So the layout for the Mercury parts isn’t quite as I verbalized last month. Last month’s picture is accurate. I laid four pallets between the convertible and the four-door. The woodie parts will stay on the parts shelves for now. I also put a 4-foot table there to hold the parts book and the lists. I began gathering parts identified for the convertible first, since it and the station wagon will have more unique parts. I also located some parts specifically for the 4-door. I found coupe window regulators, so I’ve offered them for sale (no takers yet).

One of my challenges is going to be the parts that are common and are all boxed together. I don’t think Alan thought that one through, since I don’t think he could realistically work on all four vehicles at once, so he was going to be going into boxes several times to get the parts he needed. Although he did say he was boxing things up to make it easier for me to sell, so he anticipated a package sale, which would have been both of our ideals.

I was reading a post in a Facebook grief group a few weeks ago. It made a note about deciding to cook again. In the last 41 months, I may have cooked at home less than a couple of dozen times. Alan cooked for us (because he was picky), and I usually cooked when he was away from home. In the several years before his death, that was rare. Since his death, I’ve rarely felt like cooking, even though I have ingredients on hand. I wonder when that will change?

Jase had his third cardiology visit associated with his TRIAD study. He’s completed his one year of study medications and will be on two years of monitoring, which means a check-up visit at Texas A&M every six months.

I took a bike ride up to see the grandkids and great-grandkids earlier this month. Alan’s great-grandson looks just like Alan did at his age. They are all doing well.

I washed off the patio furniture. I decided to get a Keurig for easy coffee/hot cocoa-making to take out to sit on the porch in the morning when the weather gets nicer.  I have so many options, but I don’t want to do most of them. I’m still figuring out what my life really is now.  I have no idea where the patio end table tops are, so I’m probably going to have to cut some Plexiglas to fit.

The yard guys’ equipment tossed a stone into the living room window and broke it. I’ve gotten it replaced.

After waiting for over four years, I finally got the concrete gate footer poured, so I have regained access to my second driveway entrance. I revised driveway logistics. I found a place to park the van to retain access to the motorcycle bay in the garage as well as the entrance and exit. The new configuration allows me to take any vehicle out and return it without having to move any other vehicle. I’m really happy to have this access back after more than four years, but I did not expect to feel the sadness I did.