So two doctors indicated in the middle of last week that my 80-year-old dad was close to death. So I took an unplanned trip to Spokane, spending a 4-day weekend there. Let me say immediately that Dad suddenly got a lot better the day I got there, and we had a great time going out to eat, taking scenic drives, and talking about important things. He even cooked me breakfast (pictured).

But as I'm sure many of you have found over and over, it's such a comfort to have enough command of one's wardrobe to be able to pack in a hurry for a few days in another climate. In a carry-on! I even dreamed up an appropriate outfit in which to go to my brother's quite sartorially conservative church. While retaining enough style that my 16-year-old niece said, "I have a hip aunt." (For a moment I thought she was talking about my sister.) "I think you're hipper than I am," she continued.

Every day of my trip I put on my clothes and I knew they were appropriate and attractive. I hadn't forgotten anything. I was warm enough (it snowed!). I felt confident that my dad, who always likes me to look nice, would enjoy how I looked. (Funny, for years I rebelled against this and tried to be what I thought of as "natural.")

I wasn't on the forum at all, but I thought of you all every day. I felt your support and I felt so happy at how we help each other respond constructively to the societal mandates every woman experiences. I'm home and Dad's okay for now. Thanks to Angie and to each one of you who read my posts and whose posts I read and who make up this community.