It’s especially tough for Avdi right now, what with all the schlepping of kids, and dealing with kid breakdowns, and finding/affording additional psychiatric and mental healthcare, and errands, and trying to find time to work to pay for it all.  It’s pretty desperate.  I do what I can, but it’s not enough.

A bright note, at least for me, was he and I got to go out belatedly for our monthly “date”.  We just went nearby to “Off Elm” WG, an upscale, friendly craft cocktail and whiskey bar, now with “snacks” which were more like superb meals.  The drinks were excellent and creative, and the bartender J was interesting to talk to.  I think she gave us the unofficial “bartender’s handshake” with all of us doing shots of Malört, a Swedish bitter that’s stronger than fernet, and we surprisingly liked it!  Avdi and I got to talk more than we ever do, about “matters of consequence”.  So that was a worthwhile reprieve.