Three’s a Charm?

We’d gone to Fort Lauderdale to celebrate Patten’s birthday, bringing the watermelon cake he’d requested. He said I’d made one for his birthday many years ago. That recipe was long gone with all the cook books I’d tossed when I sold 14th Court. Onto the internet for a recipe where I found one using watermelon-flavored Jello. None at Publix, but three brands at Wal-Mart: Jell-O, Sonic, and Starburst. Do those customers do a lot of Jello shots? I opted for the Sonic, which claimed it tastes just like their slushee. Could be. Because the frosting was buttercream, I’d had Grant put our camping fridge in the truck to keep the cake cold on the trip down. It thawed while we watched the Miami Dolphins beat the Baltimore Ravens 42-38. Actually, I watched while Patten, Ryann, and Grant went to the grocery store. They’d left at the beginning of the 4th quarter, Ravens leading 35 to 7, with the Dolphins not looking good. Fortunately, Patten keeps his phone on so they saw the comeback while they shopped.

In any case, Grant removed the fridge from the back of the truck, and once again, didn’t close the topper. And, for the third time, we opened the garage door and pulled the topper window up, pulling out the support struts. The first time it happened, last year, not 24 hours after we’d returned from having the topper installed, I wouldn’t let him bend the frame back in, thinking it might break the window. That time, I ordered a new window and frame, installed by the topper company. In the meantime, Patten and Spaulding convinced me to let them fix the frame and reinstall the support bars. It worked okay while I waited for our new window. The second time, Grant fixed it himself, while I seethed. This time, I just walked back into the house. 

He was removing the fridge because we were going to Lowes for Florimulch, made from invasive melaleuca trees, on the way to get our 4th Covid shot and our flu shots. As much fun as having the flu was last year, I’m avoiding it if possible. When the pharmacist asked if I’d like the shots in separate arms, I told him to do both in my right. It already hurts enough that I can’t sleep on that side, so at least my left side wouldn’t hurt. I definitely made the right decision. My arm was so sore, that when the pain from the shots subsided a couple of days later, my right shoulder barely hurt. Maybe an acupuncture effect.

With this Covid shot, I didn’t get a fever, but I was cold all night, with just enough misery that I couldn’t make myself get out of bed and get more covers. For some reason, I couldn’t even ask Grant to do it, which he would have gladly. I huddled in a fetal position and tried, unsuccessfully to get warm. Finally, at 5:00 in the morning, I got up and got a beach towel to put over my blanket for extra warmth. I slept for an hour. I was exhausted, but we had a date that morning to see the Perez yard for a future Native Plant Society Yard Share and had to take Clara to school at 8:00. Thank goodness we got back to the house by 11:00 so I could pass out for a nap before my getting dropped off at the Bloom and Grow Society’s pollinator plant sale in Winter Garden, at which I had volunteered to be cleanup. Dinner was mac ‘n cheese and a beer at the Crooked Can brewery. Then straight to bed.

I know, getting the shots the day before wasn’t great planning, but our days are so busy, it’s hard to get everything scheduled. Best part: done, with any luck, for a year.