Half-day off work today to bring dad back from the hospital. He broke his rib a while back, then developed pneumonia. After 4 days in the hospital and daily lung punctures to drain over 2 liters of fluid from his right lung, the thoracic surgeon decided he didn't need an indwelling drain.

He gets to come home, with antibiotics, on the condition he be seen every 4 days to check fluid buildup and response to medication.

And if I'm lucky, not only will we spend time with him, but we'll have sushi. He will always get meat and vegetables, but my mom is cool about picking up Haggen sushi or cheap Chinese. She rocks.

It sucks being 90 miles and a ferry ride away, but if I didn't live where I do, I would lose it entirely for about 3 months of every year. I live in the place that makes me happy. I say this because I fear that eventually I will have to live in Arlington (not that there is anything wrong with that). I need to remember all the tough things I've weathered in my life and give myself credit for my flexibility and resilience.

Hey, dad, here I come.