Today's Assignment

It was an hour and fifteen minutes each way to visit our 92-year-old friend. We'd made the trip a couple of times already in the last week. Every year during our Gleaners stint in this beautiful part of British Columbia we like to visit as many of our old friends as possible. It's the only time we ever see them.

We had met T 48 years ago when we all taught in northern BC. He had taken a fancy to us young teachers, and had invited us to their log house up the Alaska Highway. We've been friends with him and his wife, (who is gone now), off and on, ever since.

We called T from the parking lot of his assisted living home, and waited for him to make his way down to the front door. It took so long, I spoke to the receptionist at the desk. She promised to call him if he didn't appear. Finally, there he was, framed in the doorway of the elevator, leaning on his cane, walking shakily towards us. Hugs and greetings.

First a trip all the way up to his room again for a few minutes. He showed us how short his special eraser was, and said, “Could we go to Staples to buy a refill? I like this soft white eraser, just the size of the squares of my Sudoku.” T loves to exercise his mind, if he can't really exercise his body.

The eraser successfully purchased, we looked around the mall parking lot for a place to have a “cup of coffee”. Turns out, this really meant tea, and a snack. After rejecting a couple of restaurants that had counters too high, or that were closed, we settled on Boston Pizza.

“I don't think they have sweet snacks in that place,” said Terry. He was pleasantly surprised, however, after perusing the dessert menu. We all settled for a delicious sounding pastry called Apple Blossom, with ice cream and a caramel drizzle as well. I ordered it against my better judgment, brushing aside the probable results of so much sugar -- possible headache, insomnia, skin rash or foggy/negative thinking. I couldn't wiggle out of this occasion, however. Every year we wonder if this visit would be the last. The Apple Blossom was as delicious as it sounded. Sorry, I don't have a picture of it!

eraser refill safely in his pocket

T thoroughly enjoyed himself on his outing. “My adventure was getting the eraser refill,” he stated contentedly. “Thank you so much for coming to see me.”

“See how little it takes to make someone happy?” I said to Terry as we drove all the way back to the town where we were camped.

“It's worth it for sure,” he agreed.

We felt as if we had done what God wanted of us that day.