Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

It’s Been Raining All Night Long

Sue, my gratitude for having met you is surpassed only by my amazement at the joy you brought to my life.

We used to make a trip to Oak Glen every year to gather fresh apples and make apple sauce and other goodies. We went with our neighbors, and we took the grandkids, Connor and her mother went with us once, we enjoyed sharing the adventure with others. In the past three years, we have not gone as the terrain was too hard on Sue’s back, even in the wheelchair.  The memories will always stay with me.

Getting the perfect apple was essential!

I decided that since I am cooking so much, I would get under the cabinet lights, and therefore a trip to Lowe’s was warranted.  After installation, I was so happy.  It’s much brighter now and probably will keep me from slicing off a fingertip!  What is impressive is that they pull about 5 watts each or 15 watts, almost zip!

LED’s have sure made a change in lighting ideas!

Time to walk, so I donned my hot pink leotards, put on my red sequined ballet slippers, and headed down the avenue whistling the tune “I Am Pretty.”  No one talked to me the entire time! Did I wonder why probably not! 2.7 miles, not too bad for an ol’ fart!

Sue and I walked this path for years before her health would not allow it anymore, around 2015.

After all the rain we have had, I was worried about going for a walk and getting somewhere, and it would rain on the way back home, but that was not the case today.

A view up the street as I started my walk heading north.

A view up the street as I started my walk heading north.

On the walk, Ila texted me and said. “I have avocado’s, are you interested?”  Duh, are you kidding?  By the time I got to her place, her car was gone so I had to wait until she dropped by later that afternoon.  Good thing, she brought three of the most giant avocado’s I had ever seen. They could have been used for bowling balls; I took one over to Vicky next door.

While waiting in her driveway to see if she was home, I snapped a picture of her neighbor’s cactus plant.  It was a sticky situation!

It was obvious leaning against this plant while waiting was NOT a great idea!

It was apparent leaning against this plant while waiting was NOT a great idea!

Returning home, I tried to watch the movie “Dukes Of Hazzard,” but I can only take 20 minutes at a time; entirely too silly, but the banter back and forth is funny! I finished it right before going to bed, and it was still not one of my favorites.

Time for lunch.  I was hungry, so I went on a search and rescue mission inside the frig and found this imperfect “little” plastic container of beef stew, it needed rescuing!  Well, three minutes in the microwave and I had a meal fit for a king.  Down it went, and I could watch my fuel gauge gradually change from “E” to “F.” It stayed at “F” the rest of the day; beef stew is filling!

Damn near too pretty to eat!

The afternoon was relegated to getting stuff packed away (Vanderbear furniture, photographs, new Christmas decorations we acquired but had not put away yet, old photos, etc.) that I did not want out anymore.  Some will go to Diane, some to Colleen, and some to needy people.

The mailman brought more bills plus a fantastic letter from Brad and Susie-Q.  I have NOT opened any of the messages yet that people have sent because the first one just tore me up.  I did open the one from Justus (Brad and Susie-Q) because it was thick (may there is money inside?).

I must admit a cried for an hour, attempting to get through the beautiful thoughts from these two amazing friends.  In the end, I was happy that I opened it because it reaffirmed my feelings for Sue and her love of life, love of people, and love for me.  Thank you, Susie-Q and Brad! I plan to share this two of our daughters on Wednesday.

Brad and Susie-Q were performing at our annual New Year’s Eve Party – WOnderful performers and great friends!

Two of my daughters are coming to visit Robin and Colleen, so I am “cleaning” up their room, which means moving items I had stored in there to the garage.  Tomorrow I must move fourteen cases of wine and champagne to the garage, but first, I hope I can get boxes from the wine store!  Otherwise, I will have to store them on our rolling wine rack.

As evening fell, I was still stuffed with beef stew, so I did not eat dinner.  I watched TV in the living room for a while, calling friends and checking upon them.  Irene, Lee, Jan,  Bob, Vicky, Leon & Marsha, Carri, Conrad, Mary…  It’s just what friends do!

Sue and I were blessed with such amazing friends.

At 9:30 PM, I headed for bed, bypassing the computer room!  The poor computers think I no longer like them, but as our social life has dwindled, so has my efforts to keep the club’s websites up to date.

The last time I remember on the bedside clock was 10:30 PM, and then it was “lights-out.”

Tomorrow may be rough as it is our anniversary.  I do wish Sue was here with me, but after doing a lot of hard thinking this past month about the past several years and how she felt, it is OK.  She is not in pain.

About Paul

Just an old retired guy trying to finish out my last years on this planet. I lost my best friend and wife in early 2020. I was blessed again by reconnecting with Dr. Mary Côté, a long-time friend. Mary and I got married July 28th, 2021, and are enjoying life together and plan to spend the rest of our lives being a blessing to our friends and family.
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