Tree shopping, play practice

Yesterday Mama was by herself for the first time in several days – since last Thursday. I do not think she had a bad day all told but I think she missed the help with the chores. By the time I got home she was ready to get out and going on our scheduled trip to Lowe’s and Walmart in Decatur.

We had play practice last night so we scheduled a tree shopping trip to Lowes in the same outing. She and Cori are convinced that the trees at Lowes last longer than those purchased at other retailers so that was our first stop. The parking lots of most businesses are still like our roadway and parking area at the farm; ice covered and treacherous. I think the businesses in the area are like me and Mama. We are going to wait for nature to take care of the ice. The main difference is that we are not open for business.

Lowes parking lot was not in bad shape but the entrance to the store was really bad. One would think that Lowes would have some bags of salt to spare to clear the ice from their store entrance but that did not seem to be the case. Mama has an even greater fear of falling right now since she is recovering from knee surgery so we have to be very careful with the poor footing the ice offers, but we did make it into the store.

We had brought a sheet to cover the back seats of the Flex in case we were able to find a Christmas tree but we did not get to use it. The back part of Lowes where they have their trees was pretty much closed off due to ice. We braved it anyway and found some great little trees. (Yes. Mama has agreed to get a little tree.) The real problem was that the trees were either covered in snow and ice or they were frozen together.

I did not want to put an ice covered tree to thaw in the back of the car so we had to pass on that opportunity to get our tree. Fortunately, we have another practice on Friday. By then the roads should be passable for the little truck and the trees should have had the chance to thaw out without the water ending up on the seats of the car. Mama was not too disappointed.

Play practice went well but we were there until almost nine o’clock. Mama is one of the main characters in the play so her parts, which help set the tone for the play are fairly long by comparison to some of the other characters. The play director waited to do her parts until last so the majority of the people there for the practice could get back home. That put me in bed very late; that routine will continue through the remainder of this week with play practice and church.

Friday night is seriously overbooked for me and Mama. I have a Christmas Party for work that evening. I will not get to go to that – and I am not overly disappointed. We have the RU program at church that evening also. Many of the people in the play are also part of the newly begun RU program. We will not be able to help there on that night. And we have the dress rehearsal for the play.

I think I know which of those three events is most needful but I am going to be in a little bit of a jam with my boss for not attending the Christmas Party. It is a small price to pay. I know that Mama will be very glad when this play is presented and done.

She is not the only one.