Big Red and I

The other day I dragged Big Red out (sometimes I call the walker Big Red and sometimes I call her Red Rider…for some reason the other walker I just call “little guy.” The shillelagh is, of course known as Joe). Big Red and I headed to Carle and trotted off to the surgical waiting room. A friend was having surgery so I went to sit with their partner, my very dear friend. I figure nobody should sit in the waiting room alone without some kind of company. Of course she’d told me not to come but Big Red and I ignored her. I just stayed a few hours as I had to get back home to say goodbye to Tal. Oh, and fyi surgery went fine, albeit long…. It felt good being there, to just sit, roll our eyes when necessary and to chat.

I told her about the time Ernie was having hernia surgery and my father passed away during it. I can’t imagine what I would have done without my friend Gisela there. I of course had told her she didn’t have to sit with me but she showed up in the waiting room with snacks and little packets of Kleenex, which came in handy as it turned out. I just remembered using that Kleenex as I cried. Ernie was in recovery and I kept wandering the halls trying to get a signal so I could call the nursing home (I’d just received a message) and my mother. Eventually I left Gisela with Ernie and Ann and Bob came and got him and brought him home and picked the boys up from Mary and Ray’s house while I went to be with my mother.

Ever since then I’ve tried to sit with friends at times like that if they don’t have family with them. I can’t always manage it but I try. And I always try to go to wakes/funerals/memorials because I remember the people that came to my parents and my sister’s funeral. It means so much.

It wasn’t a lot but I’m glad Big Red and I went for a bit. I don’t know what we’d do without our friends.

And in big news: I will have a house concert to announce shortly.

Onward.

It’s feeling like summertime

What a lovely weekend it was. Weather wise (oh, wait, Friday was rainy I guess) but mostly people wise.

Saturday I wimped out and didn’t go to see our beloved Michael Coulter’s artwork at the inimitable Loose Cobra. My legs and back were just not in the best of form. However, my beloved didn’t once waffle about not going, despite me not going, which pleased me greatly.

I just realized this is us at the Iowa Falls Popcorn Stand. Now I love it more than ever!

Sunday we ventured out to the Rosebowl to see dear friend Jay Rosenstein play. Every time he plays I plan to go and I just never do. I’m an idiot. Lord, he sounded wonderful and it felt so good to be out. Sitting under the Rosebowl tent, a glass of wine for me, some NA beer for Ernie, seeing so many friends and experiencing wonderful live music. Ahh. Truly doesn’t get much better. Thanks, Jay. ❤️

Onward.

Oh, oh, oh, and by the way, this morning Ernie saw Mrs. Chuck leading a string of chucklings across the yard next door. Life IS good. And Buster II seems to recovering from the woodchuck assault!

Top photo: Woke Mountain Boys (Jay Rosenstein, John Tubbs and Sean Kutzko) at the Rosebowl. Photos of Ernie, Coulter and Jimmy stolen from Teri McCarthy!

Random Notes: May 20, 2023

  • I’ve become somewhat obsessed (yes, yes, I know, you’re not surprised) with the story of some protests surrounding a Rogers Park second hand/antique store. The owners are in their early twenties, with an adorable baby, and hold some strong right wing/Christian views. Evidently somebody found posts on their personal FB account (not the store’s page) espousing anti-trans and similar views. Since then they have been protesting the store. And you know, I find many of the sentiments they post vile, and certainly the protesters have every right to protest, but the whole thing bothers me a bit. Do the protesters really think that every other business in Rogers Park agrees with their very liberal views (which I generally share, mind you)? I don’t know. As far as I can tell they have not expressed these views in the store. Honest to God, I’m all for peaceful protests but they’ve probably increased their business. I don’t agree with the owner’s views but do we want to enforce a world where there are only people that agree with us? I don’t know. The story just niggles at me.
  • Our neighbor mowed our lawn the other day. Generally the boys mow it but Ernie has been wanted to do more and Leo was in England so he mowed much of it…in numerous stages as it’s exhausting. He never did get to the side yard that abuts the ‘field.’ So the other day…wait, was that just yesterday? Geesh. Anyway, our neighbor came by and said he’d be happy to mow it and Ernie accepted after apologizing for not getting it done (he’s Ernie, you know) but we thought he would just do the side yard. We got home from doctor stuff though and he’d done it ALL. I got almost teary. So incredibly kind. So, so kind.
  • I have made several disappointing meals of late. I’ve realized that part of my problem is that when I’m in pain (and generally when I’m standing in the kitchen I’m in pain although I try to sit when possible) I am not patient enough for the final checks you do as you cook. You know, check if the pasta is done just right, cut into the meat to see if the temp is right, check for salt, add a little squeeze of lemon….those are the things that get lost and I’m coming to realize how important they are. Live and learn, I guess, and God only know, the learning just never stops.
  • Owen came over last week to help Ernie put up the big record. This picture of them just tugs at my heart. Owen giving me that grin, pleased that he did something for his father, Ernie with his hands behind his back, holding his wrist with the other hand EXACTLY the way his mother did. Those little moments. Man, you gotta hold on to them. Just look at them. My beautiful boys.
  • I miss Ceal Allen SO much. More than I ever could have imagined. I knew how much I loved her but I don’t know if realized how much I depended on her presence in my life. I have a Ceal shaped hole.
  • We had a couple of folks over the other night. Ok, I admit it, I just wanted to show off Tal and Leo while she’s here. Look how beautiful she looks.
  • I love each and every one of these people. Dinner with them all last night did my heart so much good. We have decided that next time Tal visits we are having a beans on toast party. LR: me, Ann, Leo, Tal, Delsie, Sophie, Trinity, Owen and Ernie. Bob was taking the photo. My brilliant, beautiful family. Oh, and of course the food was perfect too. Geesh.
  • More chucklings have been sighted.
  • I swear to God I never knew what the political meetings in Gone with the Wind were until I was, eh, I don’t know….in my 30’s. I read it when I was pretty young and the political meetings sounded very mysterious but I had no idea. For some reason that’s been in my head of late. I guess just as an example of how we can miss things that in hindsight are so obvious.
  • I’ve been doing the exercise bike and need podcast suggestions. I get bored real easy on there so they gotta be snappy.

Ok. Onward.