"Hey, Dad, come on back to New Jersey, Eminem is coming in for a shoot in two days."
"OK, see you in the morning."
No more, that youthful independence has left the building. I once drove to Tawas City, Michigan, to get a haircut. After my kidney surgery, years ago, with a catheter in my stomach, I drove to Northern Michigan, the catheter leaked, I turned around and came home.
For five years, some years ago, I did a "courier" route for a local lab, drove to Columbus each night, delivered "specimens" of all types, turned around and came home. I did a lot of that in a little Chevy Sprint, which is no longer made.
Right now, 9:30 in the morning, I am hesitant to drive to Valvoline and get a lube job done on our little Cavalier. It is three blocks away. Why, because Marilyn, my wife, is sleeping in this morning and I will have to go alone.
Maybe after 50 years of marriage we are a team, at least, I feel more secure when with her. And, she has a cell phone, I don't. It would be so easy, right now, to get up, walk the few feet to the car, drive the three blocks and get it done ..... but ..... there is that ...... leeeeeetle ...... bit of hesitancy on my part, I will be alone, no one with me, independent ..... and the frightens me, just a leeeeeetle bit, but, in my defense, I am 82, and those things happen ...... I guess. Apparently, I don't like ..... alone ..... anymore, at least, not like I used to. 300 miles for a haircut ...... ???????
