Wednesday, February 1, 2023

On this day in 2002 (Middleton Wisconsin)

 

Friday, February 1

Both JoAnna and I returned home before the boys today – JoAnna by necessity, me by design.  Around 2:30, she called me at the library.

“I don’t feel well.  I’m taking the rest of the day off,” she said.

“What time are you leaving work?” I asked.

“I’m in the van now,” she answered.

“I was planning to leave work early myself, which is why I didn’t go home for lunch.  Do me a favor and make sure that you unlock the side door for the boys.”

She requested a favor in return.

“Could you buy me some 7-Up on the way home?”

“Sure.  I was planning to stop at Walgreen’s anyway.  I need to drop off a roll of film for processing.”

I found JoAnna in bed when I returned home, her hands clutching a comforter to her neck.

“Here’s your 7-Up,” I offered, and placed an unopened can on the edge of the dresser by her side of the bed.  “Can I get you anything else?”

A slow, side-to-side movement of her head said “No”. 

“Where’s Eddie?” I asked. 

It’s unusual for him not to be home more than 30 minutes after school lets out.

“He called to say he’s staying at school for awhile,” she answered.

“What’s he doing there?”

“He’s sledding with some friends.” 

There’s a small hill at the southern edge of the school property.

“It was nice that he gave us a call anyway,” I commented.

Andy made a request as soon as he returned home from school.

“Is it OK if I go to a movie with friends tonight?”

“I don’t see why not.  Who’s going?”

He didn’t mention any names, just that there’d be 6 or 7 kids altogether.  With patience, I learned that Andy would be with Mandy, of course, and Cal and his girlfriend were also going along.

Earlier in the week, JoAnna had suggested going out to the Stamm House for their outstanding fish fry.  (This restaurant, which operates out of one of Middleton’s oldest buildings, which was originally a stagecoach stop, is located next door to the apartment complex where JoAnna and I spent the first 11 months of our married life.)  Since a Friday visit usually involves at least an hour’s wait for a table, we tend to be infrequent diners here.  With JoAnna confined to her bed, we had to develop a Plan B, which shouldn’t be too hard to guess. 

“Eddie, want to come with me to get fish at Crandall’s?” I asked.

“I’m not in the mood for fish,” he replied.

“What do you want then?”

“I haven’t had McDonald’s in awhile,” he replied by way of suggestion.

“OK, we can swing by Mickey D’s after we pick up the fish.”

“You can go, Dad.”

“What!  You don’t want to come with me?” I exclaimed, trying to sound as though my feelings were hurt.

“Da-ad,” Eddie said flatly, and with finality.

JoAnna didn’t feel like getting out of bed to eat her dinner, so I placed her meal, styrofoam box and all, on a wooden cutting board the size of the TV tray.  She had insisted that the food didn’t need to be transferred to a plate.

I think I’ll read for awhile now.  Last night I started Carl Hiaasen’s new book, BasketCase.  He’s one of my favorite authors, and his newest book is just the kind of zippy, entertaining, and funny read I had been looking for.

 
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