Today I spent the day with Maxine.
We checked on getting her driver's license, which we are ready to get tomorrow. We had lunch at a Jamaican restaurant, which we both enjoyed. We walked across town for it, 30 minutes round trip. On the way back we stopped at a game shop. I bought a card game called "a Gentle Rain" (which claims to be "A cozy game for one or more minds in need of a soothing reset." Sounds perfect for me.)
Maxine drove us around town. It was only her fourth time driving since we came to Kansas. (Where's a gentle rain when you need it?) Later I drove us for 45 minutes to meet my aunt and uncle for dinner, then back to town for another 45 minutes. Lots of time for conversation. We will get more time together before I leave, but not a lot.
It was a good capstone day, as Quinten and I will be leaving in four days. We talked about many things: about the cool aunts and uncles, and what it takes to be them. About being ready--or not--to leave home. About driving, which still makes her nervous, even in this small town. And about food, of course--the ones we miss and the ones we are enjoying. We talked about her brother, and how he will miss her when he needs her, but probably not day to day.
And we talked about the little things that fill up the spaces between the big topics, like how we are out of shape in this town that discourages walking, and how getting a bargain on good clothes feels great. It was a good day. A kind of soothing rain. It didn't erase the things hanging over me, but it gave me a chance to reassure Maxine (and myself) that she will be okay.
