big day in the family today

As I write this at night, 8 hours ahead of Iowa time, my father is headed for lunch on his final day of work before retirement. My brothers and I chipped in the other day to buy him a new stereo. He’s a music lover if he’s anything, and is a member of the Iowa Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (and I’m not fabricating the existence of that institution). He’ll have lots of time to listen to music in the time to come.

It also just happens to be my parents’ wedding anniversary today. Best piece of family trivia is that they met at a Rolling Stones show in Chicago in the 1960’s. I don’t even especially like the Stones (I much prefer The Beatles), but I wouldn’t even exist if they had never existed.