Another Day with Dad

So I guess the rule is don't make plans for him. He already has what he wants to do in mind.

I got there relatively early and he barraged me with things to do: return books, cookies, go see the stadium...

So it was off to Roseville Library. Dropped the books there and thought "well, I could scout trail for a few minutes (for my drinking club) over by Dale and B." So I told him I had to look for something (namely Villa Park) and headed towards Dale.

"Where ya goin?"

I pointed again the page that said "I gotta look for something over here for a bit, then we'll do errands."

He nodded and settled in.

So it was right on Dale and towards St. Paul. He looked and looked. I swear, he's going to throw his neck out one of these days.

Soon the capitol loomed ahead. "I'm gonna have to pee here pretty quick," he said.

So a quick turn on Marian and into the big McDonalds. He pushed me back in my seat when I went to get out and said "We ain't eatin here." Well thanks, but it wasn't just YOU that had to pee. So I waited in the car.

Then down Marian to 94 West out of St. Paul. Again the craning neck and he finally said "I don't think I've ever been along here." Sad. He used to take me to the dentist right over in that area.

Then onto University via 280 and down to Stadium Village. He just gaped at the new Stadium and smiled like "a fox eatin skunk shit." You'd think he was building the thing. We drove up and down til he got his fill of seeing it, then across to 15th and on to Como (again!). We came to 18th and he pointed out Joe's Market, then I said "Hey, Mannings is up there - we should eat there today!" "I wanna go to PERKINS!" he restated, and so I kept going.

At Como and 280, an enormous truck taking a right from the left lane nearly ran us over (ala Christmas Vacation -- run under the bed).

A loop around to 280 North (OK -- did the Como Group Health ever do dentistry? We couldn't decide. I wonder if Dr. Lahti died there accusing young girls of kissing boys to intentionally get mono. I know she accused ME of it.)

Then up 36 to Snelling, across on B to his nirvana, PERKINS. Once inside we settled into his Classic Breakfast and my salad.

He sits and watches older couples come in for lunch together and it just breaks my heart. I know that he and Mom fought a lot, and its not like the conversation flowed like the Menomonie, but it was less lonely. He stares and then looks quickly away.

Jack: He DOES want that good Cub potato salad for Easter.
Gord: You're in charge of getting a wad of good tickets to one of the first games at that stadium. He'd die to go there.
I'm in charge of taking him to the U this summer. He wants to go EVERYWHERE -- "we'll have to get a wheelchair" he tells me.

He also pointed out the old EE maintenance building. Elroy used to work there. How long has it been since we thought of Volraths?

Then a quick stop at the liquor store, pick up cookies and he was ready to roll. He's gotten to the point where he actually carries his own stuff up to the apartment, so that's progress. He's excited about Easter.