Charlie and Lupe
Lately — like for the last several years — I’ve looked forward to Sundays because that’s ZoomDay with Marta and Charlie. When the internet is behaving itself (which is not often) we visit and catch up with ourselves and with Charlie’s kitties, Lupe and Rosencrantz.
Usually, of course, my internet is being wonky and everything freezes up at this end and I get a message that says, “Your Internet Connection is Unstable.” Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know that. Welcome to Rural America. If it gets too bad, we hang up and do a conference call instead. Lately, though, the telephone hasn’t been all that reliable either. I’m not sure if it’s a Verizon cell tower problem or what.
I was told by Spectrum a few weeks back that their marketing campaign in this area would begin in February and that we would be able to sign up for their Cable service on February 28th. I took that as a good sign since it’s my birthday. However…I haven’t seen any marketing campaign yet.
I hope this is meant for the Internet Provider…
Still, hope springs eternal and I have my pen poised for that sign-up opportunity on Tuesday. I’m really not optimistic by nature, so I guess I’m just plain tired of always being on the shitty end of the stick. How many months ago was it, anyway, that the crews were laying the cables along the right-of-way along Territory Road?
Most curious of all is why the County Public Works Department didn’t seem to know anything about it when I called them. “Isn’t your Department in charge of the County Right-of-Ways?” I asked. “Well, yes, but…” I don’t remember why there were no answers to my questions. Maybe I’ll try again tomorrow…
If you want, the can print it out to look like book copy — proportionally spaced and justified on the right — but I think that looks fussy — I wanted it to look like I had taken individual care with each letter. Anyway — I spent a couple of days there — training on the machines is free. I’m addicted! Have to make a fortune & buy an IBM machine!
When Happy Kitty died after a long (was he 19?) and contented life, Charlie knew that eventually he would get another kitten. He has always had two at a time and Lupe, who is six, might miss her “brother.”
Meanwhile, Lupe, who has been with Charlie since she was even younger than Rosencrantz, was less than pleased. When, finally, Charlie reported: Rosencrantz came out and alternately runs around, then hides again. Lupe is hissing at me! I’ve betrayed her! And still later, (in a bit of a panic), Lupe is crying! Real tears!
This year the “official” Mother’s Day began on Wednesday with a UPS delivery from Ms. Marta LaRue, my super-duper bonus daughter. A handmade card and a box of See’s chocolates — all sorts of milk chocolates especially for me! I got into them after dinner that very day and read and re-read the sweet greetings — “a true blessing” “a steadfast presence” “fun and joyous” — and thought “back-atcha” over and over again.
And yesterday, here came the florist’s delivery truck and a lovely bouquet from Charlie — roses and gerbera daisies and Queen Anne’s lace and purple stock — and other bits of beauty that will brighten this special day and many more to come!
