My Dear Diane.

Today was different for both Lydia and me. The big event for me was having lunch with the Winnebago Crew. We were supposed to meet at the Spaghetti Factory at Riverside in Portland, but Carolann was warned that it was a bad choice because it’s very close the ICE headquarters and officials said to keep clear because of demonstrations. If you’ve been watching the news, you probably know what’s going on with them more than we do.

So, Carolann took the reins and switched our reservation to the SF in Clackamas. It’s a 40 mile drive so we had to leave before 1100 to get there on time.

I got up about 0900 and took Max for his walk then I took a shower. I know, it isn’t Saturday, but I have to admit it was time. I actually took one last Saturday, my second one since you left. I tell everyone that. They don’t believe me. With Lydia living here they are all sure she would encourage me to take showers more often. Maybe I do.

While I was showering, Lydia packed a small bag for her trip to North Carolina with Jerad this evening. They are flying American and Lydia, trying to save a couple of bucks, got a flight that goes from PDX to Miami, then up to NC. Seems like the long way around. They will both not think that way, of course, because it’s an adventure. They will only be gone for a few days.

Surprisingly, Lydia and I got to the restaurant first. Everyone else was late. It was good to see all of them. Once we were seated, we swapped gifts, like normal. It was a one-way gift giving episode because I left all of our stuff in the car. I did that because I also had a big shoe bag of shoes for Sopia to check out. She’s the only one who can fit in them. Whatever she’s not going to keep she will donate them for us.

For lunch Lydia at green tortellini and I had some shrimp cooked in garlic and hidden in a plate full of fettuccini some white sauce. I was craving Carbonaro, but they didn’t have that. So, I took second choice. It was OK, but Carbonaro would have been way better. I ate it anyway. Everyone else was done before me, but that’s OK. I didn’t realize it, but Lydia thought we were racing so she cobbled hers up very quickly.

The drive home was very peaceful, and Lydia actually took a nap. Thankfully, I was driving, so it was OK. Once home all that we needed was for Jerad to appear so Michelle E. could drive them to the airport. Of course that wouldn’t happen until Michelle arrived to pick them up. She got here at 1800, the chosen time.

Since I didn’t have anything to do with packing, I watched TV and fell asleep. I knew I was drifting in and out but thought I had a handle on myself. Somehow, however, Jerad managed to get here, walk through the living room, I’m told, and I didn’t even blink. So much for my excellent awareness, right?

I took Max for his evening walk when we got home from lunch so it was a short one because Max was in a hurry to get back so he could visit with Lydia and Jerad. He gets so excited when someone other than me shows up. So, instead of a walk, I let him chose the evening movie. You and I watched “The Family Plan II” and really like it but Max found the first one for us. I’m not sure how he does it because he needs to have the remote on the floor and it looks like he’s jumping up and down on it to change screens and such. But it works for him. Apparently he practices when we leave him alone during the day. The #1 Family Plan was very good, too. If you get an opportunity to see it, we recommend it highly.

Now it’s2320 and time for bed. Max is already in his favorite position, so I better join him.

X’s and O’s to you in bunches. ILYA

Jerrie