Ellie got the news that her father passed away after a massive stroke. She will leave for Russia in a few days.
The Russian custom is to have the funeral on the third day
after a death, so there is no way she could have made it
for the funeral. She has a l7 hour train trip to Kurov after she gets to Moscow.

She wants the kids routine to stay as normal as possible so
I will pick them up and feed them dinner and Pat,(Bobby's
stepmother) will pick them up about six and take them to
their house and stay with them until Bobby gets home about
eleven p. m.

Adrienne's birthday is the l5th and I offered her a sleepover with two of her friends here but I think she wants
to wait. At any rate we will celebrate as much as we can.
I keep remembering how their Russian grandfather took Adrienne to the park with him where he went to play Chess.
She remembers nothing about the time she spent in Russia.

Some good may come of this. Pat was widowed about three
years ago and I have always thought it was silly not to
include her in family things. She is a nice person and
we have no animosity towards each other. She had a
difficult marriage to Bob. They were in couples therapy
for twenty years and I respect her for sticking it out.

It goes without saying that all of us will have to adjust
while Ellie is away.