Stranger

The sun appeared this afternoon after being a stranger for more days than I can recall.

This morning, Dennis was up, dressed in old blue jeans and was busy packing a lunch.  Dennis’ friend Dwayne has given up hoping his old pickup can be fixed.  Dwayne’s wife had talked him into having the junkyard come and haul it away . . . as is.  Dwayne bucked at that.  He called Dennis and this morning was the date set that the two old classmates were going to empty the bolted on toolbox.  Dennis was equipped with coffee and doughnuts for the project at hand.  What was inside the toolbox, Dennis had no idea.  I made sure Dennis had his telephone with in case a snag was run into.  Dwayne has moved into an apartment and the pickup would need to be worked on outside.

I took care of the first floor and I headed for the studio, telling Dennis to call if I was needed.  Both of the fellows are 86 and the unexpected can happen with a missed step.  I had KNUJ radio on and the only company I had was the Culligan man as he delivered salt.  All quiet on the home front.

Dennis came home at noon and the mission had been accomplished.  Dennis recounted that when the hands got cold, they retreated into the little red pickup to drink hot coffee and have their doughnut.  Dennis said he was disappointed that Dwayne’s wife had not been more accommodating with the project and might have come out to see how things were going or offered more coffee.  Dennis said “she sure isn’t like you.”  I will take that compliment to the bank on any day.

The back of the little red pickup is quite full of goodies.  Dennis already has asked me to go on a road date tomorrow to Fairfax to see if Kevin can make use of anything.  Dewayne was a mechanic all his life and he liked tools.  I said I was in for the jaunt but only after haircuts at ten tomorrow forenoon.  Kevin closes over the noon hour and that will give Dennis a chance to take me to Hardee’s in Sleepy Eye for noon lunch.  Sweet!

Tonight we are having pan fried Tilapia fish, instant potatoes and green beans followed by a change of dressing on Dennis left foot. Tomorrow will be two weeks since the success of three veins having been opened in his left leg.  As Nurse Racket doing the changing of the dressing every other day, I can see an improvement.  The foot has blood going to it.  He also has feeling in the foot, another rarity.  Hoping that very soon he will be able to wear a normal shoe on his left foot.

The sun has allowed the temp of 51 degrees.