Pop: Chapter 23b

    Of course, we called Dad immediately.  He didn't sound too concerned over the phone, but with him, one can never be that sure.  He was already thinking about having Sam have one last check-up before moving anyway, so this was just one last thing to add to the visit.

    The rest of the morning on campus was routine.  The athletic supervisor suggested that Sam move in a few weeks early, due to his accelerated timeline for registering.  We'll see to that, but I'm not sure how enthusiastic Sam will be to that.  We ate lunch at one of the food places that have popped up since I was here.  That too bad, but I'm not sure if I would've liked such a variety when I went here.

    This afternoon, we went to check up on Pulse.  Technically, I did mention to Addie about possibly buying the building, but since we're not married, yet, she shouldn't complain.  I mean, I already have the money.  Okay, the Burton family has the money, but I was able to hammer out a fair deal for all involved.  I have had some ideas about what to do with the place, and they should work out.  Especially since I know where I can park now without having to stop at a health food convenience mart for validation.  Although, they do have those protein bars I like.

    We next went to the store where I'll be having my signing on Saturday.  I wasn't planning on checking up, but with the storms, I wanted to make sure.  I had sent an email, and later a text while at UK, but the store hadn't responded.  Turned out, they had some windows broken out in the storm and were closed to the public.  Apparently, they had updated the customer info, but not the owner's personal sites, which were the ones I was using.  They were just reopening to the public when we arrived.  The manager apologized about missing my messages, but there really wasn't a problem.  We did decide to push back the event by an hour, just to make sure everyone knew that the signing was still going on.  I would still be there early, of course, just in case someone misses the update.

    Then, we went grocery shopping for non-perishables.  There is a chance the power will have to be off at times so that the remodeling can finish up.  The fridge will have to be cleaned out by the time we leave on Sunday, but having a few more supplies stocked up in the pantry can't hurt.

    By the time we were done, it was almost six.  Yeah, for all of my planning, I'm still one of 'those' shoppers who just can't help but check out everything in the store, even if it isn't on my list.  It only happens with groceries.  And sometimes books, but what can I say?  I need to check out my 'competition' every now and again.  Anyway, we had an early dinner at this new restaurant, Catalino's.  Pretty sure that name is made up.  Some pretty good sandwiches though, almost good as some of the ones in New York.  Sam might just like it here after all for the next few years.

    As soon as we got back, Sam went straight up to his room to sleep.  Well, he is a 'growing boy' after all.  I just hope he doesn't get much bigger.  I have a feeling that he'll be asked to play basketball all the time, and he has no game.  That's the problem with being small for so long.

    I finally open my eyes and look at the screen.  Dang!  It's almost eight-thirty.  I must have dozed off myself for a bit.  I turn off the television and get up.  I guess I should go to bed myself.  I've got a lot to do tomorrow.  I turn off each light I go through the rooms and into the hall.  I had already locked all the doors when we got it.  I strip off my shirt and pants and dump them into the hamper in the hall as I pass by the bathroom.  I leave the socks on until after I use the toilet.  Don't want any splashing on my feet.

    I go into my bedroom, heading straight for the bureau when I remember.  I already took all of my clothes up to the spare bedroom, including my pajamas.  I double check all the shelves, but everything's empty.  Looks like I'll have to sleep in my briefs, not that I haven't before.  Or less.  Everything's ready for bedroom set to be taken upstairs by the movers, or least the parts we're keeping for now.  The only thing left down here will be the sheets, and I'll stuff them in the hamper I soon as I get up.  The pillows will be moved a bit later, and the mattress is staying.  I think. Can't remember if I'm getting changed tomorrow or not.

    I take a look at myself in the mirror.  I can't help it, but I look good.  Not great, but pretty good.  I do a double biceps pose for my own benefit.  Yeah, I could stand to improve, but I'll still be in great shape for the wedding. I shouldn't have done that, as thinking about Addie is getting me all excited.  I barely got a chance to kiss her yesterday.  Well, it has been a few days.  I take off my briefs.  Yep, I'm ready.  Better now than in bed.  Sure, the odds are low, but it almost happened last night.  And it's only happened once this year.  Nowhere near as often as when I was a teenager, but the chance is there.  I don't want to have to explain myself if I 'stain my sheets.' I mean, it has been quite a few days since I could do this.  I start a bit before going into the bathroom to finish.  

    This is going to be a great night.

    This is going to be a great year.

    This is a great life.

Pop: Chapter 23a

    Addie and her family left early this morning for St. Louis.  The airport wasn't too badly affected by the storm, so they were back up to their regular schedule.  Before she left, Addie left my a suitcase full of some of her essentials that she wanted to make sure got here safely.  I wanted to be with her more, but with the storm and her family, we barely had time to kiss before she went back to the hotel.  I woke up a few times on my back overnight because of it.  Hey, it needed the extra room.

    A special delivery from Addie came this morning just before Sam and I went to UK.  A large number of boxes of some more of Addie's things.  It was lucky that Sam's appointment got delayed, or we wouldn't have been here for it.  I'm not sure the neighbors would have liked having to sign for so many things.  As it was, it took Sam and I a few minutes to haul everything up to the spare bedroom.  That place is going to get awfully crowded soon. I can't wait until The new master suite gets delivered, so we can store more of these things.  Addie will be sending one last large shipment over, with all the really big things, just before the wedding.  I am not sure what will be left.

    Dad and his aide made it back to Richmond well-enough.  There had been some wrecks along the way, but far more than what Pete saw on his way back to Morehead.  It looks like he'll be taking the job at Berea, so there's going to be another waves of moving going on soon.  At least I don't have that much to move down from New York.  Sam will probably have to split his stuff between my house and Dad's.  That is going to be a headache to plan.

    Sam hadn't thought that much about going to UK before declaring, so he never got the chance for a full in-person tour and interview.  Yes, we had been on campus, unofficially, to look around, but never as part of the official athletic department's program.  Sam had been so sure of going to Dad's school, he never gave UK the full treatment.  I basically forced him to look the campus the few times we came down for games and holidays.  Since classes weren't in session most of the time, he never got the full experience, but I hope this helps make up for it.  Even if classes still aren't is session.

    One of the things he had to do was have a physical examination.  Nothing out-of-the-ordinary. However, I was right.  Sam is now six-foot five, and a quarter inch!  I knew he was in the middle of a late growth spurt.  Sam is also about twenty pounds underweight for an athletic young man of his stature.  He's going to have to check with his regular doctor to see if there's anything wrong with him.  Sure, his growth spurt could be normal, and that could explain why he's underweight, when added to his constant swim practice, but there's also a chance that he could have a medical condition.  With all the history on Dad's side of the family, and all of the unknowns on his biological mother's side,  Sam could have any sort of issues to come up.

Pop: Chapter Twenty-Three

    "It looks like next week is going to be clear up to the weekend, as the tropical storm is going to just graze the Gulf shore before dying off over Georgia."

    "That's great Craig.  Coming up, we turn to sports and the latest on UK's run through the NCAA baseball tournament."

    I mute the television.  I don't feel like listening to any more of the late evening news broadcast.  I lean back in my recliner and shut my eyes for a sec.

    The last twenty-four hours had been a whirlwind, pretty much literally.  I was hoping the news would cover the storm some more, but after a day, there wasn't much left to cover.  Lexington got off pretty easy. Power out for some blocks on the north side, trees down in numerous spots, minor damage to a few buildings and vehicles, but no serious injuries.  There were two deaths over in Clark county.  Overall, Kentucky got off light compared to what happened in Indiana and Illinois. Twelve deaths combined.  Huge damage to some smaller towns.  When the derecho crossed over to Kentucky, it started to die off.  It still caused thousands of dollars in damages, but nowhere near as bad elsewhere.

    Luckily, my smart thinking saved the Camaro.  Not even a dent.  Rick wasn't so lucky, as his SUV had its windshield broke out completely.  At least they can afford the repairs, I guess.  Pete's truck faired fairly well too; only a few minor dings.

    I was watching the news to see if Addie was mentioned again.  She managed to phone in a report for the late night broadcast, which got repeated for the morning report.   I guess it wasn't important enough a day later.  Instead, the station let Craig Phillips go for his usual forecast.  He's the one Addie will be replacing this summer, as Craig is bound for Indy in a few weeks to join a sister station.  Maybe sooner.  Technically, Addie will be on weekends while the weekend weather person gets the evening shift, but Addie will probably be bumped up to the spot by the end of the year.  The station is trying to keep it all quiet until just before he leaves.

    After I talked to Sam, we and the guys went back up the stairs to the second floor to an open door to the emergency stairs.  We then walked down to the basement level to find Addie, my Dad, the rest of the wedding party, the catering staff, and the night manager for the center.  It turns out that it was standard procedure to lock the main doors in a weather event.  However, it was a mistake on the manager's fault to lock the stairway entrance.  Addie had been trying to call me, but either the basement doesn't have good reception or a tower had been knocked down in the storm.  Anyway, everybody was safe.

    Sam apologized to Addie and her family for his outburst, while the caterers went back upstairs to finish clearing up from the dinner.  Sam then apologized to Dad, who promptly asked if I had told him.

Before I could respond, Sam said that I hold told him everything about why Dad was selling the house and leaving New York.  Dad then corrected Sam and asked if I had mentioned that Sam was going to be my best man.  In all the confusion about the storm, and the fallout from Sam's outburst, I had forgotten to announce the fact.  At least with it coming out like this, the offer won't come off as some sort of token of forgiveness.  Rick was only planning the party; he and my other friends already knew that Sam was getting the position.  There was much hugging before we left to survey the rest of the damage.

    Will's wife's sister had kept all of the kids safe in the hotel's own basement.  In a stroke of luck, Jim's wife had made the same wrong turn that he did and wound up taking shelter in the wrong building.  Jim was able to make sure both his children and the rest of his clothes were safe from her anger.  They aren't reconciled yet, not by a long shot, but all five of them are still going on to Florida to visit Jim's family.  The storm should miss them, if barely.

    Will gave Rick the names of some therapists in the Lexington area to help Rick deal with his issues of his guilt over his former doctor.  Rick is going to help out Pete get in contact with some local government officials, just in case he does get called out to run for office.  Meanwhile, Pete would use his connections in local school systems to see if there is an interest in starting a program to monitor kids like Ray to make sure their stories don't turn our as tragic.  I offer my own help, but it really wasn't needed yet.  Rick doesn't need an editor or ghostwriter, yet, if ever.  Pete has a stronger connection to local politics than I knew.  How did I not know, or remember, that the four of us registered as the same party back in high school.  Well, I waited until college after I turned eighteen, but we all voted the same way that November.  I definitely have nothing to offer Will beyond seed money for any projects, but that will be a little down the line.

    I will always love these guys, even if we aren't really that much alike any more.