Staying connected

I asked if they were e-mailing each other, but they said not--just checking in while the kids slept. Waking up with some great coffee.

Cool today, possible rain

These t-shirts for sale at Coffee and Cream in Lakeside would feel good.

How an 8 year old sees it

On my way to the coffee shop this morning my neighbor's 8 year old grandson was walking a few steps behind me. "Have you got a big day planned? I asked. "Oh yes," he said with enthusiasm. "I'm on my way to get doughnuts." (Patio Restaurant serves fabulous warm doughnuts in the morning, freshly made.) "How about the other activities?" "Oh yes, I've been coming here for eight years and there's so much to do."

Schedule change

I had a new walking plan for our summer at the lake. Part of this glorious plan was inspired by the coffee shop which this year isn't opening until 8 a.m. instead of 6:30 last summer. So I was going to get my walk in along the lake before it got hot. But on my way there today at 8 a.m., I see that the new proprietor of Abigail's is opening at 6 a.m.

Day Care

We were waiting for the rain to stop so we could make a dash for the parkihg lot. She told me the day care is $250 a week. Wow. That's $13,000 a year--even if there's a tax deduction, that's pretty pricey. There's a sliding scale based on income, so the more you make, the more you're paying for the parents who are barely making it, so paying less. But everyone's connected in some way with the university, so that's not much diversity. Smart kids and the care takers all have degrees. She thinks it is really odd that when the parents have a week or two or even a holiday off, they leave the child/children at the center anyway. "Don't they want any time with their kids?" she asked rhetorically.

My children had the best money can't buy--me.

She's dating five men!

He thought they had a relationship, he said. Well, maybe not exclusive, but he didn't know there were four others plus an ex-husband calling several times a week. She called him to say she had a "boyfriend." So that more or less ended it, which is how I heard about it at the coffee shop. Her mother takes care of her, houses her, and drives her places because she's on permanent disability. Apparently, neediness is quite appealing these days.

What would I do?

How have you been--haven't seen you for awhile. Are you still working? I asked. Yes, I turned 70 in May, but what would I do? she sighed. She's a recent widow, and has probably been working since her teen years in the restaurant business--her co-workers are like family--I hear about them and their trials and foibles, too.