I am exhausted.
Whether it's because I have been relatively busy all day long or because of reading about last night's RNC at the White House with 1500 desecraters not wearing masks combined with all of the rest of the horrors, I do not know.
All I know is that I am tired.
I went to Publix today and got that out of the way. Nothing outrageous or exciting happened. When I got to within a block of my house, I saw Pinot trying to wave me down. At first I just went on by. I have no idea why except that I was really focused on getting home. I got to my house, turned around, and went back.
"You need something?" I asked. "Just a ride," he said. It was raining a little bit.
I cleared the passenger seat and he got in and I realized that he was wearing a mask and that I should be too. I put mine on and said, "Here. I'll be a good person too."
I swear, I would have completely forgotten about any Covid threat if he hadn't been wearing his mask.
He wanted a ride down to No Man Lord's place. That's how he identified it too. "The yard with the cross and No Man Lord."
In the short amount of time it took to get there he re-established the fact that we were both born in 1954 and that my name is Mary and his is Pinot. I told him about breaking my ribs and explained that that was why I haven't been walking lately. I am not sure why I thought he had even noticed. I doubt he has. I asked him if he'd ever broken any ribs.
"No," he said. "But I've been busted up pretty bad."
I can only imagine that he has. Pinot has not had an easy life.
We got to No Man Lord's place and there are new signs. One said, "I AM My Brother's Keeper. Amen." Another said, "All Lives Matter." Despite the fact that NML is Black, I can see exactly why he'd put up that sign. To him, I am certain that all are important to his god, regardless of any outside or inside differences. All of us are his god's children.
Before Pinot got out of the car he said, "When's your birthday?" I told him "July 28th."
"When's yours?" I asked. He named a date in March that I've already forgotten and I laughed and said, "Ha! You're older than me!"
He laughed too and said, "That makes you feel good, doesn't it?"
"Yes it does!" I said and laughed some more. Then I said, "Not really."
We said our take-cares and I drove home and I was glad I'd gone back to see what he needed.
The rest of the day I just did house stuff. Laundry and bed-making and I made a blueberry pie.
I know O's excited. He's always been such a nurturer.
I saw that pie and said GOOD LORD in my outside voice it is so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteIt was pretty good. The pastry was fine.
DeleteAgreeing with Rebecca!!
ReplyDeleteRats are one of my most favorite pets, they are so smart and affectionate. The bummer is that they tend to develop tumors after about a year or so. Ours was three when she got tumors huge ones, i thought she was just getting fat. Anyway, good choice of a pet, they are trainable, too! Lovely animal. Adventure with a hitchhiker, down to no Lord's house. Story worthy of photos. I know what you mean about the mask thing -I do forget , have to dash back to my car.
Taking Pinot to No Man Lord's house was about the most excitement I've had in awhile.
DeleteI think Owen's read up on rats as pets so hopefully he knows what to look out for. I would love for him to train those little girls to do some sort of tricks.
I bet you made Pinot’s day. He and No Man Lord have such interesting storybook names. We’re all tired aren’t we. But yes, we have votes to cast. That pie looks divine. Imagine living with someone who makes pies like that. Lucky Mr. Moon.
ReplyDeleteWe are all exhausted. But hell yes- votes to cast!
DeletePinot always seems pretty pragmatic about everything. His brother is named Mango. Lloyd is an interesting place.
I am lucky to have someone Mr. Moon to cook for.
My daughter in law had rats and loved them, very entertaining, with definite personalities. The downside is that domestic rats usually have very short lifespans (2-3 years) and can succumb without warning to things like our cold viruses (after all, they were bred mostly for scientists to try out our germs on.) After 4 rats she decided she couldn't stand losing them; no more rats. You don't necessarily need to tell Owen this, but you and his parents may prefer to not be surprised. Perhaps Owen is young enough with so many changes happening in his life that losing a short-lived pet is not as hard as it was on my 30-some-year-old daughter in law. Or perhaps the random and sudden demise of Mer's chickens will have prepared him. Anyway, I wish him great joy in them.
ReplyDeleteYou're right- Owen is certainly used to losing Dearies. And like I said above, I think he's done a lot of research on rats so hopefully, he knows that they don't live too long. And in the life of a ten or eleven year old, two years is a pretty long time.
DeleteThat's what I thought about that beautiful pie, too.
ReplyDeleteOwen and the rodents will have good times together. It will be like a circus.
That house IS like a circus. Two dogs, two cats, three rats, three kids. Hoo-boy.
DeleteOh that pie! I hope you have ice cream to top it? Perfection with or without. No Man Lord....I've thought about him- such an interesting character....and now Pinot. Lloyd has it's shares and I think I would love that!
ReplyDeleteEew, rats! I know they make good pets and I'm happy for Owen but I could never have one.......eew. I kill them with snap traps under the house and just couldn't begin to fathom having one....though have heard they can be sweet. I'll stick with my aussie dog....and my hen...... and hope to replace Miss Kitty one day when I find the right one
Susan M
I texted Mr. Moon when he was in town to stop and get either ice cream or whipped cream for his pie. He came home with ice cream.
DeleteLloyd used to also have a guy named Sheik. He's moved to Monticello though, I think. We have some characters for sure.
I'm with you on not wanting to have rats myself. Cats and chickens are my pet loves.
My daughter really enjoyed her pet rats. They would ride in the hood of her hoodie as she walked around the house, or did homework. When she was sitting they would sometime crawl up on her shoulder and hide underneath her long hair.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking that Owen's rats will probably come to love him so much. He will be sweet with them.
DeleteWhen I see pet rats I always think of that old movie "Willard". But I know they can be good pets and much better than what my grandson had for a few years - pet snakes! I told him they may be my grand-snakes but I would never be in the same room with them. I can't do snakes!
ReplyDeleteThat pie looks sooo good! I can just taste a piece with a little ice cream on top. Have a good weekend Mary!
I think of "Willard" too! But I never even saw the movie, thank GOD!
DeleteI'm with you on the pet snakes.
NO, no, no, no, no, no, no.
I could even maybe see an iguana but not snakes. I like them fine in the wild. Not in my own personal house.
The pie was good!
I wish you a peaceful night. That pie is lovely. I hope Owen enjoys his new pets. His smile is wonderful.
ReplyDeleteThank you, e! I love his smile too.
DeleteIt is upsetting that Owen didn't choose to call one of his rats Mer in honour of his beloved grandmother. Talking about rats, I am rather disquieted by how well the Republican Convention was received by numerous commenters. Surely The Great Orange Rat won't get four more years? Tell me that's not possible!
ReplyDeleteA school friend of my daughter's insisted on calling his dog after his deceased grandmother, Sheila. His mum was ok with it, but the Family was not impressed!
DeleteAt least it was a dog Jo and not a monitor lizard or a stick insect!
DeleteOr a rat, Mr. P. I'm not sure I'd find that as amusing as I should.
DeleteAbout Trump- oh hell yes. There's a huge possibility he'll get reelected. And what does that say about my country?
Rata are lovely, intelligent and willing to be friendly to humans, which I think is very forgiving of them!
ReplyDeleteNever thought of it that way but you are right!
DeletePet rats are darlings! Lovely for Owen.
ReplyDeleteLet's just hope the cats don't get to them.
DeleteI know that rats make good, clean, intelligent pets....but they make my skin crawl just the same. I just can't help it! But it's lovely that Owen was allowed to have them and I'm sure they'll be well loved and well tended. Your pie looks amazing!
ReplyDeleteI feel the same way about rats, Jennifer. Lily is a good mom and she really does want her kids to be happy. She's very tolerant. Plus, when she was little she always wanted a chicken and I never got her one and I think she will always remember that.
DeleteGood on No Man Lord for putting that sign up!
ReplyDeleteHe is unlike any other.
DeleteI was very busy yesterday too, made my post late. was supposed to be just two paragraphs on politics and then the other stuff but the politics took over and the rest will have to wait for the next post. when I was very young, my pathologist father worked at a hospital and some weekends he would bring home the rats they used for testing in the lab so someone could take care of them. they were white like Owen's. I've read rats can make very good pets. just think of them as squirrels with naked tails.
ReplyDeleteHa! That turns the old "squirrels are just rats that have furry tails" on its back!
DeleteI didn't know your father was a pathologist. I've always considered that a fairly creepy occupation although it's an important one.
those are going to be some well loved rats <3
ReplyDeletexxalainaxx
I think you're right.
DeleteI'm still tired too. Some days are better than others. Rats are smart little animals. I'm sure they'll make good pets for Owen.
ReplyDeleteThe pie looks lovely. It's cold here today so I'm making sourdough bread and butternut squash soup. My grandson is sleeping upstairs.
Soup and sourdough is the perfect meal. I hope you and yours are all well, sweet woman.
DeleteYou are a good neighbor. And the pie looks scrumptious. Helps to have at least some positivity in your day.
ReplyDeleteOh, I could be a much better neighbor. Trust me. But thank you, Mary.
DeleteRats are supposed to be wonderful pets, but I'm a little concerned they might reproduce like, well, rats. Time will tell! Your pie looks great -- so artful! I love stories about Pinot and No Man Lord and your other Lloyd neighbors.
ReplyDelete