Not everything, just some things.
I still get up early, but I tend to go back to bed for a while. I still see my Granddaughter twice a week. I still go out every day and the car has always started. Still, I've noticed an increased police presence in the area and there have been fewer people out by themselves. I don't know why this is happening but I've decided to stop "Eventing" for a while.
It hasn't been easy. I've realized it's become an addiction and going "Cold Turkey" is tough. There was this guy early in the month.
I was warming up my car when he walked by. I had a jacket on and he was wearing shorts. I was tempted but I pulled out, made the right, and drove on.
A week later, I was on my way to a doctor's appointment when I came up behind this guy.
It was tough, but I passed by.
Last week, I was headed towards Walmart to pick up a prescription when I saw this guy.
It's gotten easier to keep on going.
There are still, however, things that tick me off. When I got to Walmart I saw this truck taking up way too many spaces.
I relapsed. Point, press, Flash.
I was expecting some heavy rain this morning but there was just some mist. I picked up the Sunday paper and a medium, decaf coffee - French Vanilla, just a little milk (I stopped the iced tea because of the caffeine) - and drove to the Menlo Park Mall. The stores wouldn't open until 11 so it was pretty empty. I found a spot to sit, read the paper, and do the crossword puzzles.
I had been there for a few minutes when I heard someone sit down in the other chair. Curious, I looked up.
It was Doyle.
"Hey, this is a surprise. How're you doin'?" I reached across to shake his hand.
"Good, Denny, I'm good. Just busy. This new POTUS has us stretched pretty thin."
"POTUS? .. What the ...Oh, never mind, I got it."
"Yeah, between covering him and his family and tracking down people that he's pissed off things are tight. But I'm here for a different reason.""
Doyle looked serious.
"OK, so what's up?""
"This is gonna sound strange, but we've noticed that you've stopped ..... you know .......... umm ..."
""I know what you mean. And .. Yes ... I have. It wasn't easy but there were reasons."
Doyle nodded.
"Been there, done that, Denny. It's never easy."
He stood up and paced around. I could tell that there was something on his mind.
"What's going on Doyle?"
He sat back down, rubbed his face with both hands, and looked me right in the eyes.
"Here's what's goin' on, Denny. Gordon's tracker signal has popped up several times near Trump's golf course in Bedminster and we're worried about it."
"OK, but what does that have to do with me?
"We want you to continue not using the Flasher. The Brains think that, somehow, he's been following what you've been doing and he enjoys it. Now that you've stopped, they think he'll react."
"React how?"
Doyle paused for a moment.
"They think he'll come after you."
"Why?'
"Because you're not doing what he wants you to do."
"What does he want me to do?"
"What he could do if we weren't looking for him."
It was my turn to pause.
Before I could say anything, Doyle's phone went off. He answered it, listened for a minute or two, then snapped it closed.
"I have to go, Denny .Somethings come up."
He stood up and walked away. No handshake, no "Goodbye". He just walked away.
I sat there for a while and let it sink in.
This was serious.
""I know what you mean. And .. Yes ... I have. It wasn't easy but there were reasons."
Doyle nodded.
"Been there, done that, Denny. It's never easy."
He stood up and paced around. I could tell that there was something on his mind.
"What's going on Doyle?"
He sat back down, rubbed his face with both hands, and looked me right in the eyes.
"Here's what's goin' on, Denny. Gordon's tracker signal has popped up several times near Trump's golf course in Bedminster and we're worried about it."
"OK, but what does that have to do with me?
"We want you to continue not using the Flasher. The Brains think that, somehow, he's been following what you've been doing and he enjoys it. Now that you've stopped, they think he'll react."
"React how?"
Doyle paused for a moment.
"They think he'll come after you."
"Why?'
"Because you're not doing what he wants you to do."
"What does he want me to do?"
"What he could do if we weren't looking for him."
It was my turn to pause.
Before I could say anything, Doyle's phone went off. He answered it, listened for a minute or two, then snapped it closed.
"I have to go, Denny .Somethings come up."
He stood up and walked away. No handshake, no "Goodbye". He just walked away.
I sat there for a while and let it sink in.
This was serious.
