People Watching

Two old ladies in the grocery store. Their wardrobes could have been from my mother's closet. On one, the clothes hung loose- a baby-Robin looking woman. They knew each other and discussed the latest tabloid outrage. Two excruciating shopping checkouts: A coupon rejected-out of date-the loaf of bread goes back, six large cans of cat food, a large bag of rice, some crackers. The 'robin lady' had six limes, eight cans of cat food, a loaf of whole grain bread. $11.48, and the change was counted out as if she were bidding it a "reluctant goodbye." Are there cats at home? They held their dignity as they broke my heart.

New neighbors are interesting but no soul matches yet. One couple got an extended stay because Ron had a heart attack when they first checked in. He had a stent installed and seems daily to be getting stronger. He is a photographer who travels to market his great outdoor photography mostly of Michigan's upper peninsula. He works in 35 mm film and blows up his pictures to 3X5 ft size, mounts them on aluminum and frames them. They are knockouts! He had decided to sell one of his demos since the heart attack was expensive. A couple drove from Sarasota to write him a check for $1200.00. His companion, Gayle changes clothes about 3 times a day. Often overdressed but nice to look at. They have a pickup with a camper on the back and a trailer to haul the art.

Mike and Gayle are the latest arrivals- from Massachusetts. Falstaffian and Wagnerian are the words that come to mind. He resembles Onslow-Hetty's beer drinking brother-in-law on "Keeping up Appearances." Muscle shirts on hairy arms and loud. He doesn't hear very well and she compensates. A cheerful and enthusiastic couple with three dogs- a Springer Spaniel and two English Cockers which I thought were also Springer Spaniels but was informed of my error and told that one had appeared at the Westminster Dog Show. They could be fun neighbors if they are not "too much."