More Salad Days

Today might have been a perfect Sunday. 

This morning, I got up with John Patrick, with plans to take him out for breakfast.  Jude got up, too, and she accompanied us to the Sweet Tea Diner, less than a mile from our house.  It was early - a little after 8 a.m. - and the restaurant had just opened, so we had the run of the place.  That worked out well, actually, because John Patrick was able to do laps through the restaurant, around the booths, while we waited on our breakfast.  The wait staff got a kick out of watching him, running and laughing.

Next, it was back to the house, then off to 11 a.m. church at St. Patrick's.  At the end of the service, as he usually does, Father David Perkin asked if anyone would be celebrating a birthday or anniversay this week.  Of course, Jude and I raised our hands, since our wedding anniversary is tomorrow, February 22.  He asked us what number and I smiled and announced, quite proudly, "number 8!"  Jude looked at me strangely, then looked back and Father Perkin, and said, "number 7."  My face turned red as a beet as everyone laughed.  Okay, 7 it is.

After church, I went to Shelby Park and ran 7 miles on the trails in Shelby Bottoms.  There were a lot of cyclists, walkers, hikers and runners out, because it was such a beautiful day, especially for late February.  Temperature in the mid-60s and sunny!  I returned home to find Jude pulling John Patrick around the front yard on a sled.  Very funny.  When she stopped, he would stand up, step out of the sled, step back in, and sit down again, ready for her to start pulling him again.  It's hard to believe we were pulling him on the same sled, in the snow, a couple of weeks ago.

Next, nap time for all three of us.  When he woke up about 5 p.m., Jude, John Patrick and I strolled down to Bongo Java for coffee.  Just a gorgeous evening.  He played on the soccer field at Belmont University on the way home.  As we strolled up Caldwell, in sight of the fire station, he could see a fire engine in the garage and he made a siren sound as we walked.

Tonight, we had takeout cheeseburgers from Bricktops and watched the Winter Olympics.  Team USA upset Canada in what was a fantastic hockey game.  Very exciting. 

A full day, indeed.