The Catch-Up

Thursday began with ill news.
Mom’s purse had been snatched.
The irritation.
So while Mom made her rounds to the license bureau, the bank, the social security office, etc. (having already made other numerous phone calls and a visit to the police department), Carrie wrapped up Rose’s load of birthday presents, and Joe took off for Rolla.
Meanwhile, Dad, Mom, Carrie-Bri, and Linnea were preparing to leave for Florida, early the following morning, for another session of Dad’s PhD courses.
Francis was also in Florida, having left early Saturday morning just before Lolli and Wally’s wedding, for a week-long adventure with the Boy Scouts. This included playing Capture the Flag on an old U.S. battleship, then having a pizza party and slumber party onboard.
OLeif, the photographer for the wedding over the weekend, was highly involved in the post-processing of around 300 shots or more out of an original 2,500+ count.
He had also enjoyed a birthday the same day, ending it with Shakespeare in the Park with Relevance, Kitts, and some other friends. He used some of his birthday proceeds to purchase a special chrome messenger bag crafted of a super-strength fire-resistant military cloth, and took many days deciding upon the color.
Kitts had come bearing gifts, including: special salts, cheeses, jellies, drinks, books, etc., for her family, including a hand-crocheted ‘fatty’ for Puck, which was becoming one of his new favorite little friends.
And Joe, as one of the best men in the ceremony, and Rose, a bridesmaid, had enjoyed a week of parties, shooting guns, riding dirt bikes, drinking virgin margaritas and decorating flip-flops, etc., with old friends & etc.
And Collette allowed her arms to recover from writing-consumption and suffered through a week of double canker-sores.
The day was hot.
Heat indices were above 100.
Linnea found some simple relief by swimming in the neighbor girls’ little pool next door. Everyone else stayed inside.