10/30/2022

Weekly Update 10/30/2022

I drove Kay to the eye doctor on Tuesday. She never asks me to do anything for her, but to drive to the eye doctor is something she really can’t (and shouldn’t) do, so I was happy to help. It was fine, until the ride home. We encountered an accident, a stalled car in the middle of the highway, a train crossing the road, and rush hour. It was the drive from hell. Plus, my gas tank was only about 1/8 full. But, we made it, eventually. And, like I say, I was really glad to be able to do something for Kay. In fact, I went out with her again on Saturday. We started out early (well, early for me, not her) and got the most important thing out of the way first: eating. We had breakfast at one of our favorite places nearby. Then we grocery shopped at both Aldi’s and Publix. We went in to TJMaxx briefly, but I was upset because there were THREE dogs in there. How can that be? I complained to the manager. I’m sure that will lead to nothing, and I rarely shop there anyway, so they haven’t lost any business. And we also went Costco. I am not a member, but Kay is, so I asked if we could go there so I could see what everyone raves about. I felt it was like Home Depot – a foreign country. Too much of everything – Christmas, electronics, automotive, groceries. I’m going to stay with Publix, thank you very much.

Continuing with my pumpkin spice fetish, I found pumpkin spice cider in Aldi’s when I was there a week ago. I tried to get more when I was there Saturday, but they were sold out. So, I had to settle for cranberry cider. It’s good, too.

There was a fascinating webinar on Thursday sponsored by the Mellon Institute. I have no idea how I got on their list, but they send me invitations all the time for the programs they sponsor. I signed up for this one about libraries. It was wonderful. They stayed away from politics, and didn’t get into book banning and censorship, but promoted services that libraries offer for free. Print materials, special programs for all ages, artistic loans, assistance with computer literacy, even just a place for people who need to connect socially have a place to go and sit, maybe in silence, but with other human beings. It was great. Libraries always have been, and continue to be, a great resource for everyone.





As I was driving to meet my friends in Green Square on Friday, I passed one of the other squares, and saw a long line of very young school children walking to the square all dressed in their Halloween costumes. I would have loved to stop and watched the parade, but I was already late to meet my friends. I will get no trick and treaters at my door, and I rather miss seeing the little ones so excited and dressed as a favorite character. I’ve had several pictures of Adrian in different get ups, and I’m anxious to see what he does for the holiday.

Today, I was back at Bonaventure. It’s the fifth Sunday of the month, and I was at the Visitor Center to answer questions and hand out maps. It was very much as I remembered it from long ago. After my shift was over, I went to John and Dessie’s plots. When I left the fall flowers there a week or so ago, I noticed that they headstones are very dirty; I could hardly read the inscriptions on them. So I packed a brush, some soft cloths, and some plain water. I scrubbed them, and I think it made a difference. I could get in a lot of trouble, because they are not my responsibility, and I should not do this. But, hey, they have no family or they wouldn’t be in this plot, and they’ve been dead for almost 100 years. Who’s going to challenge me?

Since Buffalo wasn’t playing until the night game, and I had little interest in the other games, I decided to go to Chippewa Square to attend a free Phil The Square concert. I was much too early, so I had a chance to get a - wait for it - pumpkin spice latte to sip as I listened to the string quartet play for an hour. It was so nice.

The Bills did good! Another win! Let’s go Buffalo!