response 374 of 673:

Aug 1 21:50 UTC 2003

Jim is happy that he will never again wait around his house just because his
daughter is in town and said she would visit.  A few times two weeks ago,
Tuesday evening and Wed. morning when she said she would be free ('free' meant
she had completely scheduled the day and wanted him to tour farmer's market
with her) and then 'Friday morning'.  She is leaving by plane some time this
evening and in three hours or so he will have proved to everyone that she does
not want to visit him.  She has not visited him (at his house) since she and
her mother moved out 20 years ago.  He will never again hang around waiting
for her to show up when she said she would.  She always calls and leaves
messages in mid-afternoon because she knows he is not there then.  She never
calls the two numbers on his answering machine (well, almost never, just once
she called here when she wanted her baby carriage fixed in a hurry).  Her
fiance said they would 'absolutely' visit to say goodbye.  Maybe it will be
a 5 minute goodbye.  In 3 hours Jim will be a liberated man.  Some people's
parents do not teach them manners (or honesty).  His son at least always
called ten minutes after he was due for supper to let us know his mother was
making frozen fish sticks so he could not come (or McDonalds).

Jim did at least get to see the kids at his sister's house in Warren (Detroit
area).  He was given half an hour notice about the trip.

He has been cleaning his house up all week for the visit.