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Yesterday's blog entry was actually supposed to start off with this story but I got derailed in the usual way by focusing on one particular member. There were actually two other problems that came up (one very disturbing that has me of many minds and we'll get to that after a bit--and maybe some of the other ones.

Any long time readers or observers (and you know who you are Ms. Hawke) are aware that I am NOT a morning person so this time of day is fairly consistent for me being on Litnet usually around 2 am. My beloved partner Brandy that my second son Daniel refuses to date and marry so I can be spoiled rotten with Avengers comic books for birthday presents from someone who knows how important father-in-laws OUGHT to be treated pointed out that I bought the long suffering one the computer as a present for the 25th anniversary FOR HER so why am I whining about access time--though she did admit the long suffering one is on the box about as much as I read books so I suspect I have reaped what I have sowed and God smiles all the while.

But on Friday I received an interoffice e-mail from partner Bob (sent to all of us here at the call center) with news that pretty much decided a trip to Dayton needed to be run Saturday morning/early afternoon.

Background: Miami Valley AAA is in charge of Preble County an area west of Dayton Oh which borders Indiana approximately a 35 mile trip to any town worth visiting up there--it's rural farm country and reminds me of western New York my place of origin and continual conceit. In Eaton Ohio one particular towing company is the linchpin that has maintained exemplary towing service for the past 16 years AAA has tolerated my presence in that county. Only a few times over the years have I had any major troubles there--Fred has to sleep sometimes. Fred has owned a shop under his name for the past 39 years. He's 62. About a year ago that 'C' word that hasjust slightly touched my life to such a silly degree compared to MAry Ann and her brother is about to claim another.

Now unfortunately with the distance, car wera/tear and fuel I have never been out to Preble county (though I had driven thru to to a wedding once in Indiana but physically have never touched the soil. When someone you knwo in a working relationship receives bad news with the slow inevitable result it (to me) seems almost vulture like to suddenly appear and sing platitudes and mumble about Gods love if even that can be worked in somehow. Was I ever able to share Christ with any real maeaning or am I kididng myself? SO I never visited to share condolencesin person thought thatere has been a phone call or two during work time. Fred is a very upbeat person and well known and thought of.

Tbe e-mail Friday informs me Fred has been moved to the Hospice of Dayton. This development I never saw coming. I had assumed Prebel had facilities of this sort so I resolved to finally after 16 years lay eyes on a man I consider a friend of sorts and one to be missed. He already sold the business and it's in capable hands with just a drop in quality. The name of the business has been kept.

So Saturday I'm off to revisit the hospice that I had hoped never to set foot in again and I found myself wondering how the chipmunks were doing and did they ever know Mary Ann was delighted by them.

The Hospice is divided into two large wings and again my friend is housed in the Shaw extension though mercifuly to me NOT in Mary Ann's old room. Fred's wife is there and two elderly people who to my surprise and delight are Fred's PARENTS. For the record his father seemed to be in better shape then I. A farmer from the old days. Fred and I had never laid eyes on each other and Jed and I sound alike--I tell people I'm cuter so it took him a minute, Mrs Fred knew who I was as soon as she heard the name and I was himbled as I had not talked to her maybe five times in all these years. He's on a breathing tube and sitting up --eating much bete food then I and 20 minutyes go by very pleasantly. I remenif Fred he's provided me my favorite lockout car story--the idiout who needed his door unlocked and the top was DOWN on us car. Reach over and pull handle anyone soon--please??!! I give him my private opinion of how AAA will respond to the growing cost of diesel fuel for tow companies in offseting our low pay rate. AAA is valued for ou name--certainly not for our genrous rates. AAA is a NOT for Profit business so we have constraints--it does avoid some nasty conflict of interest scandals I'm sure. I frankly tell him to my way of seing it AAA will just ignore the problem and hope it goes away. Thankfully no one in management reads this blog. I have from time to time gotten in trouble for speaking out of turn. Time and place and all that and thank goodness I despise politics and games alike and refuse to get caught up in them.

I shake his hand and depart. Report to first shift dispatch of the visit then run an errand--do lunch and return at 4 pm for the madness ahead that night and oine disturbing incident.

You know what next:

To be continued---and it won't be pleasant. Yes it's bad news.