The Megastore recommends just one thing.

1. Buying plane tickets to a foreign land. There is nothing that sends the blood rushing to your head--like maybe you're about to have a stroke--like buying tickets to a foreign land. To wit:

• They speak a foreign language there. 

On the other hand,

• Your son, who speaks that foreign language, lives there. And will guide you.

Also,

• some of the possible layovers on your possible itineraries are so tight they make you feel super-charged anxiety right now, when the layovers are still only theoretical. 

On the other hand,

• Some of the possible layovers are so wide that you could practically rent an apartment and live in the city for awhile or a few hours while you wait for your connecting flight. 

On the other other hand,

• you might find a booking where the layovers are just right, like Baby Bear's chair/porridge/bed.

So go ahead and buy those tickets, even if they

• make you think about the straitened circumstances in which you might possibly be spending your old age.

Once that's done, and you've cried for a minute and taken the dog for a walk, contemplate the following:

The people, we are going to China, and we couldn't be more thrilled/terrified/freaked out/excited!

Philosophical exchange.

(On KCPW Tuesday night--Jonathan Goldstein was talking to people on the radio about I don't know what--paranoia, I think--when this bit came up:)

Guy talking to Jonathan Goldstein: So I said to everyone that I didn't believe in God at all. And then I felt that perhaps God might not like that--that he might be listening and that what I said might have made him mad.

Jonathan Goldstein: [pause.] That's not exactly a typical thought for an atheist.

Guy: [laughs] Well, you can't really be sure, can you.

In other news. Car watch: old, old car still at GMFC; projected date for car to be out of the shop, according to GMFC: "I hope by the end of this week." !!!!!

Days till missionary running son leaves for Singapore, via Provo: 38.

Tomorrow? his 19th birthday. There will be cake. There will be candles. There will be a celebration and a hullaballoo.