the phone conversation

It had to happen.  I had called home a few days ago, just to give folks the phone number here in VT, and to ask someone to go get a bottle of JD from the basement and put it on the counter for a friend to pick up and bring here to us.  No one was home, but Dad saw the missed call.  Of course, there is little cell coverage so I kept missing his call, and couldn't call him.  He left 4 voice mails (that I can't retrieve until we go back into town), and caught me this morning.

Now, Dad is a phone talker.  He talks an average of 35 minutes per call, no matter who he is speaking with. He always has to have the phone next to him, and has his daily call routine with Florida folks.  If it's Tuesday, he has to call Ron...Wednesday it is Helen, and so on.  His mother had the same routine with all of her sisters and sister-in-laws.  When Gramma was in the nursing home, she had to have her own phone so she could continue that.  The phone was a new kind of thing for those women, and those who are still alive continue their love affairs with it.  I know my dad's cousins (all the women) still make their calls everyday.
So, Dad does the same thing - he has his morning calls, and his evening calls.  He catches me this morning - all the signals are aligned, and I actually hear my phone ringing.

Leaning against the window on the side of the bedroom, I answer.  "Is everything alright?  I had a missed call 2 days ago and wanted to check to see if you were ok."  "Dad, it's no big deal, we just were looking to see if someone could do us a favor - too late now.  You ok?  Mom ok?"  "Your mother's surgery is scheduled for --------- (who knows?  signal lost).  Is that OK?"  "What day?" "July ------"  "What?" "The 16th" - of course that's my first day back at work after being off for 2 full weeks.  "Sure, Dad, whatever".  Can't do anything about that now, can I? Not worth it to get him all upset now.

"If you need us, Dad, call on the number Miah and Casey have that we texted to them."  "Miah?  He's just coming in now"  "Get the NUMBER of the house FROM HIM"  "It's hot down here, 95 degrees and climbing.  Had to water every day.  How's it up there?"  "GET THE NUMBER TO THE HOUSE PHONE FROM MIAH AND WRITE IT ON THE BOARD."  "Going to Marilyn's for a picnic today, hot one, everything's fine here."  "GET THE NUMBER FOR THE HOUSE PHONE FROM MIAH AND CALL ON THAT IF THERE'S A PROBLEM."  "Don't know what to bring, but we'll figure it out."

"BYE DAD.  HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY."

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