Today is Dallas' second birthday, the last of my bam, bam, bam kid birthdays for 2007. I can finally say Dallas is two, Lloyd is three, and Rachel is seven, instead of what ages they are almost, or two point five, etc.

There will be chocolate cake (none for me) and a wake. That's right, we have our aunt's wake this evening, which I'm dreading. My family always gets the thing over with. His family, not having buried many, drags it on. Of course, the person never looks the same after so many days kept looking alive. This is the first body I do not care to see. 49 and dead shouldn't be. She died of stress, lack of health insurance, and ignoring her doctor and her body.

The little guy's been around for two years. The aunt has been dead for five days.

Some birthday party.