Mom’s 89th birthday was on Tuesday, October 26. As usual for her birthday, we took her to Springfield shopping. She will take herself to Decatur, but says she always gets lost in Springfield and doesn’t feel comfortable driving there, Over the years I have spent enough time there that it isn’t a big deal and I can get around pretty easily. Our first stop in the mall. I drop her and Penny off at the door of Bergners and then I park the car. While I am doing that, Penny has sat her on the bench at the entrance and she is chasing down a wheel chair. Mom is a good sport about the wheel chair as we bounce her into things (we tell her to be sure and keep her elbows in) and sometimes clothes will be flapping in her face as the aisles are so close. We didn’t find any clothes that she wanted to try on, so after Bergners and Macy’s we went to lunch at Ruby Tuesdays. Mom’s choice of food out is basically very simple. They have had a special menu previously, but said that it was no longer available. When we told them that she probably wanted a grilled chicken breast they said to order off of the children’s menu and that they would charge an adult surcharge (an additional $2….even though it was the same meal with only one side). That worked fine. Food was good and they brought her an ice cream sundae as I mentioned it was her birthday. Our waitress was exceptionally good.
We left the mall after visiting Sears and Bonworth. Mom did find an outfit at Bonworth that she liked and she purchased it….Yes, it is her birthday, but she does the buying as we have generally already gotten her gifts. Went to Kohl’s and she got the 2 youngest grandchildren (both boys one year apart) hoodies for Christmas, so those gifts are taken care of and she will get gift cards for everyone else. Now I just have to figure out where we need the gift cards from for each person as that is generally my task to help her get those. Don’t mind at all, but will do some checking earlier this year as I didn’t realize until we got to Kroger’s that we were going to have to figure out where to get them. That was interesting.
We went back to Penny and Larry’s for Mom to open her gifts and eat cake. I had made the cake this year. We try to make her favorite which is cherry nut angel food. It turned out pretty well and tasted good. I had made Mom a little jar of sand and shells from Sanibel Island. We had seen one and like it, so decided I could make her one very similar. I had picked up shells specifically to do this. I love miniatures anyway, but this was a great way to have an excuse to collect a few extra. Made Penny and I one to match too.
Gary had spent the day at his uncle and aunts and a friend’s house. When we started home I called him and told him as I knew it would take him about the same amount of time to drive from Shelbyville. He got back in time for cake and ice cream and Mom loves spending a little time with him.
When we left Owaneco, we went to Springfield and stayed until my appointment on Friday. We decided it would be easier than returning home and then going back to Springfield. Much less wear and tear on us and our car (which now has 186,000 miles). We visited the Lincoln Museum and really enjoyed it. Gary had seen it with the kids while I was in the hospital as I had said I wanted them to remember something other than me lying in bed. They have opened a new section recently, so that was interesting and he enjoyed it all again.
We spent the rest of our time visiting antique stores, resale shops, book stores and shopping. That took up most of the time and we managed to stay busy. Could have visited more of the Lincoln sites, but we will save those for another time. Knowing we get to Springfield fairly often means we can catch some others at another time. I would like to take the grandchildren to more of the Lincoln sites. Had hoped to do that this summer, but it didn’t work out.
Penny, Mom and Lana
Mom with her Sanibel Shells
