The Seniors Do Father's Day Weekend: Friday

Today, Tuesday the 23rd, is recovery day here at the Seneca Senior Home. The air is on, the shades are closed, and we are lounging around, revelling in the total absence of committments today.

The weekend was 'killer': fun, but killer. It all began Friday.....(dissolve, fade to flashback).

Early Friday morning, we had an Estate Sale on our little list of 'fun things to do in life'. We headed out in the big truck (always optimistic!), and found the location of the sale. Touted as a 'Farm Sale', we found it curious that our 'farmhouse' destination was a small, brick ranch home on a major roadway, not far from large, newly built homes.

At least 40 vehicles lined the roadway, and many people were millling around in front of the house. We wondered why. We asked. We found out. The small house would accomodate only a few folk at a time; there was a 'waiting list'. A waiting list with a LOT of names before ours. In fact, at least half and hour's worth of names before ours!

After walking around the one outbuilding and looking at the rusted, nearly unsalvagable bicycles, milk cans, and general 'junk' that was offered there, we opted out of waiting and hopped in the truck to go to: Blain's Farm and Fleet! Yee Ha!

After a pleasant hour at Blain's (we cannot 'do' a Farm Store in less time!), we popped my purchases in the truck (3 new outfits!) and headed for the home front.

A quick lunch, and it was off to the other property to weed the veggie garden, pick strawberries, and work on the Caddie for the car show that night. And cut the grass at that property, too.

With just enough time for a shower (badly needed. Stinky seniors), we headed off in the Caddie for a double feature evening:

1. The LaSalle County Cruisers Car Show

2. The Ottawa Art League Gallery Opening

Both were on the main drag in Ottawa, and it promised to be an adventurous evening. Just how adventurous we were about to find out.

Dinner with a friend, and --bingo--we were all set up for the Gallery opening in the outdoor patio area at Jeremiah Joe's Coffee. It sort of looked like rain, but we were protected with a roof over our heads, and the gallery was totally inside. Cars began arriving for the Car Show; the main street was blocked off, the DJ began broadcasting, and we were happily greeting people and watching cars.

Then the thunder began.

To say we had a storm is like saying poison ivy is a little bit itchy. It rained sheets of rain. It boomed and it blew. People huddled under the coffee shop roof, looking out at the sudden night created by the black of the storm. Some of the show cars left, but the sensible ones waited it out. And it did finally end.

As commerce resumed, and people began to stroll, we were rewarded for persistance with a trophy for our Caddie! It's always a tickle to get recognized!

As we sat in front of Thor (our Caddie...so named because he sounds like thunder when revving up), we learned from a friend that our town, Seneca, was out of power from the storm. We headed home.

Yup, Seneca was black!

We stabled Thor in his garage at the 'other house', manually opening the overhead door...the power outage meant, of course, that the garage door openers would not work. We headed home through darkened streets with citizens milling about in the quiet, steamy night air. The silence was only broken by the hum of ajn occasional generator.

Oh, heck! Did we have keys for OUR house? We NEVER used them, relying on the garage door opener...which wasn't gonna work! Augggh!

I found that I had a key for the lock on the front door, but I didn't have a key for the deadbolt on that door. I had no luck with the other doors at all, and the windows were all shut tight and locked ... of course. Just when things were looking dismal, another key, hidden in hubby's pack, fitted itself neatly into the deadbolt! We were IN!.

The power had been out for 2 hourse by then, and we actually started our generator. Exhausted, we watched TV, hoping to hear the welcome hum of power coming on. Finally, hubby went to turn off the generator, unwilling to let it run while we slept. And, with amazing coordination, the power came back on.

We fell into bed, grateful to Com Ed, and thankful for working keys.