September 26, 2002

• Fugitive Is Coming To Town

  
  

  Years and years ago, there were two sisters from a tiny town in Arkansas.  The older sister married a tall guy named Tim.  Exactly one year later the younger one married a tall guy named Tim.  The two Tims are almost polar opposites.  One is quiet, writes poetry and sculpts for enjoyment.  The other is more outgoing and prefers to tinker on cars, hunt, fish and eat chili in the woods. 

  
  

  So the sisters had much to talk about.  Even though life took them to opposite corners of the country, they still talked a lot.  The older sister was living in the south talking about politics, barbeque, Memphis Jazz and the books she read.  The younger landed in Minnesota so she talked about hair, snow, life in a city, and the weird foods they sold in the local deli.

  
  

  Then tragedy struck.  The younger sister signed up for a cooking class.  No stick with me this was a serious tragedy.  See they decided to make candies for the Christmas holiday.  Unbeknownst to the instructor, the double boiler the students were using was dry and vapor locked.  She told them to use it anyway.  Just as the melting sugar and fats were reaching their highest temperatures - the double boiler exploded.  Burning hot candy blew up into the face and onto the arm of the younger sister.

  
  

  For days she was unable to see anything and there was a serious question whether she was permanently blinded.  Obviously, something must be done.  The older sister packed up her husband and her books and moved to Minnesota and into the townhouse of the younger sister.  For the next three months, the two Tims went to work each day while the two sisters hung out.  The older sister is something of a domestic goddess so she cooked, cleaned, and generally took care of things while the younger sister recovered.

  
  

  Times were really lean.  It helped that the two husbands were both working and the two families were sharing the expense of one rent, and one set of utility bills.  It also helped that the sisters were together, so the long distance bill all but dissappeared.  But, the medical bills still had to be paid, and under the circumstances, there was legal dispute as to who's insurance was responsible.  While the insurance companies argued, the younger sister was forced to pay all the bills.

  
  

  Many, many moons later, the court finally told the insurance companies who had to pay what, but lo and behold, the hospital, ambulance, doctors, and pharmacists were all paid so the money was refunded to the younger sister.  Rich, she was rich!  And in her moment of wealth, she decided to buy plane tickets for her family (which now included an almost year old baby) and her sister (along with her five month old baby) to go see their aging parents.

  
  

  Fast forward to this weekend.  It's been 7 years since Fugitive bought mine and Michael's plane ticket.  It's time for her younger son to get his turn for a first flight.  Isn't it wonderful that they will be flying here to visit me?  We still have a lot to talk about.  Today I'll be going to Russell Stovers to pick up chocolates.  I'll stop in at the grocery to get special ingredients for the foods that Fugitive likes me to make.  I'm taking the dog to be groomed so that the whole family will be ready to entertain guests.

  
  

  It's less than 36 hours til the plane lands and there are four little boys counting each tick of the clock.  If you hear a loud buzzing sound coming from this part of the country, don't be alarmed - it's just me and Fugitive catching up. 

  • 9:04 am
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