Friday

Friday morning, I was doing okay, time-wise, to get to work. I proudly clipped my new cell phone holder to my “Jeremy and his family Christmas present belt” and put the phone in. The holder looked and worked great! Then I put on my brace. Unfortunately, the brace is long enough that it covered the phone up. Worse yet, every time I moved, the brace pushed on the holder which pushed on the phone’s buttons and it made all kinds of beeps. So, I took off the brace and then the cell phone and the cell phone holder. I put the cell phone in my pants pocket and the cell phone holder in my drawer, to wait for the time I no longer have this damn brace on.

I went out at lunch time to see the company that cut my grass when I had my rotator cuff surgery. I think I told you I’d called them for some quotes a while back, but never got a return call. It was sprinkling when I left work, but raining when I got there (they are on Five Mile between Telegraph and Beech Daly). They couldn’t find the paperwork, but the receptionist remembered taking my call. The owner said they’d cut the whole yard for the same price as two years ago, so I told him to put me on the list (I probably shouldn’t be bouncing around on the riding mower out back anyway). They said they will get back to me on the quote for mulching the rear garden.

I left there and stopped at the Old Mexico restaurant for lunch. This is a locally famous Mexican restaurant, also on Five Mile, but between Inkster and Middle Belt Road. Just as I pulled in, the rain changed to pea-sized hail! So, I had to carefully walk on the ice-covered blacktop from the handicapped parking space to the door.

I ate a beef enchilada dinner (two cheese covered beef enchiladas with rice and refried beans). It was very good, but very filling and I had already eaten more than I should have of the fresh made tortilla chips and homemade salsa while waiting for it. As I ate, the hail turned back to rain and then thunder and lightning started. I drove back to work through a downpour!

Back at work, I got a call from the Infectious Disease doctor’s office. He wants to see me BEFORE I stop using the antibiotic (it runs out next Wednesday). So, now I have to go there this coming Monday at 2:00 PM! Just what I need: another doctor’s appointment! :( It’s a long story, but I have another “lightning-fast” appointment I need to make with my primary care physician. Can’t I just be done with doctors?

My brother Jim called around 4:30 PM and asked if I was home yet (huh?) I told him no, I was at work, so he apologized and said he would call me later tonight after 6:00.

I drove home in the rain (the thunder and lightning had at least stopped). There was a voice mail from my daughter, Melissa, who had called around 4:30 PM, too, thinking I might be home. (People, people, people, I work from 8:00 to 5:00, like most other office workers!) I called her back briefly (so I didn’t miss Jim’s call) and asked her if she wanted a memento from the cottage. She said she couldn’t think of anything, really but if she did she’d call me.

I warmed up the last of the meatloaf and another baked potato for my dinner. I taped “Who Do You Think You Are?” and watched another show, still waiting for Jim’s call.

Naturally, I fell asleep (it seems to take all my energy to get through a weekday, these days) and when I woke up after 10:00 PM to go to the bathroom, sure enough he had called at 9:15 and left a message. I figured it was too late to return his call, so I was just preparing to go to bed for real when Melissa called.

She wanted to explain in depth why she didn’t want anything, just to keep the cottage and Mom in her heart. I explained I understood both sides and both feelings and did not fault her for not wanting a memento or think she was unsentimental. Let’s face it; everybody is different on how they approach such things. I think she understood by the time I told her I was really tired and had to go to bed. I hope so.

We hung up and I went to bed for real.