First thing this morning, I got word that yet another friend's dad has died. I should rename this space Helly's Big Black Blog O'Death. Seriously, did the fates declare 2007 to be Father-Smiting Year or what? Especially when I factor in the ones that for various reasons I didn't blog about, which at last count was three co-workers and two business associates/pals whose dads died, and then there's the unusually large number of my friends whose dads were diagnosed this year with cancer and other serious issues, although thankfully all of them are doing well after treatment, at least I believe so, and my uncle, definitely a father figure to me, who is still in intensive care after almost two months - though he finally seems to be improving. It just has not been a good year for the dads. Hug your dad for me - I wish I could hug mine. Well, I guess technically I could - Mom has him in a little box but it wouldn't be the same.