Shoulder rubbing

This morning I went to Victory for Bible study, stopping first at Dunkin’ Donuts for a dozen, plus a bottle of Diet Pepsi. Every week someone brings doughnuts to share with the group and today I was taking a turn. When I arrived at the church, I had a minute or two to spare---whew! Dawn got there at the same time I did so we walked in together, and found the others had already gone in to sit. Usually we have to wait for the pre-k students to finish their snack before we can sit down.

What a group we had! Pastor had set up three tables instead of only the two, with three people across each end, and four down the sides, no empty seats. My friend, Judy H., who now lives in Knoxville, has her parents living in JAX since before Christmas, and were in attendance at class. Susanne used to be a dental hygienist, the ‘official’ teeth cleaner of the Green Bay Packers!!

The study is titled, I think, The Names of Jesus, with today’s chapter of Good News being about baptism. We often expand on the topic to discuss things going on in the country and in the church related to what we are studying, with usually marvelous give and take. Pastor reported that this coming Sunday a family of four children will be baptized, age 9 and under, coming through the pre-k program. He has never baptized that many before so this will be a first for him. And what a wonderful gift for the children from their heavenly Father!

As it turned out, I took most of my bakery home because Rita had brought doughnuts to share, too. This often happens, a duplication, but she had told the others at church last night that she was bringing them. She apologized for not sending me ‘the memo’…we chuckled about that, and I assured her they were not going to waste. Waist, yes, waste, no, especially with Justin in the house! I like jelly-filled doughnuts with a sugar glaze but am not a huge fan of the cream-filled or powdered sugar coated chocolate filled ones. Pick, pick, pick! Since the vendor makes the mixture, I don’t have a say in what type go into the box. I did have one jelly-filled, which made me happy.

Justin had to help his father again today so I was on my own. Opting to not have lunch with the ladies, I went home after class. The afternoon was spent primarily at my desk working on the newsletter as far as I can go. My teeth are pretty much settling down now, but still bother me a bit with a dull ache, as expected, from being ‘violated’ earlier in the week. The gums are less tender every day, with ibuprophen handling the pulse felt in my teeth. A restorative nap is helpful, too!

The shoulder rubbing took place at a fund raising event  this evening held at a fabulous home off Doctors Lake Drive, for the campaign for state office of Travis. My former neighbor and present friend is running unchallenged at the moment for a new representative seat opened up from redistricting. I had been at this home in the past for other fund raisers and this time, Justin came with me. He loved it!  Not only the home and property, but the event as a whole. He got to see many of the area’s other elected officials there and talk with some interesting folks. And enjoy a fabulous spread of hot and cold hors d’oeuvres.

One of the first people we met there was a friend from the pool, Diane, whom I had seen not long ago at Manny’s Bistro when I was having dinner with Judy C. Diane and Judy used to be back-yard neighbors years ago in the Belair area, their daughters being friends in school, etc. Diane and her hubby attend St. Peter Lutheran on S. Blanding and know several families who used to be at G.S. that transferred there. Judy’s family transferred from St. Peter’s 30 years ago---small world!


The area hospitals CEO's were there, including Baptist, St. Vincent, and Orange Park. One of the men lives downstairs from me in The Palace, whom I have waved at but never met. Travis, during his speech, mentioned all the area elected officials in the room, listed his family members, as well as Justin and me as being his former neighbors. He laughingly remarked we were glad the overhead noise of little Beckham was gone. He thanked us for being good neighbors. How nice to be mentioned along with the dignitaries in the room!


So, when he said my name, my other neighbor sort of recognized it. I greeted him, and was so glad to finally meet. He said, "You're the one who sends out that nice newsletter! You do such a good job with that!"  And he said it more than once, which was most flattering. I told him I was sorry it took this long to meet, as this was sooo not my style. He regretted it also, explaining his long days at the local hospital. OPMC recently added a trauma unit which is able to treat people usually transported to Shands, in JAX. On the way home I told Justin it is good to have a connection with the man who runs the hospital, in case we ever need their services.

As we were leaving, Diane’s hubby, Roy, greeted us and I introduced Justin to him. He remarked about longing to get back to the pool again, and told Justin about my ‘special drink’. Justin knows about it, as he dug through his boxes stacked in the back room to find a partial bottle of Jack Daniels so I could make one for myself a couple weeks ago. “…and she only has one!”, Roy told Justin. Justin said he knew that and I told Roy we had to go home because I had had one drink at this event!

Before we left for good though, my other friend, Diane H., found us and gave out hugs. Diane is running for Travis’ vacant seat on the Board of Commissioners. She told me she nearly stopped by the other day to return a book she’d borrowed, but couldn’t remember easily how to worm her way down to my house from The Club. I would have loved her visit! She whispered to me that Justin gets more handsome with every birthday. He does! Plus his new glasses make him look even more debonair.

On the way home we stopped at Winn Dixie, or at first, I did. He dropped me off at WD while he walked back to CVS to get the soda which was there better priced. He met me then in the store where I picked up several items I needed plus some I wanted. I now have the ingredients to make my pot pie! When I checked out, the bagger asked me if I found everything, and I said I did, with help from a fellow in one of the aisles who reached a can of soup down for me. He asked me, “Did you at least get what you came for?” which made us laugh because this has happened, in fact, I have left without getting what I have gone for!

One day last week, I lamented on Facebook about feeling like a bad neighbor because I had not offered my new upstairs neighbors anything yet. A casserole would have been good, but I was lacking the ambition and some of the ingredients to do so. A day or so later, I had bought some break-apart sugar and spice cookies for Justin, his favorite, and I baked those for the people upstairs. Judy C. had brought me home-baked cookies she had left in her freezer from Christmas so I put them on a plate with half of the fresh-baked ones. The lady moving in has two teen-aged daughters, and I found the young folks taking a break in the living room with some young men, while Mom was bustling about. She apologized for the mess, but I explained that I understand about moving….yes, I do!

About being neighbors: a few days ago I got a text message from Jessica, thanking me for being so nice to their tenants, saying not everyone was as gracious as I am. I knew that the night of our Owner’s Meeting the one lady asked them to move the u-haul away from the steps up to The Club. Nancy had asked me how I got to the stairs and I said I went around the back of the truck…not that hard. Jessica had posted on Facebook saying I was going down as the world’s best neighbor---aw shucks…..I think it’s important to be a good neighbor and a good friend, especially when I don’t leak on them!