Top of the hour (the headlines):

My mother is now 48 hours post-op and recovering well. My father has been calling from Kuwait like he's in Pittsburgh. My friend Tony has gone above and beyond the call of duty as shock absorber and sanity saver. I am caring for two cats, a house, and a network of relatives simultaneously (arguably, one could add my mother to this list, but the ICU should get the credit here). And I sprained my back again.

But my mother is recovering. Nothing in the world is more important.

The rest of the story (tell me you listen to Paul Harvey) will have to wait. I'm too tired to think. Hold my calls.