I’m an old romantic, me. I always try to do something special for Valentines day, and this year, I think I outdid myself. I gave Chris, – COVID.
Of course I did have to go out and get it first. That turned out to be less hard than you’d think, especially, since like many folk (I imagine) I had taken my eye off the ball enough not to recognise the risks (I’m not going to get it now…), and to drop the – still-very- necessary, precations. My first test (gosh, we still have a box of tests, and in-date too!) came back clear and I foolishly carried forward with the false conifidence of someone who only has “a bit of a cold” (again).
I had two days of ghastly misery (holding on whilest lying down) and am back to “recovering-cough! cough!” (just happy that the virus has stopped actually punching me).
I feel that the “tone” of Valenties has changed somewhat these days; far more exclusive and amorous, than it seemed to be in the past. The idea of sending a card/gift to a friend (not an intended romatic partner) just doesn’t seem to fit. It wasn’t always that way…..
Wavy lines-wavy lines-wavy lines
(Colour becomes more wishy washy, Tony has hair, and no beard – and smokes- ties are wider. Subtle clues indicate a date in the late 80’s, certainly pre mobilephone [PMP])
T “So lets surprise all the girls on V_day…”
G “?”
T “We’ll bring them all flowers, delivered to their work”
G “In person?”
T “Yes….no, wait….we’ll dress as the Blues Brothers!..(we had outfits) “
G”….and not get caught?”
T “Genius! And not get caught!”
It should perhaps have been a Cadilac or an old malprospects police car, but Gerry’s car was a Fiat 128 – bright Yellow. However preparations had been made, as the speakers (he was a very serious sound hound), had been taken from his house and were now (belted) into the back seats to supliment the not inconsiderable in car system.
“It’s 106 miles to Chicago we got a full tank of gas, a half pack of cigarettes and a dozen bunches of Roses..”
“Hit it!”
With the volume wound up above 5 it was necessary to have the windows open just to stop the car exploding.
“She caught the Katy, left me a mule to ride……..”
We did not, in fact, completely succeed with “not getting caught” (my favourite moment was when the fire alarm went emptying an office and allowing me to stroll in and leave the flowers -and completely uncriptic (T+G) card, on an unattended desk – no I did not set it off!). We did however spread hilarity widely, peoples waved, children danced, traffic wardens just saluted, Policemen waved us through. Gerry frequently had to double or tripple park – music blasting – while I (completely dead pan in my seriousness) went in search of a immediate confederate in the each building.
Everywhere strangers were entertainted and tickled to conspire, open doors, distract victims/recipients. There was nearly always a small crowd by the time I returned to the vehicle.
Wavy lines wavy lines wavy lines
(Tony’s hair fades away, colour becomes more real)
In an odd way, I’m very happy there are no multi media records. The story exists without contradiction in memory (and hopefully not just my memory) and it’s probably funnier like that.
I won’t be coming to share my COVID, but I do send my love to you all, and hope to bring a smile.
Next week on IaDL : It’d better be some Grumpy old man thing
Dalmallyfest the Asylum 