night out countinued

     It is Spring time, okay was chilly and windy, but still.  I went through a few years of declining health that kept me prisoner here.  Before that, well that is another story, and it begins with my mom's cancer.  So let's just not go there.

     I've pretty much given a picture of my life at home at times.  Pretty accurate.  They prefer to be home and never leave.  I was never that way when I was able.  Sadly, my sister is realizing that she'd like to get out more, cannot on her own so much.  And my brother in law is just a stress monster.  He's happiest in the basement with his computer and beer.  But this isn't about them.

     They've gotten into a lot of bad habits, the main one is relying on me being around.  Usually by 6 it's time to order dinner.  Brother in law is drunk so he can't go get it.  Sister never goes and now cannot.  So yours truly.  I threw a wrench into their plans and announced I was going out.

"Where? With who?" my sister whinned
"Have fun." my brother in law shrugged.

     To be honest in the last decade I've let a lot of things slide.  That includes friends.  After mom died I continued on sort of like she was still there depending on me.  Run home and cook dinner.  I mean meals that would knock your socks off back in the day.  They lapped that shit up like mad, expected it of me.  Lost a lot of respect of some people.  One time when a friend asked me to come over after work I replied that I had to go home and make dinner.  His response was something to the effect of "Is something wrong with them?" 

     It was on a Thursday so I had a few days to find the place.  Google failed me for the first time.  Told me it was in an industrial area.  So on Monday I checked the location and nope not there.  What?!  Ask someone!? Hell no!  Eventually I figured it out.

     Last I had heard 2 of my co-workers were going to car pool there.  Wasn't invited and didn't ask.  I arrived around quarter to six.  Typical Apple bee's type place.  Was a whole lot of people at the bar.  I had a good time.  Didn't drink.  The woman who it was for was absolutely thrilled I came.  Was nice.  She was now working for one of the towns for Super Sandy relief.  So at least she has an income for now.

     Usual stuff.  Banter.  Found out, from the wife, that our head electrician hadn't had a wage increase in 5 years because he was at the top pay rate.  Stuff like that.  I left around 9.

     Arrived home, found out they did take out.  Apparently brother in law and sister had horrible night and such.  Usual shit.  Went to bed happy I'd gone.

"What's wrong with them?  Can't they take care of themselves."

     Got that a lot.  So things slid.  I let some people down I suppose.  But devoted time and energy that could have been better suited to myself and others.  Well, it's now time for that once again.

     So I got them dinner and bid them adieu.  My plan was to hit an independent movie theatre a few towns away.  I'd loved this place, especially when I lived in the town.  Had its perks and a few detraction's.  It's done up nicely, even has a cafe in it.  Small and intimate.  Think the last thing I saw here was March of the Penguins, 2005.  So it's been awhile.

     It was so wonderfully freeing to be out on a Saturday night again.  I knew it wouldn't be anything big.  But just something different.  It felt right.  The only down side was really that I had to delay taking a medication, but this was worth it.