T-Day

It’s been an interesting day so far. Interesting.

I went over to Chuck’s at 3. We sat in the living room and talked a while, then got up (slowly) and went over to the clubhouse. There was a spread that couldn’t be beat. Lou (the manager) had outdone herself AGAIN. Last year was a real smash, this year was even better.

We ate and had a great time. I got Chuck’s plate loaded up. Thought for sure he’d give it up about halfway through. Nope, he polished off all but a tiny bit. Then I got him pie and he ate that! Just like the rest of us, he ate way too much.

There was ham, fried turkey, white meat, dark meat, mashed potatoes, cranberry jelly, cornbread stuffing, bread stuffing, corn, green beans and carrots. Not to forget the candied yams. And rolls.

The dessert table was full of pies. Too many to count, except that over half of the pumpkin pies were untouched. Just too much food!

We sat with Russ and Arlane. They’re Chuck’s close friends and they set the four places with plates and cups. Chuck brought wine glasses.

While we were there eating, I got a chance to visit several of the old neighbors. It was a nice homecoming. Everybody I talked to seemed to be interested in how I was doing. But that was about as far as it went. There’s nothing in common anymore. Oh, well, so it goes.

After I dropped Chuck off at his place, I stopped by Linda’s to visit. She hadn’t shown up at the feast and I was slightly worried about her. Sure enough, she had some pains and hadn’t wanted to chance the dinner. So she stayed home. We visited over an hour. She seems fine, and I was relieved.

Then I went next door to the three sisters’ house. Myrna, Laverne and Gwen. We sat down and of course I couldn’t help talking about my summer wrestling with God. That was a mistake with Laverne being secretary to a hard-shell Baptist church, but we seemed to reach a point where we agreed to disagree. And got along okay. I was there almost an hour. Nice visit.

So homeward. Now I’m sitting here wondering how I did. Did they think less of me for not living in another trailer somewhere? Did they think less of me because I am moving on with my life after Sherry died?

It doesn’t matter. What DOES matter is that most of them were glad to see me, I got several hugs from Lou, I spoke with Thelma and Mickey and Tom and Joann and Ted and Jean and Lowell and Ava Lee; said hello to John and Jan, John Campbell, Chelsea and Dan and Dave and Mike. It was a good meal. I’m very glad I went.

Thus, Thanksgiving, the pre-eminent holiday these days, seems to have been gotten through with ease. I’ve acquitted myself with the park denizens and been feted by three households. Pretty nice, I’d say. Of all the places I’ve lived in my life, I suppose the longest was the trailer park. So I have some roots, of sorts, there. Of course, as the population continues to turn over, soon I’ll be a nobody, like all the dead ones. It’s a park in the throes of change. But that happens every twenty years or so – or, used to, when people bought a place and moved in to stay. Nowadays it seems folks are more interested in trying out a location before moving on. Wonder if the churning will taper off after the big change dies down, or if it’ll continue for ten years or more? Only time will tell.

I don’t see myself going back there, socially, again. I see myself helping Chuck some, perhaps moving things around for him, but as far as seeing the sisters? Probably not. Seeing Linda? Maybeso. I’m getting to a place where I can sit and listen to her a lot longer than I could when I first moved out in March. That’s a nice benchmark for me.

And I don’t see Chuck lasting all that much longer. If this latest back thing doesn’t help him get back on his feet, it’ll be a short while before he says enough to life. After all, he still misses Gloria. They were only married thirty years or so. And he IS 86 or 87. Getting decrepit. Wouldn’t blame him for going.

It’s almost 9 p.m. Supposed to drop down to freezing tonight. I dug out the comforter this morning and flopped it on the bed, folded up the blanket and stored it on the linen cabinet in the corner. I suppose it’s time to snuggle down for Winter. Oh, we’ll probably still have warm days between now and January, but I feel like they’ll be few and far between.