I’ve got some ‘splainin’ to do in regard to my abrupt and weeks-long online absence. And I will certainly attempt to offer up the highlights and lowlights when TIE O’ THE DAY resumes on Monday morning. Meanwhile, here’s the dark purple Bow Tie o’ the Day I wore for our Mother’s Day visit with Big-but-shrinking Helen. Mom has been an extraordinary mother. I lucked out bigly when I was born hers.