd be 72 when the youngest turned 18. you can do it, she said. i knew it would be a long haul. but in that sense, i made it. the fosters are just that - we have borrowed them and will return them. the main fam, 1-10, is up and out.

except that you do raise them forever, especially when they aren't quite ready for independence.