It’s a banner day here at TU/Man Cave World Headquarters.

I’m going to court.

It’s a place I’ve successfully avoided over the years, but today, we’re making an exception.

This afternoon – about 3:30 or so – the L&T, myself, and Little M stand in front of a judge and make the whole adoption thing official.

The smiling Little M

The smiling Little M; next stop, a small stream...

With a few close friends along for company, we’re putting California’s Official Okey-Dokey on this whole thing, as if a legal document was needed to define what’s already become clear.

One friend made a joke about “giving her back” before the deadline, and there have been times I’ve re-thought this whole venture (like yesterday, when intelligence-gathering activities revealed there was a decent Pink Albert hatch happening somewhere nearby, but instead of going fly fishing, I was taking Little M for a hike).

Still, the L&T and I scored heavy with Little M, who is as happy a kid as you could get – especially given the harrowing circumstances cluttering her past.

Near starvation isn’t the best starting point for any kid, but Little M is pure smiles, very active – and yes, strong-willed.

And now that the weather’s good – and we’ve established Little M’s willingness to sit in a backpack for upwards of two hours – there will be some Little M fly fishing trips in our near future.

They’ll be short. But they’ll involve fly fishing, Little M, Wally the Wonderdog, and maybe even the L&T (if she can stop working).

And they’ll be seriously fun.

Yesterday’s News

My latest small stream adventure sits half-written on my hard drive – the victim of another work-related all-nighter.

It’ll find its way to the Underground’s electronic pages soon, and some of my readers will sigh, and all I can say is that I hope there’s a small stream somewhere in your near future.

If not a visit to court.

See you in the legal system, Tom Chandler