Michael Jackson and Abraham Lincoln
Saturday saw me not wanting to do what I had told myself we'd do around the house. Namely, going through all the boys' clothes and dressers to pull out what doesn't fit anymore to send to goodwill, then work more on the upstairs, blah, blah, blah. The boys were happy as clams playing together so Ernie and I went out and drove a bit thinking to take pictures but then we realized my camera again has its dust disease or whatever so instead we went for an errand at Fries and Peanuts. We chatted and laughed and headed home to get ready for our friend Val's music party. We went last year and had a great time. I came up with a little sausage/balsamic vinegar glaze/cherry tomato appetizer. As we were fussing with that in the kitchen our phone range. It was our neighbor Gail down the street saying that it appeared that someone had hit our car. Ernie sometimes parks it on the street so Ricky and the guys can shoot baskets in front of the garage. Ernie galloped out with me trotting behind to see a delivery car right next to our Honda with its front bumper in the street hanging by not much more than a few friends. I gotta say my heart sank. This is JUDI'S Honda. She always kept things perfectly and when I see the back seat a mess I always feel bad but to have it HIT would just...well, just be hard. We got out there though and the Honda looked downright smug. There was a scrape or two on the front tire but that was it. I swear I don't understand how his bumper could get totally wrecked and not a scratch on our car....but I just patted it and said, "Good Honda." By the time we got done with that fuss.....we did get his name and number just in case closer inspection changed things....and watched him pull off his bumper and put it in the back seat....the air was getting cooler and we could hear the rumblings of thunder. Leo would be fine to leave in stormy weather---in fact he delights in it----but Owen is more like his mother and HATES storms and wanted us to stay home so unfortunately we missed the party.
As we sat there though chatting Owen mentioned that we'd been supposed to go to the Lincoln Museum this summer. I looked at him and thought what a good idea! We felt sort of at loose ends so I got online and found a cheap hotel room. Now I KNOW that Springfield is only 90 minutes away but a night in a hotel with the guys sounded like fun. Owen was beside himself with excitement. So the next morning we got up, hung out a big with cartoons and the newspaper respectively and took off for Springfield.
We rolled into town and spent a couple of hours at the Lincoln Museum. The best part of it was watching Owen feel so proud that he'd been there before and could show us around. We enjoyed. I must admit that I wasn't blown away as I'd been told I would be but that's just me. I tried hard not to ask Leo if he enoyed it but when I broke down and asked he shrugged, which for him is pretty positive!
Owen desperately wanted a lollipop from the gift shop and even Leo seemed to think he should get it, saying, "you know Mom, Owen IS the one that thought we should come here." So as Ernie was waiting in line with the lollipop Owen then started talking to me about his plan for the new shelf Ernie is supposed to put up over his bunkbed. He's planning to have a display of his figures (both his Michael Jacksons and a Batman). He carefully explained that he was limiting it to 12" figures and......whaddaya know? There was a 12" figure of Lincoln right there in front of us! I said, "Oh honey....that's probably too expensive" but then I started picturing the Smooth Criminal Michael Jackson, the Thriller Michael Jackson and......Abraham Lincoln. So I grabbed it and told him to rush over to his father as he was already at the counter to buy his lollipop.
I know, I know.....but come on.....MJx2 AND Lincoln!