This summer has, cliche for the lack of original thought this morning, quite simply flown by. Especially July. Where did you go, oh month of warmth and summer fun? You started off with great promise and ended up drifting off with fleeting abandon.

Visiting the girls and the dad and the fiancee and family in Florida was wonderful; a 5 day mini-break wherein drinks were had, games were played and a comfortable coexistence was enjoyed. How much do I love my nephews in both their differences and similarities? The same can be said for my sisters, every one of us tied together with a complex knot yet I feel close to them than to most anyone. Here we are heading to dinner, a shot when examined closely reveals that I am standing on my tiptoes in an obvious attempt to match Amanda's height and remind Heather that I am, in fact, an inch and a half taller:



The traveler returned home and worked for a paltry four days before leaving once again, this time bound for Cape Cod. The week was a sleepy mix of coffee, crosswords, beach, mounds of books, lots of food, portuguese fried dough, sam adams, nighttime beach debates and fresh food. Also making an appearance was: an eye patch, a ceramic frog and a grocery bag containing: tuna, black olives and cheese for one. Never a dull time in the Cape, have we.

Vacation ended with a sobering welcome back into the real world with the untimely and shocking death of a coworker and mentor. One of the most caring and unfailingly cheerful people I have ever had the pleasure of working with, our Children's librarian passed away after a heroically long bout with cancer. He had worked for the library for over thirty years and there is a palpable void in his place. He will be missed by not only the staff and his family, but by generations of kids that have found fantasy, inspiration and laughter in his stead. Sometimes the world is just not fair.