My father-in-law is dying. My wife is in Phoenix spending his last days on Earth with him in the hospital. I've stayed behind in Maryland with the two kids. They don't travel well, wouldn't behave in the hospital, and couldn't sit through services, when it comes to that.

I have to occupy their little minds and hands. Today they spent a happy hour in front of our house coloring the sidewalk with chalk. Zachary just scribbles, but he was very engaged. I drew him rocket ships and robots, enormous dinosaurs and dragons. He added scales and smoke and fire. Danielle drew flowers and smiling girls with long hair. She still hopes Pop-Pop will wake up and be OK.

We left the chalk and I took them to the community pool. Danielle swims beautifully, now like a dolphin, now like a shark. Laughing, always laughing. Zachary is shy and watches from the sidelines. He won't let you take off his size 18-24 month shirt in public. He doesn't like to get his clothes wet.

When we returned home, Danielle spotted a new smiling face, drawn with our abandonded white chalk, amongst her pink and purple ladies. Next to the round Have-A-Nice-Day face, an anonymous neighborhood child had scrawled "Hi" in a shaky but triumphant hand.

Exit, stage right. Enter, stage left. Laughing.