I did not set the alarm and was surprised to rise at 7:45, but soon, I was moving again, not always certain now that I am over sixty and on a three-week trip, and made coffee in the little machine (a pad of coffee for this one). Not knowing what would comprise the hotel’s complimentary breakfast, I bought chocolate croissants and had one with industrial coffee to start my day. At 9, I cleaned up, shaved, dressed, grabbed the Apple, and headed to the lobby. The place was busy with many kids getting breakfast with mom or dad. I overheard one mom say they would get breakfast while dad slept as he drove hours to get them there. I later saw that the pool was busy. Excellent!
I wrote for a while, and Grammarly was strangely aggressive and reworded my work. I allowed it to make some changes and then regretted it as I re-read my text later. The AI-based editing product made more changes than I realized; many were nonsensical but grammatically correct. I spent an extra 45 minutes restoring my text; I will be more careful in the future.
Today, I only planned to have dinner and attend Grace United Methodist Church’s 7PM Christmas Eve service with Leta, Susie’s mother. Mom Wild (Barb Wild) said she wanted to join us the day before. So I would need to pick her up at about 4:30 and then reach Leta at 5 to get three at Longhorn Steakhouse (oddly, the same chain I had dinner with Zorida in Texas).
With the blog done, more coffee, and a banana consumed in the lobby, I was ready to head out. I returned the Apple to the room, slightly hidden (to avoid tempting any staff), put on my hat, scarf (Manchester United but Nike, which was more than ten years old as Nike lost ManU), and my coat. I drove to the college section of East Lansing, paid almost $3 in parking, and started to walk the area. The sidewalks were not always clean, and I slipped a few times, but never enough to be endangered. First, I headed to Curious Books, which had a copy, leather spine, full text, of Dicken’s The Old Curiosity Shop, which I had never read and thought ironic and perfect to send to myself in Oregon. I was not tempted by anything else, but running through the store and finding something different is always a pleasure. With the book and shipping purchased, I headed to El Azteco for lunch.
There, I got a table as the window seat was not cleaned, and soon, I had a small margarita with salt on the rocks, as they did not have hot drinks. I ordered the taco plate, two ground beef, and one shredded chicken tacos with rice and beans. I saw a gal come in and order two beers (and a small plate of something). Remembering that someone bought my beer yesterday, I paid for hers. She just smiled and went back to her food. But, at least, I had passed on the small holiday gift.
(the sign in the men’s room at the taco place)
Next, I walked to the local vape shop. The door was strange, with a sign that said to push hard, and I had to. The sales cleric, young, bearded, and with a colorful T-shirt, felt like a flashback to the 1960s-70s. They have a wall of bongs, but I was looking for Breeze Vape products for Mom Wild. There is a wall full of flavors, with ‘Mint’ being a good seller, I was told by the beatnik-like clerk. That being unhelpful, I called Linda, and she said tobacco flavor was the correct option, which is the last row and colored brown (I missed it in the flash of so many colors and tastes offered). The clerk was happy to get me two, sounding more like an accountant than an edgy 60s guy; Linda warned me they are hard to open and I should open one for Mom. They ran about $15 each and are self-contained.
I next went to CVS and was ripped off and overcharged. They also had the coffee liqueur product in the smaller bottle I was looking for yesterday (for $1 less, I think). I got some Diet Coke in tiny cans, some instant coffee, and a discounted coffee pod of Dunken Donuts coffee (a favorite). But when I went to check out, I paid full price. I needed a CVS card to get a reasonable price. F**k, but I was too annoyed to say anything on Christmas Eve, and the clerk did ask me twice if I wanted a CVS card. Thinking I should write a note to Michigan’s Attorney General about stores ripping people off in the city and near college students, I boarded Air Kia. Deborah later admonished me for even using the overpriced store (even the prescriptions co-payments are higher there she told me); I will try to be more frugal in the future (I am retired and have time).
I returned to the hotel and unloaded my precious CVS items. Mom calls and says she has nothing to eat (her freezer is stuffed with food that requires just a bit of time in the microwave). I get back on my coat and drive next door to Walmart. Now there is chaos: Walmart on the afternoon of Christmas Eve. I locate bread, old school whitebread, sliced medium cheddar, ham, and turkey cold cuts in a package. I also got a gift card for Longhorn Steakhouse, as Mom Wild said she was not going, but Linda and Jesse (my sister and her husband who reside in Laingsburg, a few miles away) can take her for dinner on another day. I informed Linda of the plans change and then took Air Kia to Mom Wild’s place. I was happy to remember the way to Park Lake Road.
The checker is challenged as the POS is slow at Walmart, which surprised me (being retired IT, fast connections for POS were always a focus, and I am bewildered by this failure at Walmart). She has issues with the previous customer who changed their mind on what cash to put on a gift card. This requires a slow restart and a near repeat of the same mistake. I smile at the checker when it is my time, and we do the gift card process, which is slow, but we manage it on the first try. She smiles back and tells me she has only a few hours left. I wish her luck and a Merry Christmas!
Mom Wild was not dressed and did not remember our previous discussion. I brought her the vape items and opened them for her. I gave her one to use and put one with her pills (also opened). I opened all the packages of cold cuts and put them in the frig, along with the bread. She was happy to get all of this.
Mom told me she was feeling good, but she was not dressed, and the chaos of getting ready was not something I could do to make it to Leta’s on time. I could only stay a short time. Mom was sad that I would leave, but I promised that on Christmas Day, we would meet, and we had no time constraints. I would take her to my room and cook dinner for us, and we could have a nice, if not a bit strange, Christmas together.
Tears followed, but I delivered her trash to the proper container and treated her icy walkway with an ice-melting compound I found near the door outside. This and the temperature increase should make Christmas Day a safe travel day for her. I poured her a Diet Coke, and that made her happy. She knows about her memory issues and asked me again to tell her what the plans were. She was retaining some of it. She was tearful to see me leave, but the promise of a better day on Christmas brought her hope.
I took a photo of where I had placed the vape and gift card and sent that to my sister. This will allow Linda to find them as needed. Mom asked me about selling her van and convertible Mini, and I agreed that they were assets that were not performing and should be sold. I’m not sure she will remember that, but I gave my honest answer and likely will again. I fear the absence of the van and mini will cause her to report them stolen, but maybe it will work out.
I returned to my room, changed into my red party vest and Santa tie, and soon was again in Air Kia, crossing from East Lansing to South Lansing. I put Leta’s address in CarPlay, but I am sure I could have found my way. Leta was ready with her watching for me, and I carried a heavy bag of food and useful items. Grace United Methodist Church supports the community with a reverse-Advent calendar gift; every day of Advent, you put a helpful item in the bag, such as food, personal product, etc. On Christmas Eve, you bring it to the church. I carried Leta’s bag into the cargo hold.
From there, it was a short trip to Longhorn Steak House. We were quickly seated in a booth; there would be a line when we left, and Chris was our waiter. Leta got the petite Flo’s filet, and I had the NY Strip. I also had a salad and a sweet potato with my meal. It was an excellent dinner, and Leta bought it as my Christmas present. It was perfect, and I like ‘opening’ gifts on Christmas Eve.
Leta could only eat half her steak but cut her own. She is still having trouble with her arm she broke–but manages to drive and live in her own home (though her daughter Barb often helps). For 96, she is a hope for all of us that we will be as well connected as Leta is to the world, family, and church when we are her age!
We took Air Kia to the church once dinner was done. We scored a handicapped parking spot at Grace UMC (Leta carried her parking pass), and soon, we delivered the goodies from the reverse-Advent process, and the area in the lobby was filled with bags.
Leta introduced me to many folks, some of whom I remember from different years and events. The service is about ninety minutes long, and the pastor was a dynamic speaker and mic’d to walk and move. We sang the usual songs; Grace UMC has a tradition of hiring students from MSU from their music department, and the music was excellent and familiar.
The pastor’s message (more than a homily and less than a sermon) was that God appeared as a child of a typical family, and the first human messengers were shepherds, generally an untrustworthy bunch. Thus, if you feel unworthy, please remember that the night crew of the lowest of the low were the first voices of the good news; you are worthy. The text says that people believed the shepherds, who were not considered valuable witnesses in court in those ancient days. Again, you are worthy.
After the service, there were more introductions, and I snagged a cookie. We loaded up two poinsettias, one in honor of Barb and one in memory of Susie (Leta’s daughters). We headed to Leta’s house and got the leftovers and one of the plants in her house without damage. There, we talked briefly, and then I headed out with a possible still-in-pencil visit for my birthday in mid-April 2025.
(I scored a plate of Leta’s wonderful cookies, too)
Soon, I was back in my hotel room and watched last year’s Doctor Who special #1. Christmas is often sad for me once the parties stop. I miss many people, and there are more each year to miss. I am also tired from driving and some of the emotions. I shower, get in my PJs, and read more SciFi in Analog.
I said good night to Deborah, who called. She had some drama of a gift that was too well hidden for her son. It was finally located in boxes that were moved ironically by the gift recipient; Liam, Deborah’s son, had moved the boxes earlier and managed to rehide his own gift. With the gift recovered, wrapping and preparing continued until late.
It was too late for a Christmas Eve swim. Soon, I was falling asleep. Likely, there were sugar plums to dream about.
Thanks for reading.
Alohawild (Michael Wild's) Website 