Last week. Family vacation, not too far away. Far-flung relative flew into town, rented car. Boy brought friend along for part of time. Sunday, August 8. End of family vacation. Relative has partial seizure 20 minutes before we were to leave.

Husband and relative off to local hospital. Relative stays there, husband ferries dogs, boy, and some stuff back home. I wait at vacation rental for tow truck to pick up brother’s rental car. Six hours later, have to leave with husband, who by end of day has driven the equivalent of one way to Los Angeles from Bay Area. Relative taken to SF hospital via ambulance. Brain tumor.

Brain tumor removed on Monday. Relative released yesterday (doing pretty well, considering — helps that tumor was close to skull). Waiting to hear what kind of glioma he has. Glioblastoma, thing that killed my dad, John McCain, Ted Kennedy, and Beau Biden (among others), statistically most likely. Still might be something less aggressive.

Relative staying with us indefinitely. Diagnosis, prognosis unclear. Lots of work, but hard to focus. Clients in dire straits. Many people needing therapy. Husband’s job also jam-packed with work and responsibilities. Boy starting challenging in-person school year. Potential book on the horizon (or not—hard to tell).

Back to it.