The perks of being old and single, or widowed; I wouldn’t know about divorced

This is my Saturday dinner.  It’s a Texas brisket burger on a brioche bun (aka one fancy hamburger), fries and roasted broccoli topped with fresh parmesan.  For dessert, a slice of pistachio pudding pie.

On Saturdays I like to have a big breakfast, skip lunch and have my dinner 1-2 hours earlier, around 3pm.  I’ll enjoy the dessert later tonight, with some tv.

I feel like that character Wimpy in those old Popeye cartoons, always eating hamburgers.  I could eat one every night for the rest of my life and not tire of them.  But I’m not a kid anymore, so I only have one once or twice a week.

I wish I had something more to write about this week, but no luck.  Still tackling long covid symptoms, but getting 1-2 days a week that are more tolerable than the rest.  I’m hoping for a let-up in the next couple days.

Last night I was talking to my friend Diana (who lives in West Virginia) and telling her about an upcoming event I was invited to on the 10th, and hoping I’ll be well enough to attend.  It’s at the Greenstone Methodist Church, right next to my apartment building.

The Greenstone church; that’s my apartment building on its left

The last time I was at the senior center (a couple weeks ago) my friend Gerri told me about an event held at this church every year for single seniors, and I should call and see if I qualify. 

She said it’s a pretty fancy luncheon, there will be entertainment, poinsettias, and everyone will be sent home with a big box of Christmas cookies. 

I asked if she was attending, she said yes.  I asked how much it cost, she said there was no charge. 

I said “I don’t get it, what’s the catch?”  Gerri said “There is no catch!  This is a perk for being old!”

So I called the number she gave me, told them I was a member of the Lutheran Senior Center and was wondering if I met the criteria for this big wing-ding of theirs. 

The woman (Marcie) asked “Are you widowed?  Single?”  I said yes, single.  She asked “How old are you?”  I said 63.  She said “I didn’t get your name.  Are you male or female?”

I told her my name was Doug and I am very much a male.   Marcie said “You sound perfect.  See you on the 10th.”   That’s me alright—perfect!

Well, that’s all I’ve got to share right now—I could tell you about a great book I’m reading, “The Friday Afternoon Club” by Griffin Dunne, about growing up in the 1960s in the NY society pages, and how his sister Dominique’s death (she was strangled by an ex-boyfriend) changed his family’s lives forever.  That happened on Nov 4, 1982 and I remember that like it was yesterday.  Anyway, the book is hard to put down. 

I would like to give a special shout-out to my dear friend and former classmate Diana, who put in her final day of work on Friday.  She is officially retired, and like the old jingle from Total Cereal goes, “Today is the first day of the rest of your life.”

And on that happy note, looks like it’s time for some TV and that pie.