Science makes the beat go on forever

My father was born in a year of flying saucers. He keeps waiting for them to come back for him, but since he's still on this planet, we celebrated his sixty-sixth birthday today with hamburgers and angelfood cake and books. My mother is reading my niece's unbirthday present to her, a picture book about being followed around by ideas. I spent some time clearing branches out of the side yard. My father is talking about New York City; my brother leaves for Radolfzell tomorrow. Geopolitically, things are worse every time I look. On the household level—this is important—today is all right.