The Good, the Bad, and the...Mostly Good
Sun., June 10, 03:07 PM
The good was very, very good. M.D. and I went to New York to visit some on-line friends. We took the train; you may remember that I like trains. I had not been back for nearly forty years, and I absolutely love Manhattan.
After enjoying the ambience of Grand Central Station and the Turner Classic Movies exhibit, M.D. and I ventured out into the World. Wait a minute, says my mind. I know we're on Forty-second Street, but which way is east or west? I can visualize a map, but I have to know where I am. We walk a block (I think this is west), and here's Madison Avenue. I know it's one way, but I am no longer sure whether it's northbound (turns out it is). I suggest we walk a block in the direction I think is south, and we find Forty-first Street, so now I know. I'm pretty sure M.D. is worn out by now, but I know how to get to Fifth Avenue — and off we go, to come out at the Library. The Lions — it's beautiful. And something is happening at the corner.
There were dancers, what looked like three generations of them. The “baby” was about five, and he was terrific! I kept thinking of Sammy Davis, Jr.; real talent emerges early. I'm reminded once again, something is always happening in New York.
Eventually we found a taxi, because we were on our way to Greenwich Village, where I have not been since even longer. Even the subways had different names when I was there, and I was not ready to get creative. For a reasonable fee we were dropped off in the middle of a street fair, a short block from our destination.
Cute little French restaurant. We might have liked to sit in the garden, but our party was too large. So the six of us — we were missing two we had hoped to include — sat near the door to the garden. We could smell the flowers and see the trees and ivied walls. The others ordered in French; I decided my accent is too rusty and just translated. Ever wary of unwanted sugar, I ordered club soda with a twist of lemon. Somehow, my drink came with lime and Ms. Q's iced tea came with lemon, though she prefers lime; we just traded, there was no need to upset the server. What a neat way to break the ice! The food was plentiful and delicious. However, as I think back, the amount of walking I did would certainly have canceled out any unwanted carbs.
Also in the group were the two chicks, Deni and Sharon, musicians and writers, of podcast fame. There was Lisa, who has actually worked on productions we'd all heard of. And, oh yeah, M.D. and I. I could have sat and listened for hours.
Those of you who have written about meeting on-line friends know how fantastic it can be. How did Lisa see us standing there and know, simply know, that M.D. and I were the people she was waiting for? Bright and funny young ladies entertained me through luncheon (too fancy for just “lunch”) and exploring the street fair.
It could all have been set up for my personal enjoyment. Interesting booths. Dogs all over. Pleasant people. (And I could see it all.)
Part of our group had to leave, but Lisa and Ms. Q accompanied M.D. and me to back to Grand Central, where we drank something cool and talked some more. More people to add to my favorite reads.
M.D. and I found our homeward train and settled in to rest for the next hour. Ms. F, who had been too ill to make the trip with us, still met us at the station and drove us home. We had a WONDERFUL day.
The “bad,” as you might guess, concerned Husband and his geezersitter. He always assures us he can take care of himself, but I have my doubts. So I carefully set up a day 's worth of pills — wake-up, breakfast, supper, and bedtime — even though I was pretty sure we would be back by suppertime. I wrote out instructions, including that there were containers on the table labeled breakfast and supper. I repeated the instructions to the sitter verbally, and told Husband as well, since he (supposedly) knows what his pills are and when he takes them.
They started up okay. The sitter came by around nine and gave him the wake-up pill. An hour later, when Husband had breakfast, a nameless someone who did not read or remember the instructions, gave him his bedtime pills.
Naturally he was no trouble all day; he had taken his sedative! By the time I got back, of course, it had worn off. He shouted and stamped his foot, especially when I asked why he hadn't corrected the sitter. He wasn't hungry, as he had not only eaten what I left for him but also part of the sitter's take-out as well.
However, on second thought, it is not so bad. Whether he likes it or not, Husband has proved that he cannot be trusted to take care of himself. He got to go the store and buy lots of junk food he shouldn't have. He probably thinks he fooled the sitter.
The geezersitter, on the other hand, probably thinks he messed up enough that I wouldn't ask him again. He doesn't realize that I have no trouble asking him to use his time and his muscles for my benefit. He will just have to endure U.D.'s presence as she administers the medications. Who faked out whom?
In addition, Husband did not suffer any lasting ill effects — his tummy may be wobbly for a day or two. I cannot understand why he needed to buy peanut butter cookies and candies when there is a pound jar of peanut butter in the cupboard. It seems we still have a toddler in the house.
