Say What?

Neighbor in the opposite downstairs unit — beneath next door neighbor, has been missing since the shutdown began.

Her car was gone, so I’d assumed she was sheltering in place with relatives.

Today she stopped by briefly.

As I was leaving for the Pain Cave — water bottle in one hand, trash bag to toss in the dumpster in the other, a young man I’d never seen before came out of her unit.

Rough looking character wearing a 49ers jacket.

Had I not seen him come out of her unit, I’d have paused at the door and been on guard as to whether I should step all the way out. But the fact he was associated with her, a relative I assumed, I turned the key in the door, locking it, and prepared to head down the stairs.

Hearing me come out, he looked up and said “Do you want me to take your trash to the dumpster for you?” said he.

“Why yes, that’s very sweet of you”, said I.

He trotted all the way up the stairs to take the bag from me and, as he headed down, I said, “This is so nice of you”.

“No problem”, said he. “I always respect my elders”.

HIS WHAT?! thought I. ME … AN ELDER?

How funny is it that I, at 76 years of age, somehow don’t think of myself as elderly. And hearing it put thusly, was a little insulted.

At any rate, when I got to the bottom of the stairs, I looked over to check on that penny — which yesterday was in its 7th week. Lo and behold, it was gone.

So either the neighbor stopping by her unit picked it up, or the young man with her saw the penny, picked it up and will all the day have good luck.

It WAS nice of him to help me out, but when I thanked him, he could have just said, “You’re welcome” and left off that elderly thing. LOL.

Remainder of the week, coming up on Mother’s Day, would normally find me making preparations to participate in a Mother’s Day 5K with Twin 2, after which we’d have a relaxing spa manicure/pedicure.

Covid-19 having put a kibosh on those activities, I was expecting nothing this Sunday … maybe a Happy Mother’s Day text.

Instead, I stop by the mailbox, find a package, in which was this from Twin 2 ….

How funny, sad, ironic and iconic is this tee. Not going to wear it, going to frame it.