May 22-23
Saturday. Paul had a rare weekend class, which was optional. Something about internet research that he signed up for a couple weeks ago. We grabbed my bike & almost didn’t go, because I left the keys in the door. Yes, waking up at six on a Saturday morning doesn’t always agree with me. We rushed to finish breakfast then rushed to get dressed. After I locked the door, Paul told me to button my shirt. In other words, I got distracted. The next thing I know, he carried the bike down, I followed, and we rushed down the street to catch the bus that we eventually missed. I felt like shit, but he told me not to worry about it; he would rather not go than go late. “It wasn’t meant to be, Honey” he said. I didn’t believe that & neither did he because we soon left to wait for the bus again. In the end, Paul was only a little later when we arrived. The instructor told him he didn’t miss much.
Paul’s class was from 9-1. During that time, I mostly rode my bike. I took a leisurely ride up Van Buren from 44th Street (east) to 17th Avenue (west). 17th and Van Buren is only a street apart from where I work, incidentally. A couple blocks away is the War Memorial Park I frequent at lunch. Thus, I snapped some photos there then visited the Irish Cultural Center on Central before returning to the school. Paul suggested I check into the Irish Cultural Center, because it was something we both considered visiting. I also took many photographs of signs displaying the names & rates of Van Buren’s broken-down, burned-out hotels & store fronts - still operational, of course. You see, Van Buren in Phoenix is a rather infamous street; infamous for, to be blunt, crack hoars & the like. What a cultural shock, beginning with the decrepit shacks that stretched for half a block behind each of the hotel signs! So different from the edge of Phoenix where we reside in Tempe! I truly felt blessed. Well, I feel blessed everyday. Anyway…
Afterward, we thought about going out to eat but I said, “Why don’t we just go home instead?” Paul agreed & I prepared a quick lunch for us once we arrived.
Then we made cookies! Actually, it was around 10 p.m. that we started the prep! I think we napped on the sofa between our late lunch & dinner. The sticky cookie dough, flecked with dark chocolate & M&M pieces, spread thickly across a non-stick baking sheet. When they finished cooling, we each took a chunk. It was like tasting HEAVEN!!!!! They were the best cookies we ever ate! It wasn’t until after midnight when we slept.
Sunday. Thirfting! Around noon, we started out on our bikes toward the ARC (Arizona Retarded Citizens) Thrift Shoppe. What fun! I insisted we shop for Paul’s clothes first. I stepped into the men’s dressing room with him & he gave me a fashion show! We then grabbed up a few paisley ties for his new wardrobe. Thereafter, my Paisley man & I shopped for me. When it was my turn to try on clothes, I returned the favor in the women’s dressing room with a fashion show for him! I never had such fun clothes shopping!
But in the beginning of our recent thrift excursion, we passed by the games rack and I hesitated. I remembered the fun my friends & I shared on Game Night in Philly, not long ago, and asked Paul if we could buy a few games. He liked the idea of board games as much as I did! We purchased a 25th anniversary (1961) edition of Monopoly I discovered and a modern edition of Scrabble that interested him.
But the greatest find was, much later, by Paul! As I waited for our order to be rung up, Paul stepped away toward a rack against the wall & somehow removed an old Smith-Corona typewriter from the highest shelf! He walked over to me with it and smiled. “I want to get this for you.” “But I’m not getting anything for you!” I cried. “You’re getting me the clothes,” he answered. “I’m getting clothes too!” I leaned over to kiss him then smiled, “Do you think we should?” Paul nodded. “Well, it’s up to you, but I would like to get it for you.” So, we got it. Since it was half-price day, the old steel typewriter was only $62.50. It must be 50 years or better and, yes, it still functioning!
Carrying it home, in addition to our other purchases, with the bikes, was not easy. We needed to take the bus back. Paul said the typewriter must weigh 50 pounds & we still planned to get our hair cuts! We decided to formulate a plan while we indulged in treats at nearby Dairy Queen. We shared a chocolate dipped ice cream cone after a couple of tart, fruit-flavored drinks. When the bus finally came, we were so anxious for the air conditioning, we didn’t realize until a mile later it was not the bus we waited for! It worked out perfectly, though. The “wrong” bus left us in front of the shopping center where we planned to get our haircut! After Paul tied up the bikes, we walked to the little salon to get our locks chopped.
Paul’s hair was styled in only a few minutes. A lot of the curls were cut down & his sides and neck were shaved. I only asked for an inch or so trimmed off. My hair is so long, I needed to stand!
Afterward, we enjoyed a fast lunch/dinner at Subway with a veggie sub we split. We tried to think of a name for that lunch/dinner meal. Dunch? Linner? We walked the last half mile home then, when we finally got home again Paul carried the bikes up. He did that after dropping the typewriter on the desk & I prepared iced tea. Eventually, we fell asleep in our usual position. His arms wrapped around me, my arms stretching over his shoulders & our legs twined across the sofa. I fell asleep to the pounding of his heart. His bare chest was still hot but no longer sweaty when we passed out. We slept for four hours from six o’clock. When we woke up, we held each other & each read our own books (his for school, mine for pleasure) then slipped quietly into the bedroom to sleep.
No doubt, there are many typos. I needed to be quick about this today. Anyway...welcome, Monday, and only three more days till our next road trip!!!