A Whole Different World

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away…

Oh wait, that story has already been told.

I do have a story that makes me wonder, though, what planet I’m on.

My sister, my mom and I met one morning at the kitchen counter. My sister had been up for hours, my mom for ½ that time, and me just barely.

My sister was deciding on what to have for lunch, my mom had already eaten breakfast, and I was wondering if it was nap time yet when the doorbell rang.

I answered the door, and there was a woman there. She was in her late 50’s and her car had broken down across the street.

“My car has broken down across the street. May I use your phone?” she asked.

“Sure!” the three of us said.

I let her in, and handed her the phone. She told us the phone was too advanced of a technology for her to use, and asked if we might dial the number for her.

My mom dialed the number for her, handed her the phone. She reached her party, explained her situation, and handed the phone back to my mom to hang it up.

While waiting for her party to arrive on site, she told us she had been a resident of town for 59 years. Then we started playing the “do you know…?” game.

It’s a small town, with many residents having lived here for 30 or more years. She mentioned a few names, we remembered those same names, and discovered that we’re almost related.

My mom and she shared a cup of tea while she waited for her car to be towed.

After she left, I was discussing with my mom how different my two worlds are.

For one thing, in California, no one needs to ask someone to use their phone, because no one is without a cell phone. They’re on them all the time. They are on then while driving, while eating, while dining out, while in the movies, while in the store, everywhere.

For another, a simple portable phone is not considered a technological challenge.

Lastly, in California you don’t let people you don’t know in your house. Half the time you don’t let people you DO know in your house.

Our morning visitor finished her tea and after her car was loaded, she was on her way.

It’s a nice place to visit…

The Other Side

I made it! I’m on the other home front. The flight in was okay. No twitchy people, crying kids or chatter boxes sitting near me.

I remembered this time (after many years of flying Jet Blue) to bring my own food on the plane. I remember to eat breakfast before I go but after that, all that’s left to eat is Jet Blue’s snacks (blue chips or animal crackers!) I always think that I’ll just eat on the ground in NY. I forget the time change makes it late for whoever is picking me up and my dinner time is their bedtime. So, I packed my little Tupperware with bbq chicken wings, greek pasta salad and strawberry jello.

The pilot flew around or over any storms in our path, making the ride smooth. The only problem was after landing. With the severe thunderstorms in the area, it caused a backlog of planes waiting to take off. It took over an hour to arrive at the gate.

My first day on vacation, and I spent it driving up to the capitol to pick up the paperwork I had mailed in my ongoing quest for Italian citizenship. Somewhere in the two phone calls I made to the Secretary of the State’s Department of Apostille, they neglected to tell me that there was a problem with 3 out of the 4 pieces of paper I had sent in. I managed to keep my cool, getting instructions on how to correct those issues. I doubt I’ll be flying home with the papers I need, so I’ll just have to have them mailed to me. I’m glad I’m not in a hurry!

A few summers ago, my family had a new pool installed. My sister and I had a pool growing up. First we had a little kiddie pool. Then every few years something a little bigger and a little more permanent was installed, until we finally had a 24 foot above ground circular pool.

My mom had that pool removed about 6 years ago, because no one was here to enjoy it any more. Now that the house is once again the command center of the town, a new 30 foot pool was installed. This summer the deck is going in. A 12’ by 22’ foot deck to sunbathe, life guard or just hang out.

Fortunately for builder, I’m in town the exact week they’re building the deck and I work for food.

I’ll be posting pictures as the work progresses.

Seeing Red

Spring has sprung
The grass has riz
I wonder where the birdies is?
“The bird is on the wing.”
How absurd, I thought the wing was on the bird!

Many years ago, my father and I would have a competition to see who could spot the first Robin Red breast of the spring. Only when you saw an American Robin did you know spring had truly arrived. No matter the ground hog’s predictions, no matter the blooming of the forsythia or the tulip, no matter the temperature.

The males, with their darker red chest arrive first, preceding the females by around 3 weeks. They come late March, having spent the winter in warmer climes. They look for suitable housing then they look for a suitable mate.

I was on the other home front recently removing the remnants of that other spring tradition, the April Spring Shower. Although I don’t know if 2 inches of rain can be considered a shower. A Spring Deluge, maybe. Anyhow, while taking a break from sucking water up out of the basement and returning it from whenst thou came, I saw MY first robin.

Hey Dad! I won.