Way back in high school, in my junior year, I went to a spring dance with a guy that I didn't really like much and who I most definitely did not even kiss goodnight. But that's not what the talk in the locker room was on Monday morning. Apparently we had 'gone all the way' and my reputation was ruined. I was still a virgin. I was disgusted a few years later when I saw him in the newpaper, as an abortion clinic protester. Hypocrit. I saw him at our 30-yr reunion. He approached me and said hello, and he disgusted me still, so I said hello and turned and walked away. Nope. He was not allowed even one minute of my time. Yesterday, I received an alumni announcement that his wife had died at 55. Reading her obituary I learned that their son, named after him, was born with a rare syndrome and was severely disabled. I hope this child taught my classmate some humility and compassion. Because he showed none when I knew him. I like to believe that the jerks get their lesson in the end, one way or the other.

I decided I'm going to paint the basement hallway. It will give me something to do as I wait out winter. I am slowly covering every dingy, gross yellow wall with bright white. The yellow currently there is like the yellow stains of cigarette smoke, without the smoke. There must have been a sale on gross yellow paint for someone to pick that color. Two rooms in the basement are completed so far, the laundry room, and this room, which I finished this fall:

It was especially dark this morning, even though I set out on my walk at the usual time. The streetlights were still on at 7:30am. A light snow was falling (because we haven't had enough snow yet). There are definitely some slick spots on my route. And some pretty spots: