My sister and I are creatures of habit.

We love each other so much and we know what makes us happy.

She’s in NYC now.

We do what we always do.

She has lunch with Julie.  I pick her up and bring her home to my house.

Nap.

Go out to our favorite restaurant, Club A on my block where we have the same thing we always have.

Red wine that Marcia picks.

Lobster, shrimp and crab meat appetizer.

one free mushroom ravioli

filet mignon, potatoes and mushrooms.  When Ray was alive we would order the big filet so I could bring the leftovers home to him but sadly we get the small one now.

Free dessert.

We were being so happy and smiling when out of the corner of my eye I noticed the table in the middle of the room.

It was 3 young people glued to their phones. I watched them for a good 15 minutes, just time enough for me to have my second glass of wine. They were still not speaking.

I got up and went over to their table.  Marcia didn’t even blink. They looked up.

“Feel free to tell me to mind my own business but I’ve been watching you for awhile. You obviously like each other enough to go out and eat in this expensive restaurant but you haven’t spoken to each other or looked up from your phones once since you sat down.”

They laughed and said “You’re right” and put their phones away.

I noticed them talking for the rest of the night but I tried not to look at them since Marcia said I probably ruined their whole dinner.

As we were leaving Marcia went up to them and said

“Please excuse my buttinsky  sister”

The oldest of the three said “No She was right. We weren’t putting our priorities straight.

Let’s take a picture together”

Now I know that Julie and Stephanie are cringing right now but they should keep in mind.

I’m getting older and nuttier.

I’ve embarrassed them before and I’ll embarrass them again.

You people know I’m not a complainer.

Well I am but today was the worst day of my life.

I know what you’re saying.

“You’ve lost family members.”

“Your husband got a girlfriend and left you when you were already wrinkled”

“You thought you’d look good in the new blouse you bought”

I can’t name all the sorrow I’ve suffered

And don’t think I don’t take all that into consideration but…..

Let me start at the beginning.

As I might have mentioned I am ambivalent about getting another dog.

I am feeling very free to do whatever I want which is stupid since I never do anything but if something comes up I can do it.

But and it’s a big but I miss something furry to hug and kiss.

I was staring at the wall yesterday trying to decide whether to wear my Hillary tee shirt or my sequin gown when Julie called.

“Did you see my text?”

“No”

“Look at it.”

It was a picture of the best looking smiling dachshund ever.  She was under 10 pounds and she was in a kill shelter in Brooklyn.

I didn’t have to think twice (well i did but let’s forget that ) “Let’s get her”

Julie rushed over and we jumped in the car to begin the thousand mile drive to the asshole of Brooklyn .

On the way Julie got a text from the pound that she was still available.

My lips were pursed all the way ready for kissing.

I also practiced saying “Yvonne, that’s what I’d name her, let’s go out and stretch our legs” Get it? She’s got short legs.

With the traffic and everything it took us forever to get there. We arrived  and rushed inside only to be told that she was adopted 20 minutes before.

We slowly walked out with our eyes wet and our heads bowed.

Sure, we told each other, we’re glad she found a home, but why oh why wasn’t it with us?

It took us even longer to get home and it wasn’t a pleasant ride. We were bemoaning (the only word I could think of) over and over.

All I had to eat, other than my lunch before I left, were some old gummy bears that were in my glove compartment for emergencies.

If this wasn’t one than the word “emergency” has no meaning.

There was so much traffic that we didn’t get to Julie’s house until dinner time. Since I was planning to eat dinner there we spent hours looking for a space only finding one several blocks away.

As we were limping to Julie’s house, her with her fucked up foot and me with my … whatever, I noticed a space right across the street from her house.

The gods were laughing at us.

I wish I could write a happy ending for this story.

Wait! The dinner was good.

I had pie.

I’m on my way to TJMaxx. I need a few things.

Waiting for the light to change I feel a tap on my shoulder. I turn around. It’s a guy who lives on my block.

I can’t say time has been kind to him. He walks with a cane and he appears to have given his teeth up for Lent.

“Barbara?” he asks

“No Mattie”

“How do I know you.?”

“Well you’ve lived on my block for  40 years. I once drove you to Queens. I usually  have a dog with me.”

“How’s your husband?”

“He ran away”

“Listen Barbara, I was invited to a wedding. Wanna go?”

“I’m so sorry I can’t”

“You sure?”

“Yes”

He didn’t say anything he just turned and  left.

I still got it.

David called me the other day to tell me that  he’s dating a Jewish girl.

I’m so glad to hear it in spite of the fact that by the third date she’s gonna have to say 100 Jewish prayers and eat 1000 pieces of gefilte fish to make up form dating him after he “accidentally” tells her about his feelings that Jews are cheap because they’re “good with money” which she should take as a compliment since he would no sooner say that Mexicans are thrifty than that Jews are lazy,

This will be a slight change in our convo since I’m sick to death about hearing about his one Jewish friend ‘Something” Stein who lives in some jewish sounding town. I forget the name. I think it’s Kiketown, Texas.

Speaking of dogs, David keeps suggesting that I get another dog. I’m thinking about it.

ONLY THINKING so don’t start sending me pictures of dogs.

Here’s what I’m thinking.

1. I feel much freer now.  When people (I only have Susan, Ronnie and my family that would fall into my ‘people’ catagory) want me to do something first I hesitate then I realize that I don’t have anything tying me down so I can go.
2. I can get the smaller steak because I don’t have to bring home some steak to my dog.
3. When I had the flu I was so glad that I didn’t have a dog looking at me wanting to go out.

If I got a dog (I’m going to call him/her ‘it” for ease in writing this.

1 It would have to be little enough to fit in a bag so I could bring it with me everywhere because I’m crazy.

2. It would have to be lazy and want to lie around and not ask for too much activity because unlike the David’s Jews, I’m lazy.

3. It would have to want to sleep in my bed. I miss Ray every night.

4. It would have to have a terrible life so it would be glad to be with me. It took Ray a long time to love me and when I told Stephanie that she said “Maybe he didn’t think you saved him, maybe he thinks you took him”

I’m looking at this list and I’m thinking

1. maybe I should get a snake
2. I’m crazier than I thought I was.

I really believe that my generation stopped the Viet Nam War. Well me and Bob Dylan and Joan Baez.

This generation will have a profound effect on gun violence.

It it is for that reason I dragged my bad knees over to The High School of Art & Design to stand with the kids that are going to come out of their classes to demonstrate their support of meaningful gun control.

I got there at about 9:45.

Nothing doing.  I knew I’d write a blog about it so I took a few pictures.

Here’s the front door.

I was a little nervous because my brain isn’t so great any more and I was worried that I had the wrong day but I was cheered up by the arrival of another neighbor who was smart enough to bring herself a chair

I also noticed a plaque on the front of the school

Since I know a great deal of pig latin I was able to translate this for the others as “Never spell stuff wrong”

Then the kids started coming out.

The two other people and me waiting for them cheered and clapped.

One of their teachers stood outside giving them the “thumbs up”.

My niece who usually won’t give me the time of day smiled when she saw me and let me hug her while whispering  “I’m so proud of you”.

Even though I was sobbing my head off she told her friends “That’s my aunt”

I stayed until the school emptied.. The plan was to walk around the block and return to school.

Crying the whole way I was only able to pull myself together at the make up section of Bloomingdales where I had to exchange a lipstick I bought.

It was too dull.

What do you think of this one?

Cheerful huh?