Well, it was early this morning when Mrs. Hildebrand rang me up. In fact, it was so early that I was enjoying my first cup of coffee. The older woman was in somewhat of a tizzy. She was talking so fast that I just hung the phone up and headed over to her house.
All the excitement was caused because Mrs. Hildebrand could not get the car started. (Thank goodness.) Well, the car was not the real issue. The real issue was that without her automobile, as she refers to the big old boat on wheels, she and Miss Bessie could not get to their aerobics class. Oh, please! It was 6:30!
Now, I have no idea why she was trying out the car at 6:30. Her class does not start until 10:00. I’m not a mechanic but to suit the older woman’s request I looked under the hood. It looked to me as if all the pieces were present. Beyond that —
All the while Mrs. Hildebrand was talking about cars with cranks. Again, that is beyond my knowledge base but from what she said “cranks” always started cars. Okay —
Miss Bessie appeared in a loose dress — over a bathing suit. Mrs. Hildebrand was not about to be outdone. She lifted her dress to display a bathing suit. It must have been purchased in the 1930′s because it was — well, how should I say — ah — large and not very flattering, even on the almost 90 year old lady.
We went inside for a cup of coffee. I needed one by then. These two octogenarians have signed up for an aerobics class at a local health club/gym. AND, they had been going to the classes on the sly ever since Mrs. Hildebrand got the old car running.
Today has been an interesting one — to say the least. I took the older women to the class, picked them up, and then took them to purchase updated bathing suits — an NO! No one wears those rubber bathing caps with huge flowers these days — except Miss Bessie and Mrs. Hildebrand. (I really like the beat of their drummer.)
Just when I thought I had finished my rounds with them, Mrs. Hildebrand decided that she needed a new car. I did not want to be a part of that operation. I called one of Miss Bessie’s sons to help with that deed. I have to say that he was reluctant. Who wouldn’t be?
Mrs. Hildebrand did not come home with a new car today — although she is eying a Mini-Cooper convertible. We have all tried to talk her out of it, suggesting that we can take her wherever she and Miss Bessie want to go, whenever they want to go. But, I will not be surprised to see the little stick shift delivered any day now.
I guess I would be dismayed by her being so adamant but I can remember when she lived the life of a recluse — just a year ago. Today, she is so active that it is hard to keep up with her. I hope I have that energy when (and if) I get to her age.
I am thankful for the hope that Mrs. Hildebrand and Miss Bessie give to all of us older folks. I guess if the mind is still sharp, the rest will follow. Now, that’s something to be thankful for.
By the way, I just heard that the distributor cap had been undone on the car. I have no idea what a distributor cap is or where it is or what is does. But, Reginald has admitted to being the culprit. I am left to wonder if that Mini-Cooper will ever get out of the driveway. If so, Thelma and Louise—
UPDATE:
There is a red Mini-Cooper with black convertible top parked in Mrs. Hildebrand’s drive. (She’s faster than I thought.)
