My tummy is sooo happy!

Having just now returned from dining at the Green Street Tavern (Judy J.—you might want to pass on reading this one about perch!), my tummy is saying “thank you, thank you, thank you!” for the wonderful perch plate it enjoyed. My heart is saying “thank you, thank you, thank you!” for the wonderful friends who shared mealtime with me. Those who joined me were Dolly, my friend since grade school, as well as Wendy, a high school friend. It seems we talked as much as we could between bites---about the years gone by, people gone by, and times coming before us. I, of course, encouraged them to attend my funeral when the time comes but Dolly is no traveler. Only a few days ago I mentioned having two funeral services, one in Florida and one here as well, so Dolly can make it. She wants me to send her the hymns ahead of time so she can learn the alto parts…..

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Earlier in the day I spoke via telephone with Debbie, another 12 year classmate of mine who could not make dinner with us tonight. She filled me in on a few people and events that I have missed out on, including her attempt at putting together an 8^th grade class reunion! What an ambitious girl she is! Oh, my, there is so much history between us all, the joys of attending a Lutheran grade school and high school, knowing each other all those years! Surprisingly many people stayed in the area and see each other at the high school events when their kids become students! This year marks our 35^th anniversary of graduation and would also be my 35^th wedding anniversary in July. Guess there are no plans to celebrate either event!

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Mom and I sat around the house this morning, freezing half to pieces as the temperatures remain below normal and drizzle continues to fall. She bumped the heat up a few degrees but we could not really feel it getting warmer, even though I wore a blanket all morning long. I’d made plans to visit our friends, the Petska’s, and persuaded Mom to come along to check out their building for her to move into. First I stopped at Late’s Drive-In and got one of their fabulous cheeseburgers and got Mom a chocolate malt and then we headed to Petska’s. Clara gave us the grand tour, even took us downstairs to see their garage and upstairs to see the library and beauty shop. Mom felt like it was too “old folks homey” feeling but really, it seems mostly just homey to me, and secure. Clara says it is incredibly quiet there, never hearing footsteps overhead or doors slamming, none of the noise that this place has. Mom’s major deal about moving from here is that she likes walking to church, the Kwik Trip and her bank. The only reason the police come to Southbrook where Petska's live is when the rescue squad has to come and pick up someone who has fallen---not like here where there are domestic disputes and other commotion all the time. I will just keep wishing and hoping Mom will agree to move to a nicer place.

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On the way home from Petska’s, we stopped at the ice cream parlor to see Jill, but she had gone home for a few hours. She was due back at 6:00 pm until closing so I guess the break was needed. Sitting around a table in the corner of the room was my niece, Alayna and several of her classmates. They were taking turns signing each others’ yearbooks while enjoying their ice cream. What a pleasant surprise to find her there! I got to physically meet the kids I have only seen on Facebook photos, and they sure seemed to be nice enough kids at that!! We had our treat and then headed back to Mom’s. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching TV before I had to get ready to have dinner with my friends. Mom had a church meeting to attend and arrived home only a short while ahead of me. Monday is a slow night for TV viewing but I will retire early to my room and find something suitable to pass the rest of the evening, as I savor my perch dinner….yummy!

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Some interesting phone calls came in today, a couple from church family and a couple from my friend, Jen, in Orange Park. I seriously believe it is getting to be time to go home and get some things settled down, and to enjoy some time around the pool! My dear friend, Dee, called, asking me to come and have dinner at her place on Wednesday night, hoping I did not have choir rehearsal during summer. She was a bit mixed up though, not fully realizing that I am already up here in WI, and that this Wednesday will still find me here. Dee’s vacation and mine are going to overlap a bit so I won’t see her again for a couple weeks after I get back. Dee celebrated her 70^th birthday and her 50^th wedding anniversary while I was gone and she wants to have a separate celebration with me, a private one, because I missed it. Totally unnecessary but she won’t take “no” for an answer. So, I have a special party to look forward after getting back home, at least, some time this summer!