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