We had to rush into town by noon so Sweetiepie could pay a bill and save himself several dollars in late charges. We wanted to go see Vincent for a few minutes but it was lunchtime so we went to a restaurant ourselves and waited 45 minutes for our food to be served. Then his fries were cold, so he was not happy.

My spring rolls were great. Mm.

Vincent was in his bed when we got to his room, after stopping in the community living room to chat with Sweetiepie's aunt and several other residents and a woman vacuuming. She and I went to school together in my home town.

Finally I've discovered something I can do for Vincent.

"Those cookies you sent in," he told me, "were the best thing I have ever tasted."

Those were whipped shortbread, and Sweetiepie dropped them off just before Christmas along with some CDs we had doubles of and thought he'd like: Fleetwood Mac, Rumours, and Jeff Healy's See the Light. He was listening to that last one when we knocked on his door.

"He seems a little depressed," I said as we were leaving, "both today and last time we visited."

"Yeah," Sweetiepie said, "I think you're right."

"Then I'm not imagining it."

"No. It must be hard around the holidays, when a lot of the residents are gone home and he's stuck here."

Next we're off to my sister's, where Handyman is going to finish up some details on the new countertop he installed for her before Christmas. She invited us for supper, and we'll feast and then come home to drink and feast some more.

We've bought rice thins and antipasto, gouda cheese and clamato juice, spicy sausage and oysters, herbed french bread and chocolate. Two movies are on the roster: Ocean's Eleven and The Lord of the Rings, the first one.

It's looking to me like an appealing way to spend New Year's Eve.

I hope yours is every bit as satisfying as ours promises to be.

xoxoetc
Kate

4:37 pm

A morning and early afternoon under the effects of the neck thing, finally vanquished by a Zomig tablet around 2 o’clock. Then a bath reading W.P. Kinsella in an old Western People magazine, a new red t-shirt, and a half-hour at the kitchen sink. Half the dishes are washed and dripping dry. The other half are neatly re-stacked, awaiting their turn, while I let the wrinkles dry out of my hands and sit down to catch up on my journal.

Sweetiepie was talking about going to my sister’s to put the finishing touches on her new countertop after making a trip into town. But first, he said, he had to do some stuff with the cattle. So I’m ready, but he hasn’t come back into the house.

I’ve stuck a blade roast into the oven and will cook Jill’s spanakopita-type thingies to go with it. I took them out of the deep freeze last night to thaw for later in the evening, after we’d returned with Jack and Dawna from a late supper; but never got around to the cooking.

I called the boys yesterday and they are having a good time out in Alberta, though it will seem a short holiday to them when we meet again on Saturday. Yesterday they were going to go see The Cat in the Hat.

Barney took a kitten from here to give his dad, who’d told Jill to find a black one for him. She hadn’t managed it, so we took one of our barn cats. Barney was thrilled. Dave didn’t seem so thrilled, but I told him he could send it back with Barney if he didn’t want it and he said “oh no, it’ll be fine” and was petting and talking to it immediately.

He gave me a hug and wished me a Merry Christmas and, when we met outside our vehicles at the hotel parking lot halfway between here and Edmonton, was wearing a new green corduroy shirt. I thought “new girlfriend must have given him that.” Don, on the phone, said “Poppa’s friend Denise came over.” I have my fingers crossed that Dave picks a good one.

Grandma just phoned. There is nothing going on in the old home town. There is no one driving past her house. She went for the mail and there were no vehicles around. She went to the Co-op store and no one was in there. Things have been quiet.

Now that my hair has mostly dried, and before the sky completely darkens, I’m off out to feed Chester and the cats.