Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow ...

I'm into relationships. When I do relationships I do them full speed ahead. Pedal to the metal. I like to get there ... where we know each other. If you are human, I will know you just as quickly as you will allow me to. I enjoy asking questions and I would be a great stand in for Barbara Walters. I'll be as interested in your answers as I am in what my own would be. If I didn't care I wouldn't ask them. And I'll answer yours.

And if you are a place, a place that I love, it's pretty much the same. I haunted this Barnes & Noble every day while in Sioux Falls. It's not laid out like my old store on Holcombe/Bellaire Boulevard in Houston, but I could seriously man the Information Desk like nobody's business. And I could manage the employees and do their evaluations ... First I'd make them all wear green shirts. I'd also fire the brat dude that cut me off in the Fiction/Literature isle, without an "Excuse Me". Incidentally, I have zero tolerance for poor manners in employees anywhere. Pure stupid I can handle ... bad manners ? Who are your parents and where do they live ? They need the living shit knocked out of them. And if you are 10 or over, figure it out, then knock the shit out of them yourself for both of us.

This Barnes and Noble provided a tremendous need I had while in Sioux Falls. Escape. I could get Mom settled for her long, deep, drug induced naps and head over there, knowing I'd be entertained as much or as little as I pleased. One day I looked at a ton of books on the Tudor's, as a follow up to watching the Showtime series. Another day I focused on gardening in the region. I learned to let your vegetable plants hit the ground, spread out, and wander. I learned that on the day Ron told me he had jut finished pruning the lower branches off of everything that was doing just that. I didn't tell him. He's a fan of "Dear County Agent" in the Watertown Public Opinion. I'm not even going to mess with that. Another afternoon I curled up in a sunny window and absorbed some tips on improving my photography. And another day I just people watched. On my last day I bought a sketch pad, charcoal and colored pencils. I think there is something in me that I need to assemble. It has to do with my sister who passed away, Wendy, photos of her and some of her things.

We are home now. And I guess what I'm trying to say is that I love love love Barnes and Noble. I thank them for being there. I have been down a mysterious path regarding my relationship with Mom and it isn't all good ... I've got some issues I need to work on and work out. She's the patient from hell, and knows it. I'll miss you, B&N, and when I see you again I'll be in the Middle Child Syndrome isle.