July 16, 2023 ONLY SIXTEEN

Can't believe my little Tim is going to be sixteen tomorrow. SIXTEEN. He has an appointment for his driving permit this week. YIKES. Seems like he was just learning to ride his bike??? Time has certainly been a whirlwind. I didn't have Tim until I was 42 years old!!! ANCIENT. Although he wasn't really planned--he's been the greatest gift. Not sure what we would do without him. He keeps us young in so many ways. It's like we got a REDO.  With Timmy around--we still got to decorate for Halloween--go trick or treating----get an Elf on the Shelf--AND believe in Santa again. Good Times.  On to other news. I also had a good time reading Mary Beth Keane's new book The Half Moon. Set in Gilliam, a small suburb of New York City, Malcolm Gephardt is a bartender at the Half Moon who dreams of one day owning the place. After his boss announces that he is going to retire, he offers to sell the place to Malcolm. Although Malcolm really wants to buy the bar, is it really feasible or just pipe dream?  Meanwhile, Malcolm's wife Jess is a dedicated lawyer struggling to come to terms with infertility. They've spent six years and thousands of dollars on treatments that have put a heavy strain on their marriage and finances. As Jess struggles, she begins to question her marriage and choices in life. Keane's observations about marriage and midlife struggles are on point in this story as Jess wonders if the grass is really greener on the other side. -----Will Malcolm get in over his head and buy the bar? Will Jess come to terms with her problems? Will this marriage survive? Find out the answer to these and other questions when you read this 300 page well- written book for yourself.