I only shot film for a couple of years, but I was there during Kodak’s death throws.Mostly it was my willingness to sit around all day meeting and g...reeting people which set me apart from them. It was what I referred to as my ‘show and tell dates’. I tried to schedule one of those a month. I just followed the festival circuits. I also did sidewalk shows in the parking lots of businessmen, if they didn’t mind. I drummed up just a little business that way. I had to have a product to discuss with. Secretly I was excited. I kept thinking, with dad away, mom could now focus all her attention to me. After awhile, I got sick of her depression and again told her I’m moving out and will leave her all alone if she doesn’t at the least, pretend to be cheery when I’m around. I don’t think she really snapped out of it, but shortly after we spoke, mom became extremely generous with me. She begged me to stay home and not get my own apartment. Money for a new car, Wide HD Flat screen, whatever I. " Her glee was almost too much, over the top, suspicious in its intensity. I knew I was in for it, and I wanted to punch myself in the nose for being—well, the village idiot.We talked a little longer, and I agreed to pick her up at 6:00PM; she had to be there early, she said, to make sure everything was managed right.The grad party was a good one. Everyone ate and danced and talked and danced some more.Lana doted on me. "Honey, do you love me?" she had the brass cojones to ask. I answered her. It spoke, a somewhat tinny and robotic reproduction of the English language emanating from a hidden speaker.“Doctor Lena Webber, we have urgent business that must be discussed.”“And what business is that?” She shot back, crossing her arms and staring the alien down. She wasn’t about to be intimidated by a refrigerator on legs, not after all that she had seen during her expedition.“You have obtained information of the utmost sensitivity. I must request on behalf of my government that it be.