A TRULY WONDERFUL GOOD FRIDAY

first, thanks again to the compassionate comments made in my journal.  thanks again to guido for sending me new readers.  (i'm gonna have to send him a payment soon, lol)

because i work for a church-based employer (salvation army), i got today off.  it is good friday.  i got up not really wanting to put on clothing and venture out into the world.  but i had promised my old housemate, betty, i would call her to see if she wanted to do lunch.

i called betty, whom i haven't had much contact with since she moved out of the downstairs apartment about a year ago.  the only times i have seen her are when she and her daughter come into the salvation army store to shop, and that has only been recently.  betty said she would love to go to lunch and suggested baby jane's, which is where the salvation army group goes for most people's birthday celebrations.  i had been once before, but wasn't really impressed.  but i agreed to meet her there at 12:30.  betty's husband has advanced Alzheimer's and is in a nursing home.  she goes to feed him his lunch at 12 noon and supper at 5 pm.  i figured she might be a little late, but she was early, as was i, so it worked out well.

unlike the first time i went to baby jane's, there was mounds of good food on the bar.  seniors eat much cheaper there, so betty and i were both seniors today......well, at least she was legitimate lol.

i pigged out on fried chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans, salad, roll, iced tea, and a small slice of cheesecake and a couple of spoonfuls of banana pudding.  but the food wasn't what i enjoyed the most.  betty and i had a wonderful time talking about everything.  she is nearing 70 and was a waffle house  cook for years, as well as ran her own restaurant for years.  she is a tremendous cook, and i have missed both her AND her leftovers since she moved out, lol.  we talked about her family, her poor husband, her brother, who passed away last year while she lived downstairs, her new apartment, which is in a large 2-story victorian like where i live.  i talked to her about my daughter, my old job, my new job, the problems i have been having with my new housemate and numerous other topics. 

being in the center of the city where we both live, the restaurant is a meeting place for lots of local people, many of whom we both knew.  i saw and spoke to about 10 people i knew and betty knew several herself.  one of the girls that was doing community service at the salvation army a week or so ago was there and spoke to me.  she said she wanted to come back and work off her fine, but she didn't want to work with that crotchety old woman in the back.........of course, i know who she means, but won't mention her name here. 

betty and i ate and talked for 2 hours.  i piled on the chicken, while betty enjoyed a mound of fried fish.  we were both in need of antacid afterwards, lol.

i walked betty to her car and while we stood there, 2 young men walked past us and betty said 1 was staring as he passed and the other one just walked up to me and said "don't you recognize me?".  i told him no, and he said he and his grandma see me about twice a month.  then i realized it was from the salvation army store.  i hugged him and he hugged back, and then he got into the truck with the other guy.  i still don't really remember him, lol.  but i knew it had to be the store.

as i hugged betty goodbye, she said we were going to have to make this a weekly thing.  she told me she was treating next time, since i treated this time.  it felt good to be able to take someone to lunch and pay the bill and not worry about the money.  of course, there are things i need to be buying with my money, but an occasional lunch is good for body and soul.

i felt so good after lunch (though stuffed) i went to home depot near where i used to work to get some picture hangers.  spring is here and i want to start putting up some pictures.  home depot wanted so much money for such a small pack, i went on over to the craft store to the framing dept. to see if they were any cheaper there.  the pack at home depot was almost $9.  i bought 2 packages of the same amount of hangers for $2 at the craft store.  i also got to see several people i hadn't seen in awhile.  i saw anna, lakeisha, mary, nicole and erin and that young guy whose name i can never remember, lol.  he always comes up to me and talks to me.  he is truly sweet and always remembers to ask me about my cat, lol.

a small update on the cats.........gray has been missing the last few days, but i fed one of the white cats (i think it is whitey) and there is another female around.....callie.....a calico.  i fed them some hotdogs last night. 

today was supposed to be a dark day in our Christian history, but was actually the beginning of our salvation...........the Resurrection.  i had a wonderful day today, something i don't experience much.  thank the Lord for life, here on earth, and in Heaven.

since i never know when i am going to have an internet connection, i will tell everyone here....................HAPPY EASTER.