For the next week I'm off for a long-planned cruise of the Bahamas with all the other Blankenhorns. (The picture may be the actual boat. Certainly it's the right port.)

My Aunt in Florida set this up, after having had many informal reuinions with my dad and her two other brothers over the years. But my dad passed five years ago, Uncle Tom has been gone nearly two decades, and Uncle John is now an 80-plus widower.

I guess she figures it's up to my generation now, so she is getting us all together on a boat where we can't say no, which is actually a pretty good idea.

Anyway, while I'm away, please enjoy some of these other fine Corante blogs: