If I was metaphorically indebted to my son before, now I’m literally so in debt to him, I can never pay it off in full, even without interest.  So while I figure out how to scrape up thousands from nothing, I’ll try to work even harder to help out in any way I can.  I hate being one more problem for him when he’s overloaded to the breaking point already.  He can’t even spare a minute to talk about it.  I hate seeing him this way–underwater, just like his backyard.  Just as it starts to subside, another big rain drowns the yard again, even with the sump pump running full time.  There’s no chance to breathe.

But life, and work, and kids, and gardening, and Shabbat go on.  I walk there and back every day, and find plenty to do.  I’ve been working to plant, cultivate, and create new areas for veggies, herbs, and flowers.  The sweet potato slips arrived, and I hurriedly got them in.  The other potatoes, and even corn, are starting to show.  I planted a whole section of all the squash and pumpkins.  At least I can try to improve the garden and landscape, plus housekeeping.  I don’t think twice about sticking around to watch kids while Avdi runs errands.  I practically live there anyway.  The kids and I seem to have found a good rapport.