The morning is warmer than it has been. It is already 76˚, but not so far from the predicted high of 77˚. It is cloudy and will be cloudy on and off all day. The slight breeze is cooling on my back. The dogs are playing with new toys and each other. Usually they are napping by now. My plans for the day include a dump run later in the afternoon. My car is filled with trash bags, many of them filled with cat litter. Tonight is Magic Music Monday with the uke club. The theme is Get Together.

Yesterday my cousin Mitch and his wife Kelly came to visit Nala. They gave her to me to love when they knew that Nala would continue to attack their older and bigger boxer, Kyrie. They feared for Nala. Kelly brought toys and treats for both dogs. Nala was excited to see them. Henry was amazing. After his initial hesitancy, he let both of them pat him and scratch his back. Henry has come a long way. They thought Nala had grown and looked wonderful.

When I was a kid, I seldom wore a watch. It is the same now. I have watches, all needing batteries, in my bureau drawer. I only wear one when I’m traveling. My favorite is the one my mother gave me on my 50th birthday. It has a red leather strap and the watch is silver. I have another, the traditional gold watch though mine is green befitting the school colors, from the school district when I retired. The others were bought along the way.

I don’t need a watch. I make sure I’m where I need to be on time, actually a bit early. I hate to be late. I had a friend who was always late, even to my house for dinner. I used to give her an earlier time, a lie, as to when she was expected to be here. She was still late. I started serving dinner without her. She was put out. I had no sympathy.

When I was a kid, I wore socks all winter. Some had holes. I didn’t care, but my mother did so I made sure I wore socks with holes you couldn’t see. The older socks had no elastic left, and they bunched at my ankles which reminded me of my grandmother. Her hose was always bunched around her slippers. Sometimes my socks slid into my shoes. That was like walking on rocks. I’d stop and pull up my socks a few times on the way to school. I still have socks with holes. Sometimes I don’t even hide the holes. I don’t care if anyone sees them. I am becoming or maybe have become an eccentric old lady.