Today I felt well enough to don dark sunglasses and drive to Salem. It has been far too long since I have spent time with dad and Iris. Only McKenzie went with me. She is so mellow and Iris really loves to sit by and pet her. Calm as they are, I was afraid three big dogs might overwhelm and possibly trip Dad or Iris. They are in their 90's after all.
I learned more about dad's childhood. He never really talked about it with us while we were growing up. He told a great story about when he and his brother Hector got into trouble at his grandfather's farm. A cousin had told them about the "wild" chickens that roost in the trees. Wanting some money, that night after a day of plowing the field behind the horses, they rigged a snare on a pole and caught some chickens. The next day they sold them to the store keeper only to end up paying his grandfather back for the chickens and having to plow a few more acres.