Comfort Food

One day last week, Cheryl decided to take Michael to the Popeye’s, to comfort him as she told him that our church’s youth minister was going to be moving to Ohio. Michael is tender-hearted, and she felt that he needed preparation for the announcement, and a little “comfort food.” I agreed, and off they went. On their way to the restaurant, she broke the news. Michael was tearfully quiet for a minute, after which he asked: “So is that why you’re taking me to Popeye’s?” Cheryl said it was.

Michael then responded: “Is that all I get? How about that plasma big screen I wanted?” Cheryl was glad to see that he quickly recovered his sense of humor!

The Royal Treatment

Although when we got our baby kitten, Eponine, Cheryl whispered to her: “Don’t get used to it!” regarding the more expensive cat food that she had been getting, I have gotten in the (bad) habit of making the kitten a little plate of whatever I am having. I don’t want her to feel like she is being left out!

One day last week, I was shredding a little sliver of my chicken for her, and Michael walked by and watched the proceedings and said: “I don’t know how I’m going to feel one of these days, when Dad brings home some Popeyes for Eponine and not me!”

Good Help is Hard to Find!

One evening last week, I got a phone call from Jack Tillery, our former missions minister, who is serving as interim pastor at the community of Hackberry, south of Lake Charles. He said he had a gift to bring by (a delicious pork given to us from a store owner who is a member of the church there.) While he was visiting with us, one of our church members stopped by to borrow something from Cheryl, and she knocked on the door. We told Jack who it likely was, and I started to go and answer the door. Cheryl, always vigilant to make sure that I do not stand more than I have to, told me to stay seated. Jack said, “Let me get it” and jumped up and ran to the door. He opened it and said, “Welcome to the Thomas residence; I’m the butler!”

A Mind Is A Terrible Thing To Waste

On my way home for lunch one day, I stopped by Kris Fontenot’s (one of our senior adults) to bring her back some dishes from a meal she had prepared for us. When I came in, she asked if I wanted some of the tortilla soup she had made earlier, and since Cheryl was not going to be home for lunch that day, I said I would love some! So I sat down and ate the soup, which was yummy, along with slices of avocado (perhaps my favorite food!) and some Indian bread. It was a GREAT lunch! After I had finished and we had visited for a while, Kris said she wanted to show me the garden by the fence outside her home before I left.

When we stepped outside, I remember thinking, “Is there some machinery or something going out here? What is that sound?” After about a minute, I knew what it was. I exclaimed: “Kris! I left my car running when I came up to the door with your dishes!” We both laughed at my forgetfulness, and I said, “Well, at least it will be cooled off for me by now!” Kris quipped: “I won’t tell anybody about your memory problems!”, and I headed out.

But only a few seconds later, I was back at the front door. Kris was surprised to see me again so soon. I said apologetically: “I hate to even say this: but I forgot my sunglasses!”

Quick as a …

Eponine’s activity seems to go in “spurts” – she will nap for a time, and then wake up and chase her tail, or launch faux “attacks” on whatever helpless “prey” she might find in range. One afternoon, she was moving from target to target with, well, “cat-like” quickness, when Michael, who was watching her rampage, said, “When I left the other room, she was somewhere behind me, and when I came in here, she was already ‘attacking’ something well ahead of me. How many kittens did we get?!”

True Paradise!

Last Friday afternoon, Michael walked into the living room carrying Eponine and stroking her back. She was purring so loudly you could hear it across the room. Michael said, “She enjoys just being held and petted while she is carried around.”

I said, “I think I would like that, too!”

Cheryl & Michael both just looked at me. I can always dream, can’t I?!

Car ID

Cheryl had a brake light go out in her car, so she went to Advance Auto. They are always very helpful, and install the lights for you on the spot – for free! She went up to the counter and told the customer service employee what she needed. He asked her what kind of car she had.

Cheryl had looked up the model and year of the car in advance just for this situation, but now, in the heat of the moment, she forgot it. She said, “It’s red …”

The guy said, “That’s ok, this red car right here?” Cheryl said it was. He looked the part number up, and told her that the bulbs came in packs of two. Cheryl said, “Yes, my husband bought a pack of two for his car a few months ago, and I was wondering if that bulb might fit my car.”

“Well, it might”, he said. “What kind is it?”

Cheryl paused … “It’s black ….”

Drama Critic

I wrote an update for my blog on my most recent dealings with POTS, and read it to Cheryl and asked if she thought it was ok. She said it was. I said, “It’s not too … dramatic?”

She said, “No, it’s not too dramatic.”

I said, “I know it’s probably just a LITTLE dramatic …”

She said, “Well, yeah, a little. You just ARE a little dramatic. The other day I told Michael you make even your yawns dramatic.” 🙂

Check That!

Friday was not a good day for me, so I made a point to try to rest up on Saturday for Sunday’s message. I had gotten up to get some lunch when I glanced at my heart monitor watch, and was shocked by what I saw! Why would it be so high; I didn’t feel that poorly? Suddenly I remembered: I had left my watch on “clock” mode! I was looking at the TIME, not my heart rate! 🙂