Okay, I'm posting this blog a day late, but amazingly enough, the Ides of March and Shiva's arrival date happen to coincide with St. Patrick's Day - at least in 1986. And it actually ended up being a coincidence, once I changed the orbit of the comet.
I was halfway finished writing Chapter 145 (aka Chapter 25 of this book) and the characters decided they wanted to go do something else. I have no real idea why - that's not what I'd been planning to do. I swear at times I'm not the one creating this story, I'm just transcribing things.
Also, keep in mind when reading this - this is both 1986 and Cal is involved. What we know NOW medically may not have been known THEN, as well as having Cal's genetics involved, courtesy of his children's cord blood and placentas being involved.
On a different and personal note:
My wife's youngest uncle was born in 1949. She said he was always the fun one to be around, because he'd play with his nieces and nephews - walk with them hanging on his legs and such. He was only 15 years old when she was born, after all. Then he went into the Air Force and went overseas, at least to Thailand (and this was during Vietnam, so maybe other places). He didn't come home the same man. His time since then was a hard life, but he was - finally - turning things around. He had a stroke this past weekend, followed by multiple heart attacks, and passed away yesterday at age 74. RIP and I hope you finally found peace in your soul, Bryan.