A leftover day
Sue and Jordan
I think that’s a perfect namefor Saturday. After a work week and before Sunday starts a new week, Saturdayis the day left over. I had a busy week and a more active day yesterday than Iam used to, so I promised myself a slow, easy day today. It turned out to be aday of leftovers.
I wrote like a fiend much ofthe week, averaging over a thousand words a day plus, most days, my blog. Thatwasn't drudgery—it was joy. I’m in one of the spells when the words seem to comeeasily and the story flows—and writing is fun. But yesterday, no writing. I wasup early making tuna salad for a lunch guest and a dip for happy hour guests. Atnoon, my long time (50 years?) friend Linda arrived. She had the good mannersto rave about my tuna, and we caught up with families, the few old friends westill know about, life as elders, and touched on the world situation. Her(relatively new) husband had an appointment elsewhere but popped in. and theyboth left shortly after two, because Linda insisted I need my daily nap. And Ido. Sophie and I are always overjoyed to have Linda in the cottage.
In the evening, Subie, Phil, andRenee came for happy hour. The discussion was wide-ranging but got particularlyspirited when we talked about wolves and their effect on the ecosystem andabout the city of Greenville (see below). It was all fun, and we were temptedto stay where we were, but a little before seven we left for a farewell partyfor Teddy and Sue. I’ve explained this relationship several times, but fifteenor more years ago Sue moved into the house next door to me. I can still see herdad walking down the driveway when I asked him, “Are you my new neighbor?” andhe replied, in a wonderful Canadian accent familiar to this daughter of aCanadian, “I’m your new neighbor’s father.” Sue, newly divorced, moved in withtwo young children, and her parents went home to Ottawa, Ontario. In time, Suedeclared she needed a Fort Worth mother, since hers was so far away. I washonored and consider her my Canadian daughter. Along the way, she bought ahouse ten minutes away and married Teddy (one of my favorite people in theworld). Now they are moving to Greenville, South Carolina—because they fell inlove with the area. My parents retired to a small North Carolina town nearby,and I can easily understand the pull of the region. I’m excited for them butwill miss them.
The party was fun, and I evenknew a few people. But there were two stairs to get in, and we had to recruit afriend from the party to help me. That sort of got me off on the wrong foot,and it was hard to get my party face on. Still I knew a few people and enjoyedvisiting. The setting was a gorgeous house, and I was particularly impressed bythe hostess’ daughter who acted as the party angel. Teddy, bless him, helped meout and saw me safely into the car.
So that’s why today is myleftover day. I confess I am still wearing the flannel pants and T-shirt I sleptin, and I think I’ll just fall into bed tonight, still wearing them. My worktoday was leftovers—my neighborhood newsletter, some bills and some insurancematter, more worry about the trees. Kept me busy all morning.
Even my meals are leftover:tuna salad from yesterday for lunch; a bowl of split pea soup brought to mesome time ago by a friend. It’s been waiting for me in the freezer for anothercold night, and tonight is perfect (at 6:30 it is 41 and headed down). TheBurtons are going to Plank, the new seafood restaurant I really want to try. Ithreatened them if either one came home and told me they had a steak ora hamburger in a seafood house.
Tomorrow won’t be as easy. I’llgo to church in the morning, and I’ve promised to make Norwegian hamburgers forSunday dinner. Norwegian hamburgers are something we learned about from Colin’smother-in-law, who lived in Norway until she was seventeen and came to the USto marry Lisa’s father. The hamburgers are meat patties in beef gravy, but don’tdismiss them as like our hamburgers. Different texture, different flavor anddelicious. We love Torhild, and we love her cooking. I hope I can do them aswell as she does, and I hope there are leftovers.
How about you? How was your SaturdayStay safe and warm on this chilly night.
