In the interest of kicking myself in the ass to get back to posting this story, I have bypassed jetson63 and gone directly to posting this chapter. Jetson, my friend, I promise to bring you back in the loop for the next chapter, but I didn't want to come from out of the ether to interrupt your holiday.
When I posted Chapter 29, I prefaced it with a trigger warning because it featured (spoiler alert) Lisa having a mental-health episode. I have prefaced Chapter 30 with a similar trigger warning as it discusses the aftermath of Chapter 29. In some respects, it was harder to write than Chapter 29 because it mirrors the aftermath of a similar episode in my own mental-health journey, except mine didn't end well.
I don't want it to be equally challenging for you to read it, so I am asking you to please take care of yourself and not read it if you are not in a safe place.
My fellow denizens of the Cheap Seats will appreciate one thing I did with my time away. The Harry Chapin Band (Steve, Big John Wallace, and Howie Fields) did a brief tour in late October and early November. I was able to go see them, and got to fulfill a nearly-lifelong dream: meeting Big John. And seeing him perform "Last Stand." He also alternated singing verses of "Cat's In the Cradle" with Steve. The man may be 80, but his vocal chops are still fully intact.
On the less-pleasant side of the ledger, I lost a family member rather unexpectedly. I expect that to be an ongoing headache for the next few months, but I'm determined to go into the new year kicking my depression's ass a little more than it kicks mine for a change, so I will try not to let another four-month hiatus pass before posting the next chapter.
Enjoy, keep the comments coming, and I will talk to you all again soon.
DFLR