Celebrating life in the midst of death?

You know, I have this major birthday (it's one of those horrible numbers that can't be mentioned in public) coming up in early March and have a party scheduled for next weekend.

My friend Amy Meeker in Boston had told me earlier that I had to do something to mark this old-bag milestone, and not to pretend it was just another day or else I'd feel worse. But that was before my mother became so ill.

My husband said I have to go ahead with the party, and that I couldn't retreat from life, no matter what was going on in Tennessee. I know my mother wouldn't want me to cancel anything because of her either. So, I'll do my best next Saturday to be cheerful.