With you, I could be my silliest best and never worry about being judged because you were my better half in the truest sense. I love you now and always will!
I can remember well how proud you were of your new grandson, Theo. He was (and is) a good young man. Now he is a teenager, and I am so sorry that he will miss your solid council and loving smile. I promise to be on his side when he does battle with the enemy. The expression on your face says it all. I love you and miss your loving council.
Sue was very proud of Theo, Michele’s son.
It’s six o’clock and time to get the show on the road! I climbed into my work duds, and the Grey Ghost and I zoomed to Lowe’s to get the new rain gutter. But our plan was foiled because they were fresh out of end fittings. If you didn’t mind the water running out of each end, it would have been OK! Poof! The new gutter came home with me anyway, and I am sure they will get restocked soon.
It was around 11:00 AM, and the first pains of hunger were starting, so I went to the frig and pulled out the last HelloFresh meal. It was “One-Pot Beef & Black Bean Chili,” and it was amazing! Best chili I have ever had, ever!
I used my ground beef since the package was ten days old.
I saved the second helping into a plastic container because it is going to be for breakfast tomorrow, no need to vacuum seal it; that’s for sure.
It was so good; it needs a closeup!
Good groceries!
I was going through my messages after finishing the meal and ran across pictures of two of my daughters! I know where they got their good looks! From me! Note: They got their caring for others from me also!
Yep! Undeniably, their looks are from me!
After lunch, I attempted to order the pieces from Lowe’s, and they indicated they had the items, so I added an air compressor to the order and drove over the pick eve up. The air compressor was what I ordered, but the rain-gutter parts were for two-inch gutters, not 4″ like I needed. Another trip tomorrow is in the future.
I had a small Craftsman, but this one will supply the power to run the more critical air tools.
In an attempt to do my “civic duty,” I volunteered for the Rossmoor/Los Alamitos Sewer District Board of Directors today. Linda (of James and Linda) told me to apply, and I did so we shall see what happens. It might be interesting to see the government in action. I found the district’s management plan and sent it to Staples to get a copy to read. The package is about 138 pages, so I will use it to go to sleep, but I will be armed with questions and answers should I get the nod.
The sun is beginning to set, so it is time to put on my walking disguise and hit the pavement. Tonight was only 1.46 miles, but I had already put in 2.5 miles around the house, so I am up to 9,232 steps today. Ha Ha bathroom scale, you catch me over 200 again!
Note to self: Pick the artichokes and cook them before they disappear!
Time for YouTube to see how to cook the little ones!
We are about 45 days from pomegranate time! I have been saving recipes already!
This season will be a good year for the poms!
Dear Mom,
It’s been a little over ten weeks since Sue left, and I am still feeling sad, almost 24/7. You know she was a strong woman who would not appreciate me sitting around moping, so I am not. Like you, I keep busy. I am painting, and today I started a project to refurbish three of your pictures, which have been around for almost fifty years. Paul Mall, yes, your nephew’s kid and I have reconnected and talk all the time now. He brought me two of your painting you did in 1970 still in their frames, not too much worse for wear. I have one in the master bedroom and decided this week to redo the frames and re-mount the paintings. That will keep me busy for several days. I wished you had passed on your artistic talent to me! Somehow, Sue inherited those talents. I do good drawing a straight line.
You will be shocked, but your son is now a “cook,” or at least I fix meals and have not poisoned myself, yet. I am getting a kick out of being in the kitchen where I feel close to Sue. I brought out your cookbook. Yes, your cookbook. Sue cherished that old book, and we laughed when we look through it and found some pages where totally splattered with grease. Which ones do you ask? Spaghetti, fried chicken, and pot roast!
You would be proud of the way most of the family and their families stepped up to assist me in these times. Robin, Joe, and Colleen and their families have been fantastic! Mitch and Pete have also been amazing. Sue’s and my friends just went into overdrive to make sure I was and continue to be OK. I now understand how yours and Dad’s friends reacted and why they were such good friends.
I wanted to ask you, but I realize it is too late now, what was it like in 1918 when people were during the Spanish Flu. Did you know what it was? Did it affect your town? Did you know anyone what it touched? What did the news say recognizing you didn’t have TV or radio then. I never thought to ask you about that period in your life.
I do want to thank you for your use of Vicks Vapo-Rub on me growing up. I found a new reason to use it. See below. I still have a big jar of it in the medicine cabinet, and I used it on Sue and myself when the cold season would come around!
Here is a little secret just between you and me. Sue ever heard of doing this, so the first time a rubbed it on her chest, she was really doubtful. The next morning, she could not believe the difference it made! We did pretty well converting the “easterners” to “southern” ways!
If the congestion were in my chest, you would rub my chest with a mixture of goose grease and camphorated oil (until Vick’s was available in the stores) and cover it with a piece of flannel. You would give me a cup of hot tea with sugar and lemon and a spoonful of a horrible tasting cough medicine. Then I’d be tucked into bed and covered with a cozy warm feather quilt. I’d break out in a profuse sweat and fall asleep. In the morning, the cold would be all gone, and I’d feel like a million bucks. You were my hero!
Dad used to call this stuff, “Goose Grease.” Rubbed on the chest at night, and the next morning things were much better!
Love you, Mom!
Before crashing, I talked to Lee, Jan M., and Irene. Good friends and beautiful people!
Time for bed at 10:00 PM. Sure, why not! Evenings are sad for me as that was the time Sue and I would just sit next to each other, hold hands, watch the tube, or talk. Tomorrow will be better!
