I'm just back from a week in England and Scotland with my friend Ian. We spent much of our time visiting with his family and friends but also did plenty of sightseeing.

We had planned the trip anyway but his father isn't doing well healthwise so I felt it was more urgent that we go. Mostly, his father is just disappearing. Decades of various health problems and a really overbearing wife and keeping him in bed up to 20 hours a day while they try to treat him for depression and ignore all the other symptoms.

When we were leaving, I felt on th everge of tears because I'm afraid this will be the last time Ian will see his father. The two of them genuinely like each other and his dad was so much more livley when we were there, I wish it were possible for Ian to see him more often.

Today, I need to write thank you notes to everyone who gave us beds and food while we were traveling. They made it s a very special trip for me.