Chez Rozarie

I'll catch back up to our Southern Quick Trip next time...a few old school happenings popped into my head this week, and I wanted to write about them before I forgot...No, no dementia yet (that I know about) but I am a menopausal woman and have seen those memes about our brains, so I want to be ahead of the "curve" for once in my life! Remember when so many Moms came home from work and cooked dinner for us all, or were already home and cooked dinner for us all?  Sometimes Dads were there, and sometimes they weren't, but most of us didn't have to cook our own dinners, at least a few times a week. My Mom was a pretty bad cook.  She was - no shame, it just wasn't her thing.  I totally understand that now, and didn't know how little she cared, or how bad a cook she was till many years later.  She had her standard decent meals, and she could fix a great gravy or sauce or whatever you may call that delicious standard of the week in any household where there ...

Before Dad and I went south, I felt the need to have the "talk" with him, for several reasons.  First, I know he never had to use any type of "equipment" with my Mom.  Second, he is a catch for some of those women in Florida (I know, but he really is).  Third, I am NOT dealing with the aftermath of him getting some creepy crawly STD. So, I practiced the "talk" in my head for a few days.  If I say this, what will he say in return?  Will he respect my need to have the "talk" with him?  Can I get it all out without an "eeeeuuuwww" coming through in my voice?  How offended will he get (notice I knew he would be offended - but could handle a certain level of it)? Finally ready for it, I broached the subject. "Dad, you know you are going to be staying in some other people's homes when you are in Fort Myers.  Some of these women are not with a partner.  You might decide that you want to have some fun."  Now, I am YELLING th...

The 'rents were snowbirds for over 25 years, leaving the North for Fort Myers come October, then coming back up for Christmas for 2 weeks, going back South till Memorial Day.  Dad misses that, I know, especially with this wonderful winter wonderland we've experienced this year! So for the past 3 months, he talked about taking a trip South.  At first, he wanted to drive down.  He couldn't find anyone to hang out with him for 3 to 4 weeks so that sort of fizzled out.  Then he thought he would fly and rent a car.  Well, that sounded pretty good.  So he expanded on that idea.   "I haven't seen Casey in 3 years [2 and a 1/2] so I want to drive there first, then I'll go to Wendy's in Jacksonville, then to Fort Myers." "Well, Dad, where are you going to stay in New Orleans?  That's a lot of driving - 2 to 3 days to New Orleans, you know." "I'm not that old, I can do that.  I'm only 80." "Why don't yo...