I'll fill in the blanks later. I hope there is a lot to fill in.

I really am trying to catch up.

Here I am: I have a lot of tramlines, not the least of which is worrying about whether or not I am going to gain entry to the States tomorrow. I'm trying to rise above the current fussing and think broader thoughts. ...

Did you know, for example, that people have a baseline level of happiness? I like that. I remember reading a long time ago that some people are born sad and I joked and said that's was because they had blue genes. But it's nicer to focus on the happiness mind-set, and nicer to think that it's something like a thermostat and you could set it at a higher level.

I looked it up, of course. (Google knows everything.) And yes, you can reset your happiness thermostat. You just have to set your mind to it - I guess that's where the term mind-set comes in. The key phrase now is "mindfulness meditation." But laughing is good.

My husband always made me laugh. I never knew what he was going to say next, even after 20 years (not long enough!) with him. Once, when were all early-marrieds, the question was posed and put to everyone round the room. "Why did you marry?" Bill's answer was "For laughs."

I can still get a laugh from a quip he made, lo, these 40-some years ago. I don't mean to put him on a pedestal. It's an uncomfortable position for anyone to maintain for any length of time, or for anyone to emulate. I mean, how do you follow in the footsteps of someone on a pedestal? But he was funny and his humour somehow made everything more bearable.

I'm trying to recall it now. It helps.