Happy New Year

Not a good way to start the new year, Rosie.

Okay, so something else should be said besides dwelling on the sad events of yesterday at Stafford Healthcare. For instance, we did have a lovely morning taking Charlie Rook shopping. Retail therapy is good for everybody.

For one thing, Freddie’s had these plastic storage boxes with lids on sale that were perfect for storing some of the small Christmas ornaments and other decorations. So I picked up four more of them to hold other holiday stuff and will look much better on closet shelves than liquor boxes. They (the boxes) were getting kind of beat up looking.

Since they didn’t have chicken gizzards in the deli section we opted for lunch at Buck’s A&W, Rich’s suggestion since it was chili day and they make very good chili.

We went into Buck’s and Charlie Rook decided he wanted a Papa Burger with all the fixin’s, and I was hungry for a cheeseburger and fries. It was definitely a departure from our regular healthier lunches at our respective facilities and it was just plain fun to sit with our kids in a burger joint for once. We don't do that often, usually opting for healthier choices.

We were feeling pretty good--also full--when we finally left to get Charlie back to Stafford Healthcare when we said we would.

Spending time with your loved ones at the beginning of a new year is a great feeling. It really makes up for all the times we sit alone with our thoughts with only the TV and good books to fill the void. I am really blessed to have Charlie live close enough to walk over to see him.

Yesterday before I left him in the care of his capable and friendly Stafford caregivers, he said, “You know, this is the third roommate I’ve had in the past two years who died.” We thought about that for a couple of minutes and I wondered what he was thinking.

Then the little horns and that Jack Nicholson grin crossed his face as he said, “Wanna move in, honey?”