I once read a profile of a man who wanted to write a novel but had decided he needed the perfect office in which to do so. He spent a decade on that room, working weekends bc he had a full-time job.

I wonder if he ever wrote a word.

Have another. She's warm and purring, that might help.

I'm very excited!

Oooh, amethyst! That's even more appropriate than you might have known; it's the stone in my HS class ring!

In some cases, their spouses have died. The people they see the most are their staff and other lawmakers.

They don't know how to function in the world.

They don't know "what's next."

It was an interesting perspective.

I just read an article in NY Magazine which directly touches on this.

A number of people quoted in the article said, basically, that older lawmakers literally have no idea of what else they might do with their lives.

Their children and grandchildren are grown.

I am so very sorry.

We have such a brief time with them...and yet they stay in our hearts forever.

Condolences.

I'm no expert on gulls, but could be? (I'm better at raptors.)

Well, now that's gonna be in my head for a while...