What I Did
I took a friend’s advice yesterday and avoided hard work. I went shopping instead. Actually, I went buying. My late wife used to go shopping which involved endless hours at stores with few purchases to show for it, although she did manage some. I was after something in particular, thus buying. In the first case I wanted custom seat covers for my rather bland family car with its cloth seats. They’re on order. We’ll see what it does for the car. At this point, my brother is probably the only other person besides me who will see them, but he deserves something casually elegant.
In the second case, I was looking for an oxford button down shirt. My kind daughter-in-law who is helping me upgrade my wardrobe assures me they’ll always be in style, when I need something a step above casual. She should know she’s worked in the fashion industry and is currently helping stores stage their goods. So, off I went. It’s really hard talking to clerks about the subject, especially when they’re young, they really have no idea. I think in their minds it is something akin to a shirt made from an old feed sack. Maybe it was at one time. It took me four stops, but I found one, actually two, white and blue. That seems pretty staid, but I’ll have to go online to buy more. Another friend assures me I look good in pink. Sometimes.
Today, I’ll get my monthly haircut and go listen to music in the afternoon. A friend is playing right down the road. It’s the lovely part about living in this neck of the woods, there’s music all around, and good people, too, and fine spirits to drink. I’m going to do some of each today. The yardwork will be there when I get done. I’m pretty sure of that. In fact, I’m positive. I can see it right out my window. Sitting there. Waiting. For me. Almost better than a dog.
John W. Wilson is the author of The Long Goodbye: A Caregiver’s Tale