Good evening, dears! Maude here again. My how time flies, even when you’re a ghost! I try to check in on all of my favorite families on a regular basis to see how they’re doing, and before I know it, someone has grown up or moved out or had a baby. It’s an endless cycle, but I do enjoy watching it all. Besides, what else is there to do? Slam doors and bang pans around and try to frighten people? Perhaps I’m not a very good ghost, but I find those activities to be quite tiresome.

So here I am again, popping in to give you an update on the Dobbins family. When I peek in on them I witness mostly scenes of domestic contentment, but there are some little dark spots here and there. For example, just the other day Nick Dobbins lost his job as the head chef at Spanky’s Steakhouse.

He was positively crestfallen! And all because he wrote a cookbook that wasn’t the hot trend of the moment. Sales were poor and his reputation foundered, so they gave him the axe. Such a shame. The real tragedy of it is that he was all set to retire the next day and start receiving a hefty pension check! Since he was fired, however, he got nothing. After years of loyal service! Boy, if I were alive, I’d give that Spanky a piece of my mind! Wait, now THERE’S a thought! I wonder if he’d like to have his kitchen messed up a bit…

Ah well. Moving on! I have to say I’m surprised at Nick. He was quite the cad when he was younger, but he has mellowed now that he’s a grandfather. He hasn’t had any other love affairs, and was even chided by Lucy the maid the other day for never calling her.

In fact, he seems more in love with Joely than ever, though he does miss Tess and thinks about calling her from time to time. He resists, however, unwilling to risk the loss of his family’s cozy, cheerful situation. Turns out he is something of a family man after all!

On the night before his birthday, Nick snuggled with Joely on their new bed. He knew it was the last time he and Joely would be young together, and he wanted to savor every moment of it. “I don’t know what old age will bring,” he said to her, “but I’m glad to be spending it with you.” I had a tear in my eye after that, let me tell you.

The next day things went on as usual in the Dobbins household. The whole clan (minus Nick, who wanted to sleep in on his big day) ate omelettes in the kitchen before work and school.

Afterwards they talked about Nick’s birthday party and Rory’s impending graduation from junior high. There was always something to celebrate in the Dobbins family.

Finally everyone went off to their various jobs and schools while Nick rose from bed and puttered around the house. Since he wouldn’t be able to count on a nice pension check rolling in when he grew older, he decided to get a job as a caddy at the new Knotty Pines Golf Course. What better way to spend old age than tooling around a beautiful green lawn?

That night, the family gathered on the unfinished deck for Nick’s birthday.

Nick took a moment to survey the sight of his beloved wife, children and grandchild all whooping it up in his honor and sighed deeply. The time had come to move on to the next stage of his life, and he was ready for it! He leaned over, blew out the candles on his cake…

…and transformed! At the age of 54, he joined the ranks of grumpy old men. Only he’s not too terribly grumpy. He’s rather nice, especially to his little grandchild. So what will old age bring for Nick? One can only guess! And Joely is not far behind — soon they’ll be old together! Another chapter in the Book of Dobbins has ended, dear readers. Until next time, here’s to suspenders and arthritis! Toodeloo!

(Jen’s note: If it seems like I’m rushing through these families, it’s because I’m actually way behind and trying to get caught up! For example, the pictures I took of Nick getting fired from his job were taken over two weeks ago. It’d be nice to get to a point where I’m posting about stuff that happened during gameplay the night before, rather than a couple of weeks ago. My memory doesn’t hold up that well. So I might be posting like mad the next few days, in an effort to catch up to present day, or closer to it, anyway.)