Long Past Summer

Oregon was my home for two months this summer. It's where I was born and raised. I visited my son, my sister and four brothers and their spouses, cousins, aunts, and uncles, and friends I've had for 50 years. Went to two reunions----family and 50th class, river-rafted the Umpqua, swam across the Row River outside Cottage Grove, saw Garrison Keeler at Britt in Jacksonville, went dune buggy ridding with a guide in Bandon, went to an Oregon Ducks game in Eugene and so much more I had to rest up and take to my bed with a bronchial infection for two weeks when I got home.

I was just starting to feel better---but not wanting to pass up any trend, I discovered I had bed bugs. Don't know where they came from but I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy. It's been horrible. I really don't want to go into detail except to say that it really messes with your psyche. And your bank account. The building paid for the exterminator but I still had to replace the bed, bedding etc. I'm happy to say I'm bug free after being declared so by the inspector but one never knows with those smart resilient pests. I'm saying my prayers and taking preventative measures.

It's great to be back home on the 19th floor mid town hell's kitchen. I'll be going to Brooklyn to babysit my daughters dog Amber over Christmas. Whaaaaaat?????????

Elevator Story # Two on the 4th

Last year on the 4Th of July--my friend and I decided to get together and have a hot dog with all the trimmings and then get our chairs and go upstairs to the 44Th floor to watch the fireworks from the hallway window. It was the first year since 2000 that Macy's had chosen the west side. The east side was usually the chosen location.

We were staking out our spot when a tenant, who had an apartment on the west side of my building, invited us to view the fireworks from her balcony. The view included two more barges and the statue of liberty way down in the harbor. We took her up on her offer. The spectacular display was punctuated with oohs!!! and aahs!!! from everyone.
It was breathtaking to say the least. We felt privileged to have witnessed the display from such a great venue.

This year was a different story. No big whoop. I stood with my chair and my binoculars and waited for the elevator to get to my floor to carry me to an upper floor for a better view. The door opened and there stood an attractive women all dressed up and smelling good. She looked at me and said "there she is with her own chair". I said "and you're all dressed up for a party". "Yes I am, I'm going to a suarei and watch the fireworks". We exchanged conversation--she got off--I picked a floor and there I was in front of a window in the hall to watch the Macy's fireworks display.

I was joined by several people and we too expressed ourselves with oohs!! and aahs!!

When it was over, it took some time for the elevator to come, but when I got on there were people from the upper floors on their way home with fighting sleepy kids. All of us agreed that it was the most beautiful we had seen. When I exited the kids were still fighting and their ice cream bars were melting on the floor. The evening was a success.

Wonder what I will be doing next year?

Loretta and Leroy

In my next life I'd like to come back as part of the perfect married couple. The "Lockhorns". Either Loretta or Larry is fine with me as they are equally perfect.

No matter what happens---week after week they appear together again.
Loretta will spend too much money, cremate yet another meal, complain about the way Larry dresses or come home with a dented car and yet---Leroy will go to marriage counseling, spend money on an anniversary gift or continue to drag himself off to yet another ballet just to please his wife Loretta.

I love them because they are both curmudgeons with souls of gold.

Leroy is a flirt and Loretta sees him flirt and then makes sarcastic excuses for him to her friends. Leroy complains about Loretta's constant talking but comes home with a Valentine's gift even after complaining to friends of her high expectations.

I love seeing Leroy, half turn so the gift is shown peaking out behind his back as he smiles his little shy smile and presents Loretta with his gift. She hesitates, smiles, blushes and almost curtsies as she accepts Leroy's gift. How good is that!!!

The Lockhorns have lots of friends. They take many vacations--especially at the beach and in foreign countries. They are busy yet seem to have time for rest and relaxation. They keep each other on their toes. I hope they have many more years of the ebbs and flows of the perfect married life. As imperfect as it is it is perfect to me. I LOVE THEM

Fare Trade

Yesterday I ventured out to get some coffee. I have been out of coffee for a few days and have not felt like going out and being nice and dealing with people. I have had a bad something, with the need to expell vast amounts of yuckey green and yellow gunk and a head that feels as if it belonged to an alien not of this earth. I finally went to the Dr. and he gave me a magic pill to start the cure.


So off I go to the Empire Coffee & Tea Co. I have been going there for years. It's a funky little place that has a gazillion choices and they grind to my specifications but the plus is that if after I buy 10#, I get one free. It's also close and convenient.

It was quiet yesterday at the shop. Three young guys were at the counter---I think probably talking about some girl that was in, or a date they had, or some kind of subject that I could be curious about but really am clueless.

"May I help you" the young attractive male asks. And with that simple grammatically correct question came 15 minutes of fun banter and conversation that comes into ones life and makes one realize---there is a God. It wasn't so much what was said it was more the spirit of the thing. A fair exchange of conversation with little clues as to the likes and foibles of the human race. There was time to gently tease and to ferret out little curiosities. These three men took their time to exchange words and ideas with a women who would normally just require the time it took to measure out a pound of coffee, grind it, and ring it up. For me it was flirtatious. Fun. And I enjoyed the attention.

As I left I heard one of the young men say "I think I'm in love". They have no idea how much they made my day. And when they get French roast in Fare Trade I'll buy it instead of Italian Roast.

Q and M

I really like to write. It's a way for me to see my thoughts and feelings in print and then to try and perfect the way they are expressed--thus not really my thoughts and feelings at all but an edited version of my thoughts and feelings. Then I reread the blog and see the missed spellings and grammatical errors and then I'm embarrassed that people will judge me as a nit wit. So the whole original purpose of this blog is ethereal.
Oh please! So I think I shouldn't care. Ha!!! I do--but I'm going to continue anyway fumbling my way through this new cyber world, making mistakes and expressing my thoughts and feelings. Thank you.

Elevator Story

I entered the elevator on the first floor with four other people. One was a middle aged man in shorts and bright shirt. On the second floor a women got on. The man said to the women, "Do you live on my floor." She looked at him quizzically and said "yes". He said "Oh, how long have you been living there"? ( I'm assuming that the man is being awfully nosy.) She said "About 14 years--that's how long we've been married." It was a good laugh for me and yet another lesson in assuming. The couple enjoyed that I got a big kick out of it. I LOVE THE ELEVATOR !!!!!

Raised in "The Kitchen".

My grandson will be 21 the middle of July. He's survived his childhood and teen-age-hood in Manhattan and when he was born I thought it could never happen. How does a kid survive in the big city? Well believe me it was much different then how his mother was raised and his father too. They were both products of the suburbs and small communities

I remember seeing his mother walk up 5 flights of stairs to their tiny tenement apartment with the baby on her back and groceries in both hands.

The bathroom had no sink, and the metal shower was barley big enough for one small person. The bedroom consisted of a loft bed for mom and dad and a small mattress for baby who eventually grew---with a curtain in between. There was always an easel setup in the living-room with paints and canvases all over. The sound of loud music was every where--the Chinese food take out, right below, smelled of burnt grease and over fried food. The sounds of the streets with police sirens and firetrucks blared 24/7.

People were in and out at all hours. And one could watch the hook ups of the women of the night, below on the street. Is this how my grandchild will be raised????????

I loved it!!!.

He could see the Empire State Building every night change colors. He had a perfect view of the magnificent Manhattan skyline and he had access to all the culture and excitement the city could offer. The apartment was constantly flowing with all kinds of interesting people. Actors, artists, writers and people from all walks of life and from all kinds of interesting places. There were parties on the roof--there were holiday parties- opening night parties- closing night parties- birthday and wedding parties. My grandson was always a part of the goings on. There was lots of love and every one knew "T". All of this was normal to him. He had park play dates with his childhood friends and he graduated kindergarten in Central Park.

He has grown and thrived in this big city environment. The trade offs have worked for him. He is creative. He writes, paints, plays music and remains wise beyond his years. I have always believed that he is an old soul and that we have much to learn from him.

Congratulations "T". You are developing into a magnificent human being.
I love you gobs.