March 19

"The most visible event here is that the occupants of the house across the street are building another addition to it." That would be big news in the neighborhood, the houses on the street where my parents live don't change much. The house across the street is a small modern style house, originally it was one floor. Thirty years ago the original owners built a second story on part of the house and now the new owners are expanding the second floor to the rest of the house. My mom is greatly offended that the people who live there now don't speak to her. She thinks it is because she once asked them to trim their bushes which were growing into the road. I think they're just not very friendly and keep to themselves.

Dad writes that he received a message from his nephew in Delaware that goldfinches are hanging around their birdfeeder in Dover. When I was home in December one or two goldfinches came to our birdfeeder in New York but dad apparently doesn't remember as he writes that he hasn't seen any this winter. Or maybe he just means he hasn't seen the goldfinches this March which is when they usually come out in larger groups.

My parents keep running into the same couple everywhere they go for lunch. My parents, particularly my dad don't particularly like these friends but they did visit my dad often when he was in rehab after his heart surgery. He feels he has to be somewhat friendly to them but complains every time he sees them. Usually this happens at Panera where my parents go for lunch about once a week. What they really don't like about this particular couple is how cheap they are. My dad's never been a big spender but he does believe when you go out to dinner you each order a certain amount of food unlike these friends who will split a meal and split a beer. I have to agree that is pretty cheap. When I go home for the holidays I am always amazed that we run into the same three or four friends of my parents whenever we go out to eat. I guess over the years they have all developed the same affinity for certain restaurants.

Again this letter ends with my dad saying how he used to visit me in Oakland in late winter and enjoyed seeing the birds at Lake Merritt. He was on his way here when he was sent to the hospital three years ago to have his heart cut open. Now that it is spring I anticipate he will find another way to close out his letters.

Love,
Dad