The Week-end Is Near

I was waiting for my handyman (Daniel) to show up yesterday afternoon after he got off work from his regular job. I thought maybe he had forgotten that I asked him to come by when I ran into him the other day, but he and one of his guys showed up around 4:30 pm. The sun was already going down and I needed him to go up on the roof to check around my chimney. I have not used my fireplace in a long time, but I've noticed that when it rains that I hear a dripping sound on the fire box so I figured there must be a leak around the pipe chimney. Sure enough, he said there was some cracks around the flashing and some of the shingles had come loose, so he used roof cement to fix the cracks and to glue the shingles down. Thank goodness Ben and I found him about 2 years ago. He is really good and very honest. I asked him to walk around the roof and let me know how long he thought the roof would last me since it is about 20 years old. He said that he thought I probably have another 5 to 7 years on it. I trust him, so I believe him. Thank goodness he didn't say I needed a new roof soon. Maybe I can start putting some money away now and in 5 to 7 years, I'll have enough to get a new roof. I can have the crew here in our community do it. They won't charge as much as a regular roofing company. I also asked him about a broken lock on my dining room window and about that broke handle on my shower door. He said he'll get the parts and come back and fix them for me. This morning while out with Hiker for her walk, I felt that huge empty feeling in my chest where my heart used to be. That gnawing ache that hits you no matter where you are or who you are with. The one that makes you feel so empty and so lonely and causes the memories and tears to come. Then it sneaks away and hides, waiting to attack you again when least expected. Those of you who have lost your spouse know exactly what I am talking about. Went to Sam's Club and spent $112. Grocery prices keep going up. I did by some big items though. I still stock up on things like toilet paper, paper towels, etc. even though Ben is no longer here. It's cheaper for me to buy that kind of stuff in bulk because it does not go bad and it keeps me from having to go shopping more often. Around noon, it started getting very cloudy. They are saying we have a chance of rain this weekend. That will make my brother Keith happy because he loves stormy weather and he will be visit me for a few days starting Saturday. I sold my bicycle to a very nice Japanese lady today through Craig's List. She told me her husband just turned 65 and she was not able to afford a nice gift for him but saw my ad for the bicycle and she said it looked nice in the photo. Her husband still works and lives 2 miles from home so she wanted to give him the bicycle to ride to work. She said he needs the exercise. I'm glad it went to someone who will use it because I have not used it in over a year. I also threw in a bicycle helmet that I had at no extra cost because she was so thrilled about the bike and she was so nice. I called my dear friend Mary Lou Voils who lives in Virginia this afternoon. She said that it is very cold and rainy back there. It was good to talk to her. She and I have been friends for over 40 years and we never get to see each other since she moved to the east coast.