Next was going to be Sam's Wholesale Club. Whoa. They have dozens of handicapped places. They were almost all taken. Mom is old and not so steady. Her GP got her a shield and I was all ready to take advantage of it. But I wasn't ready to brave the place at all with the number of people inside that the parking lot promised. Handicapped or not. So I bailed.

Next we tried World Market. I thought they might have some picture frames we liked. Mom liked some cheap-looking ones (in my opinion) and I didn't like anything they had. We looked around a little and moved on to the handicapped place in front of Circuit City.

Mom needs a new VCR because I didn't know how to make hers work again. And I'd promised her a TV/VCR combination for their office. I even had the cable installed in there. So...we look at TVs. Mom thinks she wants a 19inch one. I'm in favor of a 13inch. It's not the money. But I figure the smaller one can be carried by me.

"I'll have to get help to get it in and set up then," I say, resigned, and move on to VCRs. I can't decide what to buy. A lot of features don't matter, of course, when the cable box is in the way. I settle on something, rather arbitrarily. Mom has to find the restroom. I look at some other stuff. I pick up some ZIP disks.

While we are checking out, Mom allows that the 13inch would be better. They can move it if they need to do so. Another day, I tell her, I'll pick one up and set it up for her. We are both weary of the shopping thing. But she is happy with the trip.

I install the tie and belt rack in the closet. "If I get this right, I'll tackle the VCR." I joke. I'm not sure Mom gets it. Anyway, I do tackle the VCR. It almost beats me, but not quite. I despair at my Mom programming it but I think I can. She asks how to watch one thing and tape another.

"Can't do it...everything goes through the cable box and some things are scrambled," I assert. "The best way is if I buy the TV/VCR combo and you tape the other program on it!" She solemnly accepts this. My dad would do without TV, cable, VCR, etc. if left to his own will to get it in. But when he has it, he spends a fair amount of time watching especially enjoying the travel channel.

I help a bit with the e-mail conundrum. "You have to dial up the Internet before sending." Still...she's learning to type letters. She is learning to move the mouse around and click things. She needs a computer desk, she says. She's using an old laptop I gave her. She does need something the right height.

Our evening's entertainment is a Zach Scott production called 'Tru.' Jaston Williams stars.

FFP scores an early reservation at Zoot. At our table we enjoy the relative peace before the onslaught of football fans. A perfectly-balanced seafood gazpacho hits the spot. A deliciously simple halibut with greens and lentils is so beautifully prepared that I clean the plate of every last lentil.

A guy shows up with an umbrella. The staff looks amazed. Everyone treats it as an object of awe. It is carefully placed near the front door. It's sprinkling outside he claims. Actually when leave one or two drops do fall. And there are clouds. No real rain, though.

But...have I mentioned it's cooler? Yes, the highs are falling short of 110 degrees. Short of 100 even. It isn't cool, but it is tolerable somehow. It makes a difference.

The play is OK. Jaston is great. He has to wear a body suit to look chubby. I didn't think the material was all that engaging, but Jaston does a good job with the material.

At the theater we saw all the usual suspects. Including Karen Kuykendall who did a tour de force one woman show ("Full Gallop") last year. Saw her the night before at the ballet, too. The truth is that we always see people we know at these kinds of events. Are we too predictable? Are they?

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