1. I was reading this morning, yet another trashy novel that I won't remember, and a character was talking about her grade school being five blocks away. It made me wonder how many blocks my grade school was and right away I was plunged back into memories of walking to school. There was a path between the school and the neighboring houses and we would take that and it would turn and lead us through houses to our street, Meadow Lane. It came back to me so clearly. I remember when there was a house built in what used to be the empty field with the big rock (turns out it was just an empty lot) and I remember which houses had barking dogs so you'd have to scurry fast past those. There were lots of trees and bushes in that part of the path and it always seemed dark to me…when I got close to Meadow Lane it seemed to brighten up and be safe again. I guess it was really only something like three blocks but it seemed MUCH longer.
2. Here's my childhood home. It was Polly Voelkl red when I was a kid, and there was a white picket fence, and quince bushes on either side of the steps and a bit of euonymus that grew near the window of the bedroom Judi and I shared. There was a forsythia (which I always assumed was chosen because of my name) by the end of the driveway just out of range of this picture and a gas-powered street light. What happened to those? Everyone had them in our neighborhood. Oh, and on the left corner was a tree that had purple leaves that my sister Debbie named Emily. There were yellow daylilies on the left side of the house and a whole row of peonies on the right side of the house, at least until they added the garage when I was in college.
It's funny how sharp those memories came back to me.
3. Breakfast this morning was a heap of broccoli with a bit of egg. Dinner last night was popcorn with smoked paprika. I know, I should have cooked. I shared with Rascal though. Ernie did better than I and had a particularly good batch of his chicken and rice gruel. I added green peas and green onion and he was quite happy. His eating is pretty good this round.
4. I righted Bob's box but they seem to be striking. Hmmm.
5. I'm thinking we'll go for a drive today to get out of the house. Ernie's dozing on the couch right now and the boys are in their rooms so I will just ramble to you for a moment.
6. Next time I get a delivery I'm ordering vodka and ginger ale in honor of John Prine. Ernie might even have one.
7. Who knows…maybe today will finally be the day we take the laundry off the dining room table. Unlikely, but could be.
8. And lastly, a delightful David Olney quote:
If you could add anyone, alive or dead to your team, who would it be?
Br’er Rabbit at first. Abraham Lincoln on second. Gandhi on third. Billie Holiday at short. In the outfield, Daffy Duck, Robert Johnson, Aretha Franklin. Bette Davis behind the plate and Otis Redding on the mound. That’s my team.
Onward.