Catching up with the boys

Okay, so Greg isn't the only one I've talked to lately. Here's what's happening with the other guys in my life right now.

South Carolina is still living away from home. He's settled in at his friend's house, and cooks special dinners for the family so he feels like he's making a contribution. The other day, he made a venison roast, which made my stomach growl just thinking about it! Also, he has a meeting with his boss on Monday to find out if his New Orleans trip will be funded. If not, then I won't go, either. Maybe we should just meet elsewhere during the same time frame, and still give him his escape from the craziness in his world.

Aspen called the other night. He calls regularly and we get caught up on the news. "One of these days, I'll get enough time off for us to actually go and do something," he says. Not this weekend! He had to go to Alabama to rescue his stepson's truck. The guy met a woman (in Alabama) and left his wife for her, but the woman is also still married. They moved in together and when he shipped out with the Navy, he signed Power of Attorney to her over his affairs while he was gone. She decided to get back together with her husband. Stepson has asked Aspen to help take care of it, and he should be in Alabama this weekend to retrieve stepson's truck. If she'll let it go. She doesn't have to, since she holds that dang Power of Attorney document. Aspen tried to warn is stepson about this, but no..... Now, it's one big "I told you so" moment, but he's staying admirably quiet about it!

It was interesting, though. I mentioned that I'd gone to the doctor the other day. Aspen was genuinely concerned, asking if everything was all right. I'm fine...it's just routine. And he sounded relieved. A little moment, but sweet.

Fella. I just don't know about him, anymore. I had that lunch with him right before leaving for Texas. He seemed to be doing much better. I texted him when I got back in town, but no response. I haven't talked to him in two weeks. So, I called this morning.

His "Hello" told me a lot. His tone sounded very much like Eeyore.

"Hey! How are you?"

"Oh, I've had better weeks."

"Oh no...what's going on?" I'm thinking the Army wants to send Son back.

"More drama," he said. I hate it when he does this. I want to know, I want to help, and he knows this, but he decides to spoon-feed me the situation. A tiny taste at a time, making me ask for the next taste.

"Good golly," I said. "I'm sorry." Pause. Long pause. I have to ask something else to prompt him. "Anything I can do?" I know the answer, but that's okay.

"No, not really," he said, is tone still flat. "It's my younger son. He says he wants to move down here now, and that's caused a big problem." Pause.

"Has it?"

"Yeah. Now, it's a three-day weekend and I'm supposed to go see him, but it's messed up." Pause. "I'm just sitting here, waiting to hear from him. I don't know if I should go there or not. I figured I'd let him call me, but I haven't heard from him."

"I'm sorry," I said again. "I know it's been just one thing after another lately." It has been. And I think he wants me to acknowledge that I understand how tough his week has been.

"Yeah," he said. "I'm just really frustrated lately."

"I can understand that." Long pause. I think he's done giving me any information. Conversation over.

"Well," I say, knowing it's time to wrap up. "If you don't go, give me a shout, okay?"

"Yeah, I will," he says. No, he won't. I know better than that. The Eeyore tone never wavered, and he never asked how I was doing. That's it for the day. Sometimes, he just takes a lot of energy.

I think I'll have a girls' night with my daughter.