Just got home from my parents', about four hours total travel by Greyhound there & back.
Pretty good this year, fifth year w/o my older-by-9-years half-brother and his family since they inexplicably dumped us and we haven't heard from them since.
So, just me mom & dad, trying to keep the cheer up so the hole where my bro's family should be isn't too black & gaping, steering the convo away from that topic so my mom doesn't run to the bathroom crying.
Still had a good time. But, still an underlying sadness kind of washing through the whole day.:
![Frown :( :(](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
:
And the best 'hound ride yet (besides the cell-talkers) with no anxiety about other passengers whatsoever, giving me time to make a list of things to talk about, since I go blank around people (inc. family).
And I got a home-baked apple pie to bring home, so I'm happy about that
![Big grin :D :D](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)
.
Right now, tho' - strangely depressed...