Saturday I went for a six hour hike. One of the hikers I was with startled a rattlesnake. That's the first time I've ever seen one in the wild. We were about sixty miles south of where I live. Didn't realize they got that far north.

Jumping out of an airplane - not really scary. Rattlesnake - scary. Just a few more steps and we could have had a dead hiker on our hands. We circled wide around it as its rattle shook, sounding much louder than I would have figured.

Sunday I was supposed to take my mother to her Aunt's 95th birthday party. At the last minute though she decided she did not want to go because her hip was bothering her. It is a bit troublesome watching Mom now. The thought of losing her sometime in the next decade or so is painful, and she reminds me of my own mortality. Her vision is limited, her hands constantly shake, and she needs help getting up off her seat. She seems to have adopted this resigned, waiting atittude. It's as if she is thinking, "Ok. This part sucks. I hope it is over reasonably soon so I can ride the merry-go-round in heaven."

I had another date with the woman I saw last week, and will likely have something set up for this weekend, possibly going to the Renaisance Festival. I have very mixed feelings about this. Our personalities are very close, but I'm doubtful of the physical chemistry. Still, I'll play it out for a while. We do have a lot in common.