Johnny and Liisa buy an old fixer upper house.

November30, 1988. Pikesville, Maryland.

“I cannot believe how many times I have signed and or initialed my name.” Johnny sighed. One hundred and eight times. “For real?” Johnny asked. He never knew when she was correct or making things up. She had an uncanny way of knowing the time and temperature without checking.

“Just think Johnny, our first house and we, you mainly, spent almost three months to get it livable.” Liisa said. She scanned through the document and counted 42 pages. What did all that small print say? Finally, the last signature by everyone present and they were finished. “Let’s stop at the Suburban House and pick up bagels and cream cheese. I just know it will be our new Sunday brunch spot.: Johnny said.

An hour later they sat on the new deck, small but serviceable, and ate their bagels as they reminisced. Laughing as Johnny recalled the laying of the roof and how Liisa managed to get tar on her clothes, face, hair and shoes and he would not let her descend his ladder. So, she stripped down and eloquently walked across the yard to go in and clean up. Liisa smiled and thanked him for letting her dad come over to help work on my home office. And how one day he asked me to take dad home and drop off Randolf first. When she questioned the idea, had said he knew we would be safe due to our temperaments and the fact that Randolf was compliant with his meds.

Thanks for reading this mini series of six pieces of Johnny and Liisa. They are all live in case you missed one.