I tracked him down, sitting on a bench outside the sporting goods store. I surveyed him from a distance, once again feeling amazed at how much he’d visibly aged since the last time I’d seen him. At eighty-four, he was still undeniably robust and extremely energetic, but the emotional strain of the past months had obviously taken their toll. Though he might never say it, all of those days at the hospital had stripped a few layers. And missing Grammie was harder on him than he would admit. “Are you ready?” he asked when I finally sidled up next to him. I nodded, wordlessly holding up the small striped pink bag. “All set.” “Anywhere else you’d like to go while we’re here?” I shook my head, feeling fully satisfied. “Okay…how about some food. Are you hungry?” I hadn’t noticed it before, but now, at the mention of hunger, my stomach suddenly seemed to awaken. Breakfast had been a long time ago. I stole a quick glance at my watch to see exactly what time it was. “I wouldn’t argue at some lunch,”
