Bill Gets His Milkshake

Bill gets his strawberry milkshake

All is quiet on this summer's eve as darkness falls upon our humble abode here in Covington Chase, Delaware.

A few minutes ago I saw our neighbor Don's garage door open.  I guess he returned from having Sunday dinner with his friends in Rehoboth.  I feel so sorry for Don every time I see him at his big house across the way.  Don's longtime partner (40 years) Al died a few months ago.  That's tough when you're an older gay man and you're no longer partnered up.  I dread the day if and when Bill departs.  I'm hoping I go first.

There's Don bouncing around that big house over there with no purpose that I can see.  Maybe he does have a purpose, none that I know of anyway.  Don is one of those people who work, work, work and has no outside interests. I wonder how he manages these days.

During these hot summer days I like to take Bill for a ride and get him a milkshake.  Last night I tried a "twofer", killing two birds with one stone.  I stopped down at Panera Bread Co. to stock up on my black bean soup and get Bill a milkshake at the same time.  Of course Panera Bread doesn't do milkshakes.  I got a strawberry smoothie instead.  When I handed it to Bill in the car he said "What's this?"  I told him it was a "smoothie, it's the same."  He said "We'll see."  Guess what folks?  It's not the same.  Bill takes one sip and looks at me and says "Well, it's cold."


I pulled out of the parking lot, and changed the subject.  Occasionally I glanced over to Bill and saw that he was sucking on the straw but he wasn't happy but he wasn't complaining either.  Finally, after he was about half done I said "Let me try it." I took a sip and guess what?  It was good!  Certainly not a milkshake but refreshing.  Sort of like a big healthy slushy.  I finished it off.

This evening, I had a couple of Find a Grave requests in Lewes.  I asked Bill if he wanted to come along.  I told him I would stop at Dairy Queen after I looked for these graves and get his milkshake.  His eyes lit up!  Just like when me and my brothers back in the Fifties after a hot day of weeding corn our father would take us to the local Tastee Freeze for a treat.  Oh my, how good were those days!  Sometimes I got a root beer float and other time I just got a big Tastee Freeze which is just soft custard.  You know, nothing much has surpassed that taste treat since then.

The line at the Dairy Queen in Lewes, DE tonight - it moved fast!

I don't like to drive into Lewes on weekends because the parking is horrendous.  Well, perhaps not horrendous but bad.  Surprisingly enough I found an easy parking slot right outside the Dairy Queen and it wasn't the handicapped spot either.

I go inside and get in line with the beach goers and await my turn.  This Dairy Queen is very well organized.  One line for the orders and you get your number which is called out.  Much like Panera Bread does.  Hey, do you think these food emporiums are finally getting it?  I think so!

I got a LARGE strawberry milkshake for Bill.  I didn't get one for myself because I had not eaten dinner yet.  I'll have my treat later tonight (strawberry shortcake).  As you can see from the photo at the top of this blog I made up for last night.  Bill is happy.  I'm happy.

No More Blizzards

The past couple of weeks Bill and I started a new habit of visiting the local Dairy Queen in Lewes and ordering a Blizzard. To be specific, we ordered a Banana Cream Pie Blizzard. After yesterday we decided to end that short lived habit. Sure, the Bizzards are good. In fact they are delicious. However, they must have about 5,000 calories because after we devour one of these Blizzards we’re not hungry for at least the next 24 hours. I guess that's what happens when you receive your minimum caloric requirements for the next week.

It was a nice little tradition while it lasted. We got out of the house, took a pleasant ride through downtown Lewes and slurped our Blizzards watching the fisherman and boaters play at Breakwater Junction in Lewes. We can still take our ride and watch the scenery in Lewes, but we will have to do it sans the calorie laden Blizzard.

Yesterday was a wonderful sunny mild day here in southern Delaware. Bill and I headed off early for Loew’s to pick up ten bags of dirt for my new raised flower beds. We will have to go again this morning, ten bags weren’t enough. While I love planting and tending my raised flower beds. It is my favorite outside activity. But I have to face the fact that I’m just too old to be lifting these 40 and 50 pound bags. Right now I am aching all over. I feel like someone beat me up. I feel like the first day after I joined my high school track team and was sore from the first time calisthenics. I’m sore but it is a good sore. Maybe I should be flinging around more 50 pound bags of dead weight dirt to get myself in shape. But on second thought maybe I have to face the fact that I’m no longer a 17 year old getting in shape. My shape has long since left. The strength just isn’t there anymore. Even Arnold Schwarzenegger isn’t in shape anymore.

So, it’s off to Loew’s to pick up two more 50 pound bags of Miracle Grow potting soil, bring it back here, struggle mightily to distribute it over the new raised flower beds and then collapse onto my bed. No more heavy lifting for this old gardener. From here on out it’s planting and weeding for this old man...............and no more Blizzards.