We hung out in the old neighborhood, at Bea's house. Driving down that street at 5pm... wow. The light was the same, the houses looked the same. It took all that was in me to not turn up the driveway at the old house.

People brought food and drinks, and everyone ate and talked and it was just like the old days. Except that Bea wasn't there, holding court in her chair. We even took a walk through the alley and looked at the old backyard. So much smaller than I remembered it, and it's looking a little rundown and ragged. But papa's tree is still there. It was just a little skinny thing when we gave it to him for Father's day 40+ years ago... now it's HUGE.

Life is different, life is the same. Life goes on.