Picked up Marge and took her to lunch at Sea Oaks yesterday, the second of the two lunches I gave her for her birthday. This was a marathon session, as we were there for almost 3 hours. We managed to spend $42 of the $50 gift certificate Jack B. gave Pat last year (sandwiches, iced tea and a beer, dessert, and coffee), left the rest for a tip, and the whole afternoon was very enjoyable. Talked and talked and talked, of course--my favorite activity. Now I'm able to act as a kind of off-stage confidant for Marge re the Drama Club. I'm no longer active, but I know all the background, personalities, problems, and worries and can discuss them with her. I feel slightly guilty, as I know how frustrating it can be to have to actually deal with everything and I have the luxury of just talking about them. But, hey, it feels good.
I want to start serving up more elaborate meals than I've been having lately--maybe I'll make pork chops or roast chicken today. I need to get in some meat, as the freezer stock is dwindling (finally) and will try to get to Shop-Rite.
Note to Betty: Not sure why your comment didn't show before, but your most recent one did. See the Friday, Jan. 28 entry.

Got Pat to the doctor at Fort Dix without incident--actually, it was nice, as the streets were clear and the snow made things pretty. This was just a routine check and Dr. S. was cordial, as he's been the last few visits. Said he's going to the ice carnival in Canada next week.
Later, I went over to Joseph's Restaurant at Renault Winery in Egg Harbor. Pat was given a $75 gift certificate for there for his birthday last February and I wanted to check out the walk from the car, etc. While there, I asked if the expiration date of February 8 could be extended* and was pleased that the manager graciously allowed an end date of June 30. If Pat wants to, we'll take Alison and Mike there for his birthday.
Had a casual, not very healthy dinner last night: Sloppy Joes. It's been years since I've made them--the kids liked them when they were small--but Pat and I both enjoyed them. I'll have the leftovers for lunch.
*When I talked to sister Betty yesterday, she mentioned expiration dates for Pat's gift certificates. I was sure I had checked and there weren't any. Wrong...they all have them, so we'll have to use them within a few weeks, but we've got it covered.

Very enjoyable day yesterday: Alison came down and helped me move a few things in the garage (yes, I'm still working on that--tune in next decade and I may be finished). Then she, Pat, and I went to Calloway's for lunch. When we got home, Alison put on her running togs and ran down Mathistown Road for 10 miles. (Now "10 miles" trips easily off the tongue--or slides easily past the eyes--but if you actually measure it when you're in the car, it ain't no trip to the backyard.) Anyway, it was good to have her here, as ever.
Pat managed at Calloway's all right, but I'm a little concerned about when he takes his buddies there. It wasn't the stairs so much as the walk from the door to the table that was hard for him. I'm afraid his friends won't realize that and he might have a problem. Maybe I'll get in touch with one of them and see if they can keep an eye out.
Got up this morning to see a lovely winter wonderland--*&%$*!!!--(that's supposed to signify cursing and knashing of teeth), Yes, it snowed and I don't like it. Not only do I have to put my boots on and wade out to get the paper, but Pat has a doctor's appointment at Fort Dix. Well, maybe the streets will be cleared by 10:00 when we'd have to leave; otherwise, I'll just call and cancel.
Looking forward to lunch with Marge tomorrow.

Yes, the house sale in Margate I went to yesterday was at 615 N. Delavan, where my twin and her family had lived 35 years ago. To my surprise, the owner, Carol, immediately recognized Betty's name, saying she had occasionally seen her over the years. I was also surprised to learn that Carol is SIL to Trudy, who was Betty's next door neighbor on Atlantic Avenue, and whom I remember well.
The house is a split-level and Carol and her husband added another whole level for a master bedroom. Carol invited me to come up and see it. It's a huge suite, covering the entire floor. However, they seem to have done very little to the rest of the house since they bought it in 1972. The rec room is still panelled (and it's seen better days), the kitchen looks the same and, aside from paint, it's more or less as it was when Betty and Wes lived there. Carol said it was under contract, so maybe the new owners will renovate.
I have such good memories of that house and the many family gatherings there. The priceless movie Wes recently shared of Easter at 615 North--it has to be more than 40 years ago--took place in that living room. Big Wes was there, and Mom and Aunt Maggie, and our little children, the oldest of whom, Patrick, now approaching 50, was 7 or 8. Where did it all go? Where did they all go?
After chatting with Carol and glancing at the things she had for sale--mostly dismal modern furniture I wouldn't take as a gift--I left a little hurridly. I love and revere the past, but I can't stay there too long or I get melancholy.
I went over to Hamilton Mall to run a few errands, picked up a nice chicken to roast for dinner, and eased myself back to the 21st century. All those little chores and errands, all the minutia, all the things that seem so important at the time (Will the dress fit? Does the plant need water? Did the cake rise?) are what makes us human, it seems to me.
I do like to visit the long-ago, but the present is where I live and I'm glad to be home.

Saw Notes on a Scandal yesterday and boy, was it intense. Barb H., Leslie, and I enjoyed it, although it was somewhat depressing overall. Judi Dench played an incredibly absorbing part and so did Cate Blancett (I think that's misspelled); the underlying theme was age versus youth and it was repeated throughout the movie.
Pat went down the bay while I was gone, but still isn't his usual self. He's taking Tylenol every few hours, but can't seem to articulate why he needs it and in what way he doesn't feel well. As for me, the cold hangs on and on; it has now "settled in my chest" as people used to say, and I have a deep cough. Alison thinks my constant colds are from stress. She had had a number of bad colds last year when she was just finishing up graduate school and had a lot on her plate--even more than now.
It was so good to talk to her. As she's done before, she called me on her way to the Friday night hike. Unfortunately, her Mike also has a bad cold, so didn't go. She said it would probably be the coldest of their regular hikes, as the temperature has really dropped. She's taking Joely and Mike's grandchildren to the aquarium tomorrow, then will come down to visit us on Sunday--yay!
Alison is square in the middle of the "sandwich generation," with aging parents (who, us?) and grandchildren with whom she's also deeply involved. It's just remarkable that she handles everything--including a husband, a home, a very demanding career, and marathon training--with such cheerfulness and grace.
Pat has a doctor's appointment at Fort Dix on Monday and I e-mailed Jen asking if we could stop after and take her and Joely to lunch.
Today, am going to Margate for a house sale--at an address I've visited many times in the past. Stay tuned for exactly where that is.

Well, this blog is driving me crazy! I just looked at yesterday's entry and found it had printed twice. I deleted what I thought was a simple duplicate and found it was the one I had added to later in the day, so I accidentally deleted that deathless prose.
What I added was just that Pat had to cancel his lunch date with his cronies from the bay, as he still wasn't feeling up to par. Hope they can re-schedule soon. Can't remember what else I wrote except that I had a nice lunch with Mary Ann. The rest of the day I just puttered around.
Found out from long-ago classmate Dolores that she saw my entry on "Atlantic City Memory Lane," which is how she found my blog. After my response, she filled me in on her current life and it will be nice to keep in touch with her.
Think I'll skip Curves today; it's already ten of 9 and Susan and I had our "Walk Away the Pounds" session, anyway. Pat seems to be feeling better, so I hope to be able to go to the movies with Leslie and Barb H. today. Not sure what we'll see.

Took Pat to the dermotologist yesterday; his neck is healing well, but there's a kind of pre-cancerous rash on his forehead. The doctor gave him a prescription for a cream that brings it out.
Got my hair trimmed, then went to Acme for 3 items--came out with $51.22 worth of stuff. Also drove down to Manahawkin to several stores and managed to spend several hundred dollars on minor items. (Hey, it's easy!)
Today, Pat is meeting his bay cronies for lunch at Calloway's in Stafford. I'm a little worried about this excursion for two reasons. First, there are steps to climb--only about 10, but they'll be very difficult for him--plus a walk from the door to the dining room which will leave him breathless. Second, he had a restless night last night (rather, this morning). He woke and sat up at 2 am and asked me to get him some Tylenol, saying he had chills and trouble breathing. I did, and he lay down again, but sat up several times later and his breathing was labored. The last time his breathing was even worse than usual was on Thanksgiving and we had to take him to the hospital. I have a mammogram scheduled for 8 and will check him before I leave to see if I should go. I have a lunch date with Mary Ann Van O., whose husband also has emphysema--hope I don't have to cancel.
Got up about 4:45 and had a nice surprise on my e-mail: a message from Dolores S., with whom I graduated from high school so many centuries ago. I wrote her back immediately and hope to hear more from her.