Five Hours!

Just off Michigan Ave

That's how long John and I monopolized the table by the door. It was a long time, I know, but it was comfortable and fun. And important. I needed this feeling of connection.

We have been celebrating his birthday every year over this weekend for more than 40 years. But not last year. He was unwell. I was angry at him for being so cavalier with his own health and well being. I was very afraid of losing him. I love John. He's like my family.

A year later, he's much healthier. Happier. A little discontented. Retirement is turning out to be quieter and less consequential than he thought. The days run peacefully one into the other and he wonders where they have gone. It reminds him in a way of covid lockdown. He had all these projects he was going to tackle and he never got to them. Same now.

He has a "job," of sorts. The bar where he's long been a regular lets him eat and drink for free in exchange for being there Friday at opening to sign for deliveries from the liquor vendors. He needs a real job, one that pays cash, but he doesn't want to do anything physical. At 67, he can't do anything physical. He gets winded easily and requires a cane. 

But he's happy. He feels connected to his bar "family" and is going to spend a little time this weekend visiting a fellow barfly who is in the hospital. The prognosis is not good -- the man had a stroke concurrent with his course of chemo. He may never come home. John is visiting him, even though this isn't how he envisioned celebrating the holiday. He spent a lot of time in this very hospital and it's disturbing to be there. But he's going to do it. I am proud of him.

I told him all about Henry and Reg. He heard this sad tale only through the lens of how it's affecting me. I appreciated that. He told me I'm a good friend to Henry and it's all I can be.

He liked his gifts. I got him a gift card to Walgreens, his pharmacy of choice, because I know that, even with Medicare his prescriptions cost him, and a DVD of Hacks, the Jean Smart/HBO series because as I watched it, I kept thinking to myself, "John would love this."

BTW, I don't know why I'm giving Emerald Loop a plug. We did not receive the best service. OK, we received rather crummy service. The server never brought my water. He forgot which beer John ordered. We had to ask for napkins and utensils! I'm not sure it was his fault. He was handling tables both inside and outside. But still, I liked my turkey and pear wrap. He got mac and cheese with brusells sprouts. Yeah, not my choice either. But he seemed happy and he's the birthday boy!