we've had an extra full day. then again, most saturdays are extra full. Karen's funeral was this morning. we were the only Evans kids that attended, since Thomas and Meredith are in Puerto Rico right now and Leah was otherwise occupied (i guess). my cousins Allison and Andrea both flew in for a few hours. they are Aunt Sarah's girls and are smarty pants like their parents who are both doctors. Allison is a graduate of Drexell and has a job in biochemistry or something like that, and Andrea is about to graduate with honors from Tulane. my family used to babysit them a lot when their mom and dad had to travel when they were little. it's so hard to think of them as adults now.

the burial was in Giddings and Brian took us up highway 71 through Bastrop. this was the first we'd seen of the charred land from last September's fires. slab after slab sat covered in ashes, even now, seven months later. acres and acres of burned loblolly pines. it was very sobering and really amazing to remember that only two lives were lost.

after the burial, most of the Sparks clan went to eat at an old family favorite, Cafe 290 in Manor. my grandfather seems to be doing ok, though he did cry a good bit. i don't think he ever expected her to go before he did. he's 20 years older than she was.

Uncle Bob pressed me about registering for the marathon in New Braunfels in October. my enthusiasm has waned a bit, but i think that if i get out and do a good long run i'll be inspired once again. Brian and i ran three miles together this morning. we rarely get out and run just the two of us, so it was sort of like a date.

i guess that's really all i have to report tonight. i really want to stay on top of this blog, even if my entries are rather dull. i think i'll be glad i did one of these days.

Don't use a big word where a diminutive one will suffice.

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