A Christmas Story - Part 1

Went to Chi-town for the Holidays.

Okay, Dekalb, for you purists - but it's really, really close to Chicago.

Had a pleasant but uneventful visit with Buzz - the patron saint of Huntley Park, the tin foil hat,* and, coincidentally, my father.

As he would say, everything's pretty much, "'bout the same":

Same relationship.
Same fixer-upper house.**
Same hardware store.***

For my Grandma, on the other hand, not so much.

She's now in the early stages of Alzheimer's and was recently moved into an assisted living facility. Accordingly, New Year's Eve day, I borrowed dad's car and drove down to Peoria to have lunch with her and my Uncle Bob.

When I arrived at such-and-such Manor, Grandma was waiting for me in the lobby.

"Grandma, how'd you know I'd be here? I'm over an hour early."

"Oh, honey, I just popped out a moment ago to check!"

Turns out she'd been there most of the morning, waiting.

*Thinking conspiracy? Just ask my dad. Utilizing the mystical powers of the internet your worst fears will be confirmed!
**Affectionately and ironically termed the "Palatial Estates".
***Where order is wrought out of chaos, one small carded item at time.