To say that I don't get out much would be the understatement of the century. I am resigned to that, even used to it.
Maria was with me for several years, she was a sweetheart but spent most days working around my apartment while I write.
The new nurse, Shelly, is much younger so she has piles of energy. Being cooped up for the 6 to 8 hours she is here several days each week seemed to get to her.
So we go for walks, if you can call it that. Even that is better now since the local government reworked the sidewalks at the end of each section from 6 inch dropoffs to little ramps.
They did that at the same time they put in the promenade by the river and converted about 6 older apartment blocks into units for people with various concerns that require care.
No more stopping and getting more or less dropped off the edge backwards, that used to be a real pain in the ass. The first year I was here, it was like no one even thought about what folks like me need. Back then, there were always cars to watch out for, more than once I was barely missed by someone who had somewhere to go and didn't look. Those are gone now since they closed the side streets.
Shelly is a coffee hound like me, I like mine black and mean, she drinks some fluffy looking thing with brown foam on the top of it, I have no idea what they are called.
Well, to get to the story, Shelly asked me if I wanted a coffee, which meant she wanted one, I knew that. Fine with me, I clicked off the screen so she knew I was ready to go.
It's only about 3 blocks to the little coffee shop that serves the complex I live in, and it's a pretty trip since the wide sidewalk looks over the river most of the way.
It was nice and warm out, one young couple walked by the other way holding hands, they smiled at us as they passed. Another older couple was sitting on one of the concrete benches looking out over the river at some boats going by, the lady had her head leaned over touching the man's shoulder, his arm around her.
One of those nice days out that a person can't help but like.
The automatic doors rolled open as we got there, I was surprised to see quite a line ahead of us, I guess others had the same idea.
John, the middle aged man with MS was there, he gave me his best version of a smile as I lifted one hand in greeting. John and I chat via email all the time, he has a hell of a time with the spelling. But he is smart as a whip, I get a kick out of his thoughts. Some of the ideas for my stories come from him, I doubt he could ever actually finish one himself and get it posted.
Shelly is his nurse, too, she has several of us as her charge and lives here in one of the upper apartments. It's nice because one push of a button and she is right here to see what we need.
I found a nice spot over by the wall where the sun would be on my back, rolling back until I felt the little bump as I touched the wall. I don't like the Sun directly in my face much.
Shelly finally got to the head of the line and ordered. She carried the drinks to us, setting mine on my tray.
"Be careful, it's a bit hot, Dan." She always says that, but then I am always careful. Of course the drinks aren't really that hot, staffing knows all about what that could do. John for instance keeps trying to drink his without the straw so he ends up with about half of it in his lap.
Shelly pulled up a chair and sat at the tiny table on my right, there are only a few tables in the coffee shop because most of us are from the complex and we have our own trays.
From where I sat, I could see out the far window across the river, there was some huge apartment buildings going in, men busy everywhere. I knew they would block off the view from here of the rest of the city that is scattered up the side of the far hillside, but I guess people need places to live.
