It has been a day today. A day of routine and renewal, in a selfish sense…a day of family celebration both happy and sad. Coffee, haircut, therapy, work, birthday, health, and the girls (Mackie and Zoey that is)

The day begins:

Every Wednesday morning, the Lake Cities Chamber of Commerce has a “coffee call” for members and guests. We start at 7:15 a.m. and are promptly dismissed at 8:00 a.m. It is as much a gathering of regulars (I’ve been going since 1987) as it is one for those not as old and ornery as the regulars. Lately, Wednesday coffee has allowed me to begin an installment payment plan for next year’s LCEF Golf Tournament entry fee – my dear friend Bruce gladly takes a couple bucks from me each week on my way to getting $250 paid by next June. I like Wednesday Chamber Coffee Call…our small town business community is like having a family reunion every week. Now if only I could avoid Bruce every once in a while…just kidding.

Ms. Linda, a true and trained barber, has been cutting my hair for about as long as I’ve been going to Wednesday Chamber Coffee Calls. Funny, she has less hair of mine to cut these days, but I have yet to get any kind of discount to speak of. What’s up with that? I know…because each month I go and get my chin whiskers evenly groomed, that  in itself is well worth the $$$. I like Ms. Linda…she knows as much about my family as does my family knows about themselves (I bet).

Tony (not my OFB Tony) is my miracle man of late. He is a licensed massage therapist here in town and he practices some ancient Chinese treatments that I attest, work! I practically fell into his “hand-y” work after a physically trying (and painful) time with ailments,

aches, and pains (more so than I realized)…it was those hurts that started at  my earlobes and channeled down to my calloused feet. The cupping Tony does may look “right”, but boy howdy do they allow this chubby mass of flesh to walk upright a bit more and with a whole lot more spring in the step. You regular limeyfishers have read this before…Tony has kept me out of the surgery room and given me strength and flexibility that I haven’t had in many a years. If that takes a few beneficial bruises to accomplish, have at it (I’ll keep my shirt on). I like Tony…he he keeps doing all these good things to me, I’m going to start calling him “my other brother Tony”.

Believe it or not, I did go to work today. Once there, I sat down and called Dad. It is his birthday today, plus he’s been ailing in the back lately. I wanted to check with him and give him best wishes and talk about his back pain.  I found him out running around town, trying to stave off boredom around the house and keep his sore muscles loose. He had a chiropractor session yesterday and he was obviously hurtin’. I’m at the ready to make the appointment call – Tony (not my OFB Tony) has been briefed of Dad’s ailment.  I like my Dad (actually I love the guy) and want him around for several more years. So we’ve got to get him all patched up. After all he has Colorado to see in less than a month, and Canadian Walleye to catch in two months. Happy Birthday Dad!

Sad news comes from OFSIL Becky on this day. Her mother, bless her loving heart, is in hospice care suffering the after effects of a series of debilitating stokes. In speaking with Bec this evening, Marge is beginning another life journey without having the opportunity to see, speak, or listen to her surrounding family. But I bet she knows they are all there. It is only a matter of time for Marge’s grace on earth, that which has enlightened us all, to end, and she walks a path that will join up with my Mom in gracing the heavens. Becky and her family are always in my heart and prayers, and today more so as so many gather around this matriarch of a very proud family and say their tearful goodbyes. I like Marge…and always will.

And finally, this day has ends much like it started. A cup of coffee, wrestling with Princess Zoey, and getting Queen Mackie all riled up with her barking (at the Princess). Pets are family too.

I liked today. It had it’s feel bad moments, but the feel good times have (and will) win out with that fight all day long.