Years and years of "nose to the grind" doesn't seem to payoff, absolute loyalty to one person or company is a notion of times long past. Everything and everyone seems to be in a live for yourself and screw everyone else mentality. Hell, how can you plan for your life when you're expected to change every few years. Where's the stability in that?

It was a good weekend for family. The time spent... worth the effort to get there, worth the expenses paid, worth every minute spent with the family.

It reminds me of the few pleasent times when my brother and I were young, when the family would all gather at "Big Mamma's" house and the air would be filled with sounds of family and the smells of home cooking. My brothers wife, a great cook. She's managed to keep my brother and the kids well fed and happy (as far as I can tell). She knows what it means to try to bring and keep family together.

Robin Michelle Dechert, my best friend, my sister. She, having included me in most family situations, also knows what it means to bring and keep family together.

I'm am very lucky to have these people in my life. They look after me even when I don't look after myself. They care about me, what happens to me. I try not to forget that, they are why I'm not so alone in the world and that I matter. I may not be a superstar or rich but I am known and loved by those that matter in my life.

It's been a good weekend...