At ten thirty on Sunday evening, I asked Dana if he wanted to go for a walk. Looking at me as if I had just popped out of a space capsule, and was invading his house, he said, "What?" I repeated my question. He was very adamant in his next statement: "No!" Then he looked at me with confusion across his face, and asked, "Do you?" I smiled, and replied, "No", and then said, "And we don't have to!" After telling me I was 'strange', we both laughed. No longer did we have the quadrupeds, and no longer did we have to make a late night dash to the communal canine bathroom!
My week was going to be disrupted in a positive way. I had promised my friend that I would take her to collect a hire car, and then to pick her up from the garage where she was taking her vehicle for repair. This would be a 'two day event'. I braced myself for the upheaval, but found that I was quite calm. Was I finally changing? Was I finally 'letting go' and 'going with the flow'? It was a thought.
Springtime had finally sprung and the overnight lows were not particularly cool. Of course to a Texan they were bordering on freezing, but to those of us who are used to somewhat cooler climes, it was reasonably pleasant. Samantha was pleased to be home, and despite having a lovely holiday, I sensed she was happy to be back to reality. I think it was somewhat of a relief to go to their favourite holiday location and not have any negative happenings.
I spent a good deal of my time on the phone, on Monday, chatting to clerks, and being received with a positive response. Perhaps it was the spring weather that had everyone in a good mood. I tentatively called one clerk with whom I knew my client was having a problem. I explained that the documents had not yet been received and wondered if there was a way to have them issued as soon as possible, please, and thank you, and all the other niceties I could think of. She was as nice as pie! The documents were sent and they were almost correct. I called her back. "Uh oh!" came the response. "I wonder what'all made it do that?" I was biting my upper lip, preventing the giggle. The 'all' is the most wonderful addition to life. "Y'all" is the most common, but then, like having fresh herbs at my fingertips, they make me smile! "Where'all did that go wrong?" she continued. It was like Christmas! The 'all's' were ringing like celebratory church bells! She promised me that she would get it fixed, and "Y'all will have it momentarily!" I thanked her profusely, and waited. 'We'all' did receive it 'momentarily', but there was another mistake. "Hey!" I said as she answered the phone. "Oh no. What'all did I do wrong this time?" In an attempt to make her feel better, I laughed, and pointed out the mistake, suggesting that the computer probably went into some sort of 'auto-pilot' phase, and the programme took over. I then thanked her for not 'shooting the messenger', but she thanked 'me'all' for being so patient. I felt as if I had completed a marathon, and staged something of a coup! It had, apparently, been an uphill battle trying to get a mistake corrected from this particular court, so I was rather pleased with the outcome! It may seem like a monotonous task, calling clerks to chase on paperwork, or have things corrected, but I do enjoy being able to quote 'chapter and verse' in complete confidence. I know little about how the same process would work in British courts, but then as I have said so many times, on the very odd occasion that I had to step foot inside a courthouse in England, it was very intimidating. When clerks go to work in jeans and boots, it has a different feel! Of course, that is not to say the system lacks in any way, but for those not 'on trial' it is not such a daunting experience. I will stop now before I get myself into trouble!
On to my good deeds! It was more of a pleasure than a 'good deed', collecting my friend and going to lunch! I drove up to my car port, and sat waiting for her to walk along from her condo. She looked at the car and said, "Traveling in style....I was rather looking forward to going in the mini". I was happy to oblige! Admittedly, anything is 'style' compared to my 'old lady', but she does know how to roar, and can fit into small spaces. Apart from that, as I was unsure as to where we had to go after lunch, I was happier driving a more familiar vehicle, should I have to make sudden turns!
Lunch was wonderful. We covered a variety of topics, putting the world to rights from our small table at the seafood restaurant. Sheriff's deputies sat at an adjoining table, and I had to laugh. It is such a common sight here to see law enforcement sitting at a table, eating lunch or dinner. It is something that was not seen at home, or at least when I lived there. I enjoy the fact that I can still smile at the difference.
After dropping my friend off at the car hire facility, I returned to pick up Dana's car, and then to the office. I had not missed too much activity, but settled down to work, and waited for the end of the day! It was exercise night, and I decided to continue revamping the handkerchief!
My attempt at recreating a dessert that Samantha had seen, and made me promise I would not attempt whilst she was away, had started off reasonably well. The recipe was a lemon trifle, but I had decided to add raspberries to add layers. I had made the lemon sponge, blitzed the coulis, mixed the lemon curd with cream, and was defrosting the raspberries. I had decided to make lemon syrup and add it to the cream. All was going well. Main course was from my mother's old Cordon Bleu recipe book. Braised Brisket! I hated it as a kid, but now it sounded rather lovely! As advanced as it seemed for its day, it required no fresh herbs! I prepped as much as I could and made Dana some chilli, as I was not hungry after my sumptuous lunch!
I found my way to the truck depot the next day, without getting lost! I had my map and arrived at two, which was the appointed time. My friend came out and thanked me again for picking her up, as she knew it was a work day. I was only too pleased to be able to do her the favour. As I listened to myself express this admission of enjoyment for a break in routine, I wondered 'who'all' I was! Where was the old me? I quite liked this 'new' me and wondered if 'I' would last! She suggested a way home, and before giving me directions decided it might be a bit complicated. "I was going to go back the way I came", I said. When I told her my route, she laughed and said, "That was the complicated way I was talking about, but it is so much quicker!" I imagined she took the route I had thought about first, but it would have taken twice as long! Coup two!
I was unsure how do deal with Thursday, as I had no deviation! It had not changed me in any way, nor challenged me. However, the thought of spending a whole day at work did not bother me either. Was this me? Gardening, changing routine, not worried about a piece of lemon toffee sliding down the wall! Was I dazed? Perhaps the high oak pollen was somehow putting me to sleep, and I was dreaming! Whatever the change, I was quite happy with it!
The weekend came around and Samantha picked me up earlier than usual. We had a lot to accomplish. I had garden things to buy. Trying to explain to the man in the shop what I wanted was rather difficult. "A dolly, but flat. It doesn't have a handle. It is like a flat trolley. A dolly without the dolly.....Samantha!" My daughter came around the corner, and tried to explain. She succeeded a little better, and they found a box which had contained exactly what I was looking for. It was, of course, empty. However, another location did have twenty two! I only wanted two. The humour was lost!
By the time we returned home, the truck bed was rather full of my latest project items and my daughter kindly unloaded them into the handerchief. I decided to go swimmng, despite the overcast skies and was happy to see that I could take my afternoon constitutional unhindered. However, some neighbours did appear around four, and we had a pleasant hour passing time and generally chatting about nothing. It feels good to chat about nothing!
Mother's Day comes but twice a year for me, and my lovely daughter did not let the day go unnoticed. She appeared at the pool gate with a bunch of flowers, which I had to take upstairs to put in water! It was a break! A young woman and her daughter had joined me, and the little girl was rather chatty, and rather insistent upon me watching her swim, and playing a game with some inflatable die! Her mother was most embarrassed, but rather than have her deal with a tantrum, which I felt was about to come on, I played for a couple of minutes, and then said I had to read some of my book. This seemed to appease the little one. However, I could overhear the conversation a few minutes later, "But I know her now, and she will play with me!" I managed to get a few more pages read before being approached to watch once again!
Grant sent me a message wishing me a happy mothers day, and I thanked him and sent one in return. "I believe it is customary to wish everyone a happy mother's day, so same to you!" I then added that, "Proper mothers day is in March, and you only wish it to mothers, as it should be". He replied with a "Hahahaha! I like it!" My job was done. I struck one for the home team and made someone laugh!
I don't have any plans for playing hooky next week, but one never knows when something unusual might take place, and my services will be needed. I shall have to wait and see if there is enough excitement to qualify ........... another story!
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