Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
“Tears are the silent language of grief.” – Samuel Johnson
We were blessed to have such fantastic friends. It was hard for me to believe that four months later, this picture both Kathy (in green at the far end of the table) and Sue are gone! Both of these lovely ladies set the tone for the group and provided the sparkplugs that kept everybody laughing. I was always so proud to be Sue’s partner in everything we did. She was a truly amazing woman, a fantastic friend and partner, and a source of love! We all miss you and especially miss being by your side!
She had many many friends!
I was up at 4:00 AM but decided to try and go back to sleep! It worked, at 7:00 AM, my eyes reopened, and I had achieved a good night’s sleep! At my age, that extra hour or so of “beauty-sleep” is mandatory; otherwise, I tend to scare women, children, and small animals when I go for my daily walk.
I raced to the Keurig and tossed in a “Coffee-Shop Special,” which has become my favorite. Strange sounds terminated from the coffee maker, steam escaped, and there was a squeaky sound almost like a tiny mouse attempting to get free. Everything normal; this is how the Keurig gets itself ready. Once the coffee began to give off its beautiful perfume, my heart began to beat again!
It looks like the start of summer as the temperature is already in the 70’s
The next destination was the office to check my busy social calendar and poof; it was bare! If it stays like this, I may have to take four showers a day!
Then I decided I better go to Lowe’s and get 4″ and 6″ rollers for the garden bed painting job I am planning for Saturday. While there, I got some additional tomatoes, squash, and some new rosemary. Now that I am cooking, I find a need to have certain fresh herbs readily available.
On my way to the garage, I observed two little scaley skinned varmints sunbathing. I could not get close enough to see if they had their little swimming attire on or not! I love these little guys as they stay busy feasting on the bugs. We have zero bugs in the garden, but these guys may the size of alligators by the end of summer! I may name them tomorrow, perhaps Godzilla and Lizzy? Oh, the decisions I have to make these days are monumental!
While I speak fluent Duck, I need to brush up on my Lizard!
The front entrance exterior of the house needed a freshening up, so I got out the paint and ladders and then decided I was going to make lunch! Well, I did an “eenie meenie miney moe” and selected surf and turf or more correctly “Sirloin topped with Lemon-Paprika Shrimp with Crème Fraîche Mashed Potatoes & Roasted Green Beans.”
Damn, it was excellent!
This recipe was my first difficulty level 2, and I know why. At one point in time, I had two burners going and the stove set at 450 degrees and three timers (which I immediately forgot what they were individually timing)!
I looked busier than a one-armed paper hanger with an itch!
I managed to get through the process with only one disaster! Note to self: Always put lemons on aluminum foil, never directly on the baking sheet! The acid from the lemon left a mark on the sheet. It looked pretty good and tasted even better.
It was delicious, and the second plate went into the freezer for tomorrow’s lunch!
I even set the table, sans candles and wine, as it was too early for booze. I used orange juice instead. The old energy level was now moving in the correct direction!
I savored every bite. The shrimp was amazing, and the beef cooked just like I like it.
OK, tummy is full, and the kitchen was returned to normal now it is time to go to work.
So, I whistled three complete stanzas of “Whistle While You Work” as I placed the death-defying ladders by the entrance. Using my trusty laser measuring device, I determined the peak was nearly forty-five feet above the ground. I fear not! (I may need new batteries for the laser!)
I considered using an oxygen mask, considering the high altitude of the entranceway, but decided the weight of the oxygen equipment would be distracting. This is before I performed magic via my two-inch paintbrush!
Hanging on by a mear thread, I faced almost certain death (or at least a sprained ankle) and proceeded to paint the wood. In about two hours, the deed was done, and the entrance looked like new! I escaped another brush with death thanks in part to the death-grip I used to keep me verticle. It needs time to dry, and I need to get some additional exercise.
Now, it was time for a walk! Yes, at 4:30 PM, I set the pedometer to “stun” and headed north, taking some new turns and twists. The new route revealed different flowers and more ideas for things I can do around the house. I wondered if I should have left breadcrumbs but decided I could always call for help if I get lost.
Since it was an original path, I dropped bread crumbs along the way!
While on the walk, I talked to Gail Peterson for almost 45 minutes. Gail lost Bob a year ago in February, and we remarked how February was not a good month for many of us. Gail is one of our dancers and a regular at the Phoenix Club.
Elks Halloween dinner dance and costume party October 2011
Upon returning home, I rested as the temperature was in the mid-80s! Tomorrow it is supposed to be 92 here, so I will likely walk early! I did the Bat Phone with Lisa, then Robin, then Colleen, and finally Zack. The kids all checkup on the “‘ol man” most every day, makes me feel special!
Tomorrow morning I will return to Lowe’s as my plants are overgrowing their pots. One of the containers has a $5.00 cactus that my cousins gave me when Mom passed away. The critter is now ten feet tall and had been around for thirty years, time for a transplant!
I skipped dinner as lunch still had my gas gauge pegged on full!
Before moving to the front room, I called Jan and Mary. Jan and I talked for quite a while, and I left a message for Miss Mary.
Jan was doing fine, and we are planning a “staff meeting” real soon!
I watched one episode of “The Ranch” in the front room and then toddled off to the Master Bedroom to take a shower and get ready for bed. After a great shower, I watched “Night Shift” and “The Ranch” before asking Alexa to turn off the lights.
I miss my “good night hug and kiss” that I shared with Sue just before lights-out every night for thirty-plus years. I was happy for being tired as lights-out to sleep was about five minutes!
