Wednesday, August 18, 2010
They take heat advisories pretty seriously at the Soldiers Home, and today was a sizzler. Hardly anyone was outside, and the Activities Center was buzzing—a full house at the regular Trivia session, plus a crowded poker game at the next table.
After Trivia, Mike and I stepped out for some fresh air, but it was more stifling than fresh, so we stepped right back in. We went to his room, where the AC was blasting, and chilled. Mike asked what I was doing Sunday.
I couldn’t think of a single thing.
“It’s that annual Family Picnic,” Mike said. “Wanna come?”
I said I would love to. He had invited his son and granddaughter, too, so I told him I wanted to make sure I left them plenty of “family time” on their own.
“You pretty much are family,” Mike told me.
I had to purposely try not to cry. I’d had a crabby day, and this was so unexpectedly nice, I was caught off-guard.
It felt like A Moment, and I was very moved, but I had to go. I stood up, expecting to hug Mike and say something sweet right back to him.
But he spoke first.
“You really do have a nice set of legs on you,” he said.
“Huh,” I sputtered. “That is sure not where I thought that conversation was going.”
I laughed. Mike laughed. And I hugged him anyway. Sometimes you just gotta cut family a break.
They take heat advisories pretty seriously at the Soldiers Home, and today was a sizzler. Hardly anyone was outside, and the Activities Center was buzzing—a full house at the regular Trivia session, plus a crowded poker game at the next table.
After Trivia, Mike and I stepped out for some fresh air, but it was more stifling than fresh, so we stepped right back in. We went to his room, where the AC was blasting, and chilled. Mike asked what I was doing Sunday.
I couldn’t think of a single thing.
“It’s that annual Family Picnic,” Mike said. “Wanna come?”
I said I would love to. He had invited his son and granddaughter, too, so I told him I wanted to make sure I left them plenty of “family time” on their own.
“You pretty much are family,” Mike told me.
I had to purposely try not to cry. I’d had a crabby day, and this was so unexpectedly nice, I was caught off-guard.
It felt like A Moment, and I was very moved, but I had to go. I stood up, expecting to hug Mike and say something sweet right back to him.
But he spoke first.
“You really do have a nice set of legs on you,” he said.
“Huh,” I sputtered. “That is sure not where I thought that conversation was going.”
I laughed. Mike laughed. And I hugged him anyway. Sometimes you just gotta cut family a break.
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