Jordan set off for Portland, Oregon today … by herself. This is the long-awaited trip. The one she’s been pining about for months. The one that weather forestalled in December. And she couldn’t have been more excited.

She just called me from my sister Lisa’s house, a buoyant descant in her voice. She had a full day and she wanted to share all of it with me.

Portrait in Sun Dress B&W When I drag myself out of bed, she’s sitting in the living room, legs crossed, waiting. It’s a slow start for me today. I rarely sleep past 7am. It’s 8:30. I’ve showered and dressed myself, but I’m stumbling along half asleep. And, there she is. She looks annoyed. – Dad, you’re supposed to get up early. Don’t you know how long I’ve been waiting for you?

Jordan enjoyed Spring Break this week. Frankly, I think she had too much time on her hands, but it didn’t stop her from lamenting about Spring Break coming to an end. But she was particularly sweet on Tuesday – my birthday. She took my picture to put on a card for Sprout Online. They have a contest for birthdays. I posed patiently. – Dad, smile more. Look excited. I widened my grin and tried to look excited.

Framed She calls me at 2pm. I’m walking across Wilshire Blvd on a quest for iced tea. Her voice is charming, inflected, slightly authoritative. – Daddy, my computer doesn’t work. – What’s wrong? – It won’t let me go on the internet. – Is your airport connection working? (muffled tones as she asks her mother the same question) – Now it works, Dad. – I love you. – I love you, too.

This is what we have so far on her POV of the story. (btw, she nags me every day to write more) This is a story about a girl who got cancer. Her name was Jordan. One day, she had really bad headaches. Her mommy and daddy took her to the emergency room. She was frightened. But then, she saw her doctor–Dr. Cohen. Dr. Cohen made her happy. But that day, Dr.