Johnnie Saturday

I really must have been tired because it was almost 7:20 when I woke up. And I immediately realized I needed to be at Lisa's in  10 minutes. And so no Saturday sleep-in for me today, I rushed to get out the door, barely getting myself dressed and I'm yawning while knocking on Lisa's door. Johnnie greeted me and was already fully dressed which meant he himself got up really early today. And he had a to-do list too just like he always does. An imprint from his mom to be sure.  He wanted to get some graphing paper today. We could accomodate that at Staples I think. It was too bad the pandemic had shut down our Elysee ritual and so we were back to the regular McDonald's breakfast for this morning. And of course before that Johnnie reminded me that we needed to get my car washed. It's funny the things he remembers. It's funny how my own routine has been ingrained with him and so I better be careful LOL. And so we did start out our Saturday with a carwash at the one across from McDonald's and then we both had the usual breakfast as we would on a regular weekday. And of course he got to watch Coyote Peterson on his iPad while I got myself settled for the day. I realized now that all the stuff from yesterday has me a little bit off-center. And then later on apparently Yadira has an appointment with Lisa at her office and so of course there would be a get-together when Lisa is done with work. A socially-distanced, masked get-together but a get-together just the same. And of course Dexter would have to come. Lisa left the food arrangements to "the boys" but one text to Dexter and it was clear that meant I was going to be the one to take charge. I don't know why it bothered me today. Maybe it's because of Lisa deferring or Dexter deferring but I did not feel like getting deferred to. And though I didn't make it clear to Lisa, I made it clear to Dexter. Of course after a little while I realize that I always was the one to take charge in these get-togethers and so to everyone else, why did it have to change now I guess. In the meantime, all I cared about was going to Staples to pick up Johnnie's graph paper, and then to Trader Joe's to pick up groceries for the week. And then Johnnie's lunch as if it were a normal Saturday with just Johnnie and I. And perhaps me acting out was just an expression of me needing to get time to get settled and being my INFJ self. These are the times I get misunderstood. And especially by Lisa. I figured we'd get settled with the food thing when we do meet up. After all, who's to know what's going to happen anyway

And so it was that Johnnie did his usual play and video afternoon as if it were a regular day. That after I was unsuccessful at getting to take a nap and hopefully joining him in the process. Gone are those days I guess LOL. By 3 PM Dexter was texting everyone that he was still running around (roll my eyes) and by 3:30 Yadira texted back that they were headed to Lisa's house already. That was my cue to pick up and bring Johnnie to Lisa's. After 10 minutes of catching up, Lisa noticed that I was doing mini-steps on her deck and Yadira immediately caught on to what I was doing. That I was getting steps in. And so Lisa suggested that we get the food. This after the 3 of us decided we'd get Thai food. I put in the order and so off we went for a mile walk to House of Thai taste down the block. It was actually a perfect win-win-win. Lisa got her walk in and so did I. And we picked up Thai food dinner and got some Mexican desserts across the way from the Thai place. And so it was that we had a perfectly responsible socially-distanced get-together at Lisa's backyard (see pic). We had some pad-see-iw, pineapple fried rice, chicken satay, won ton soup. It was actually perfect. Boy this foursome had not gotten together in more than a year! I can't remember when and where we ate last together. I think it was Korean BBQ near my house. And so Lisa and Yadira finally caught up and so did Dexter who finally showed up while we were on our walk. I'm not even going to mention how annoyed I felt every time I felt like Lisa was contradicting whatever I was saying. To the point where she was saying I didn't have my mask on correctly. Old habit, old programs. Reminds me why we're divorced LOL. Reminded later on about some memories I needed to clear and clean up. 2016 4 years ago when it started to break between Lisa and I about a fight that would end our marriage.  Maybe it was the echo of that fight that made me not react so much about Lisa's actions tonight towards me. Maybe it was still me needing to get ME time once and for all. Anyway as soon as Yadira said she had to go, I was out the door as well. No hanging out with Johnnie and Lisa tonight. Just retreat back to my own place and to finally chill and get my energies straightened out. Anyway it was good to catch up with Yadira. And the old jokes and sports stories were still there. She missed it too, she said. The banter.  Maybe not Lisa so much LOL. Regardless, I'll take it. I'll take these old connections. However way I can. When I got home, I got back to watching sports to just chill. The Rams had just pulled off an upset in the wild card playoffs. They beat the Seattle Seahawks! Can they make it past the Packers next?! Trifecta dreams are still alive. Hmmm...