October 22 - 23, 2006 - Day 269/270

Well, we made it! Dinner and Rand's time at home were a success. I brought him home Sunday about 4:00 and we toured the house and yard. He ooooohed and aaaaahhed over it all. It has been three months since he was here and he was not as healthy then as he is now, so I suspect that much of this was new to him. We went for a walk down Jeremie Drive and met several neighbors, sat on their patios and had talked. We returned home for champagne, cheese and crackers. Rand read the paper while I fixed dinner - same old routine! Rand seemed to enjoy his requested meal and had no trouble eating. We washed it down with a 1999 McDowell Syrah - very nice. Shortly after 7:00 he was ready to leave. More neighbors came by to say hello and we left about 7:30. Rand was happy to get back to his home and didn't have a problem leaving here. I had a problem with his leaving and got rather teary when I left him in his room. Rand laughed about it and I know I have to get over it. Below is a bad photo of him at the end of dinner. He was stuffed when he left and I brought a bunch of food to his house so they can all enjoy it tomorrow.

On Monday, Rand and I talked about dinner at home. I asked about the food, what he thought of the house, yard, etc. He approved of it all. I asked if he would come home again for dinner and he carefully and slowly said, "I want to come home for always." I didn't know what to say. I can't give him false hope or build up his expectations, yet I don't want him to give up either. I guess, like everything else, we'll take it one day at a time and let the future unfold as it will. Man, this is hard!

I have to start laying the ground work for the trip at Christmas and being gone for a week and another week in February. I guess I will know what to say when the time comes and how to deal with it as the time draws near. Rand follows the calendar like a hawk, knows which day it is, what's coming next, crosses off the dates every couple of days - just like he tracks time on his watch. He is amazing.

We had some good phone calls this weekend - from my college roomie, my aunt in Portland and several friends. Thank you - we love hearing from everyone.

Keep Rand close. Every day things seem to change and get better and better.

Love,
Connie