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Letters to Diane – 30

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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

Letters to Diane – 25

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Hi!

Even though you aren’t actively responding to all these letters, I trust that you are enjoying all this family news. Responding isn’t a requirement to keep me going, I’ll do that anyway, so you have permission to just read. One of these days you may find a way to touch me again.

Today I woke up early (0720) and heard Lydia sneak out the front door on a mission. She didn’t get home from her folks’ house until almost midnight. She had a good time playing games with her brothers and visiting with Mom and Dad. Because of that late arrival, I was surprised that she was out of the house so early. I knew it wasn’t for work because she took the whole week off. With a bit of sleuthing, I figured out that she was going to the car dealer that sold her the car because the display quit on her. They ordered a new one for her.

So far today, all I’ve done is take Max for his morning walk. I might take him grocery shopping if he wants to go. Usually that’s a no-brainer because shopping involves riding in the car. I prefer to go alone because he likes going up and down every aisle. As you know, I don’t. I’m getting better at it, though. Usually, when I forget the shopping list, I’ll eyeball everything to see if anything registers and wind up getting lots of stuff we don’t need. You know how that goes, right?

So, with that thought in mind, I’ll pause this and head to town. I think I’ll go alone tis this time.

Love you.

I’m back. I took two bags to Safeway, got what I needed, and a few extra things that looked like fun. I got another whole chicken I’ll cook with noodles, two boneless breasts, and a couple of thick pork chops. All the other stuff was on the list. I honestly think I could remember everything I got but that would just be showing off.

After putting everything away, I made a big salad with drenched it with my newly acquired bottle of French dressing. It was exceptionally good. Lydia told me she was going to Panera Bread for a sandwich and soup, then she visited her eyelash lady and did her nails. That was Lydia did her friend’s nails. I think it’s part of a barter system Lydia has to help with her eye lashes. I think that’s great.

Then she worked her way back home and must tell you that I did just fine. I took Max for two walks and didn’t wobble even a little bit. I was very proud of myself and I suspect you are, too.

Later in the afternoon Jeff came by and borrowed the truck to retrieve 4 railroad ties to replace those holding in the soil next to the roses and carport. The current ones are falling all to pieces, so the new ones are welcome. Now all we need is a work crew to get them in place. I think we already have that in Jeff because he got them in the truck and out of the truck which is remarkable. Those things are enormous. You should take a peek at them.

Now it’s late (2150) and time for bed. Max has hinted that to me a couple of times by whimpering to go outside like we always do. He’s really good off leash out back in the dark.

I visit with you some more tomorrow. Perhaps I’ll be allowed to dream of you tonight. I love you. Now I’ll leave you with a Fossil, Oregon sunset.

Letters to Diane – 19

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It’s Wednesday, I’ve had supper and, yes, I’ve taken all my pills for today. The thing about pills is that apparently most people I know think I need reminders about them because I forget. Well, that’s true. I do. But today is a milestone because no one sent me a text to remind me. I’m not saying people should stop sending them because this is just one day. I could easily forget tomorrow morning.

Today Lydia and I made a batch of chicken and noodles. I’m sorry you aren’t here to enjoy the results because it was pretty good. I ate twice and there are four bowls left. I’ll let the kids duke it out for the leftovers.

I had good intentions about those noodles, but didn’t get it done. Now I’ll have to go buy another chicken. That’s OK. It will get done.

Since the day before yesterday was Thursday, I made a trip to the Kozy for coffee and visited with Jeff, Chuck, and Larry. As always, we had a nice visit and drank a bunch of coffee. Now, since yesterday was Friday, I have no idea what happened after Thursday’s coffee. I’m petty sure I woke up around 0530-0600 this morning and instantly made a decision to stay up a little later in the evening to avoid those early mornings.

Oh… oh … yesterday for supper I fed Lydia one of the pot pies I bought a few days ago. When I saw them in the store they made me remember pot pies in the past that were really good. I wasn’t so enamored with the ones I bought, though, because you can cook them in the micro or a conventional oven. Maybe the one I had would have been a little better. There’s just something that doesn’t sit right with me about a crust that browns in a microwave, unlike the crusts that brown properly in a conventional oven. Lydia said hers was fine, but she’s young enough that she probably hasn’t had something like that before microwaves. That, and she’ll eat pretty much anything when she’s hungry. That’s not a bad thing.

I think I’ll work on making my own crust and see what happens. What could go wrong?

Today I went with Jennie, Jasper, and Siah to the Christmas Bazaar at the fairgrounds. Had I gone with you in the past I may not have been so surprised about what a big deal it is. It’s quite amazing how many people were there that I know. I had a lot of fun talking with them, and even with the vendors I just met. All four of us had a good time, then we went to the Country Inn for lunch. We had simple meals and it still cost me over $70. That’s remarkable. Almost like going to McDonald’s, right?

Lydia’s cats, Lucy and Louis, are getting along find with Max, now. It’s like all the sudden they figured out that no one is leaving so they may as well just get used to being around each other. Or, it may be that the cats think kindly about Max because he helps clean their litter box. I’m thinking about changing his name to Litter Lips.

Things in my head are getting out of hand so I better stop before I get in trouble.

I would tell you to be safe like I do everyone else, but it would be pointless considering where you are. How could you not be safe in Heaven.

I miss you and love you a lot.

Letters to Diane – 1

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I miss you. Today is Halloween and I was really counting on you to be here to hand out candy to all the kids. Now that you’re gone I guess I should step up and do it. It would be pretty horrible if some kids made it down the street with getting candy from our house.

“Where,” you might ask, “did you get candy?”

Well, I didn’t get it. Jennie did. She’s been taking care of everything since you left us. Watching you die kinda put me in a tizzy and I was pretty useless for a few days. It’s been a week now and with Jennie’s help I’ve become more human, and even a bit useful. That’s what Lydia tells me. She’s living with me now. The family thinks someone should be close to me in case I hurt myself like I’ve been known to do.

Jennie has also arranged your service for November 11th at Bethany. There will be many people there, we’re sure. Jennie’s first guess was 100 guests, but there will be more. I’ll give you the count on November 9th, after the service.

I kinda wished you had made a will. Everything will be OK in the end, but it would have been a bit easier if we had a will from you. You no longer need to worry about it unless you have a way of getting information from beyond. I don’t know if what I send into the cloud reaches you for approval, so we’re really in the same boat with regard to the communication issue. But, I’ll keep sending these notes to you simply based on faith. If nothing else, I’ll benefit from the therapy I get from talking with you.

Good nite, my love. I trust you are well in the arms of God.

Day 62 – Friday – Retraced Our Steps a Little

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After breakfast Diane drove us back to the Last Outpost in Old Tucson to swap the shirt I mentioned yesterday. While she bartered with the store manager, Max and I wandered around the parking lot. The last time we were here I found a crisp $5 bill just lying there on the ground. That’s almost as good as finding a heads-up penny. We didn’t find any more during our walk. We were about halfway across the parking lot when Diane came out of the store. Since we were the only ones in the parking lot, I turned Max loose and told him to go get Mom.

He took off like the wind and got to her just in time for Diane to open the car door. He didn’t hesitate about jumping in. There was no way he was going to be left behind. That, and he loves to ride in the car.

Next, we drove to Mission San Xavier to get a refrigerator magnet, something we forgot to do during our last visit. I walked around the mountain adjacent to the mission while Diane bought me a tiny saguaro cactus. We hope it grows from its tiny state to a magnificent remembrance of this area.

Max and I climbed the hill adjacent to the Mission proper. It’s not very tall but gives one a nice view of the valley in all directions. This was the best view. The mission is like a massive jewel in the wilderness.

Looking the other way, you can see the “mountain” Max and I climbed.

Diane needs to print the AAA Trip Tiks she’s working on for our return trip to civilization, so we decided to get a small printer so she can study the routes. The first likely place to get one was the Base Exchange (BX). So, that’s where we went first. They had slim pickings and didn’t have the one I thought would be best. So, we drove to Costco and found just the right one.

I’m so happy Diane likes doing that because I’m much better at traveling as a silent observer instead of all that front end stuff necessary to make the trip pleasant. She’s a stellar planner and makes the trip easy on me since I’m the bus driver. We no longer feel the need to get from Point A to Point B the quickest way possible. Now we go from Point A to Point Z and visit all the places in between. It’s much more relaxing.

After Costco, we drove home in time for supper. Max didn’t care that he’d been home alone after lunch. He spied on our neighbors and ran to them and was rewarded with treats. Those are way better than supper. Our neighbors are Patricia and Laurie, Mother and Daughter. They dressed up for Halloween.

Awesome neighbors and they love Max, too.

We watched a little Dish TV then streamed “White Collar” on Netflix, but it wasn’t buffering well. Lots of pauses at night so we discussed, again, getting our own hotspot. I know I can get one from Verizon, but I’d like to do it through AT&T since we already have service with them. Should get a break because of that. Perhaps you remember I tried doing that in California, but it didn’t work out. I’m going to try again. I’m sure you will be holding your breath waiting for the results so I’ll report back as quickly as I can.

Now, my pillow is calling to me.