“And how are you today?” I asked.
“I’m just back from dinner, so I’m well filled,” Maga said.
“Oh, nice! What did you have?”
“Umm, well…I can’t remember.”
“No worries. As long as you’re not still hungry.”
“Whatever it was, it wasn’t spectacular.”
“You know that sounds an awful lot like my dinner.”
“How so?”
“Not spectacular, but filling enough.”
“Did you go out to eat?”
“Nope. Stayed in.”
“That certainly is easier.”
“And more affordable,” I said.
Maga laughed rather heartily at that. I was pleased with making her laugh, but confused at why being financially conscious was so humorous. Maybe if I was in on the joke, my finances would be in better shape?
“How is your weather,” Maga asked.
“Very fall-ish today.”
“It rained?”
“Nope. Not yet. But it is cooling down. I’m not ready for that quite yet.”
“I think of the cold coming and it’s not happy.”
“I agree!”
“There’s nothing we can do though. That’s just the nature of Mother Nature.”
The poetic nature of her comment lulled me into silence about climate change. I decided to let her comment stand as is rather than get into a discussion about it all, especially since her attention was equal parts focused on the TV, asking what I did today, and using a toothpick to make her tooth feel better.
She had the inside track on finances. I had the inside track on climate change. And yet, here we were talking superficially. Sometimes a phone call is for comfort instead of information. At 98 years old, she’s earned a few passes.
Abigail Mumford 