random thoughts – Day 1,677 – (Sunday) – birthday shortcake

Sunday dance group is back on the active calendar for the season. There was the usual lovely Sunday morning drive down routes 113 and 119. 

On 113 in Lowell, there was the fall season heavy volume of parked cars and trailers with the boats for another regatta on the Merrimack. Police were stationed at every crosswalk to facilitate pedestrian crossings, and the fields across the street from the river were filled with parked cars instead of players and the occasional flag football, soccer, and cricket matches.  

The building where we dance has been listed for sale, so we don’t know what that will mean for our future there. This morning, after parking the car, I looked up the listing on my phone and started fantasizing about selling The BungaLowell and buying the mixed-use building which has retail at street level, the second-floor yoga/fitness studio where we dance, and a residential unit.

In my parking space fantasy, the current tenants would want to remain. On Sundays from fall through spring, I could lounge around until right before dance class and never worry about being late. I could take the yoga classes held there. And twice a week, driving from Townsend to Lowell for the department’s in-office days, I could totally despise life, but only twice a day during the drive until I win the lottery and retire. Then I snapped back to reality, put away the phone, and entered the building for dance group, where we worked on the choreography for an event we’re performing at in December.

Strawberry shortcake for Mom's birthday.

After dance, the family met at my sister’s house for Mom’s birthday lunch. We had spaghetti and meatballs and strawberry shortcake, which was her favorite birthday meal as a kid. There was salad and fresh French bread and scali bread. We had a Facetime call with my niece and her husband in Vegas. As is our new usual protocol at family gatherings, we forgot to take any photos. It seems like once the kids grew up we all forgot about taking pictures.

Back in Lowell, the deal I tend to strike with myself when driving home is this – when passing Market Basket on Fletcher Street, if the parking lot isn’t packed, I go in to shop. At 5:00 tonight, the lot wasn’t full, so I went in. Produce, canned diced tomatoes, bananas, frozen mixed vegetables, and ice cream were gathered. Supper was caramel swirl chocolate chunk ice cream. The day is basically complete.