More Thoughts

Seeing a friend (T) who lives far away experience a loss sucks because I want to physically be there for them but because teleportation doesn't exist yet, I can't. So I reach out, I pray, and I remember. I remember trips to see her family when we were in college and how surprised I was that they welcomed me right away. I remember feeling safe and loved and truly seen for who I was - a young woman on her own, far from home, in a weird college where I still didn't fit in (I've decided not fitting in is something of my superpower, but I digress), trying to find my way. T and I met in orientation and bonded over driving mustangs. That first year, she never let me go as far down the self-destructive path that I wanted to. She always brought me back with logic and humor. When she brought me home to her family I felt as at home there as I did with my own parents. Her mom and I had many long conversations over cigarettes and her dad was always doing something around the house or loving on their golden retriever. They took me to the grotto at St Elizabeth Ann Seaton, and I learned a lot about the area they lived in. I don't know how different my life would have turned out without the anchoring influence of my friend and her family, and my heart aches for them in the wake of their loss. (I did consider a 42 hr round trip road trip in 4.5 days to attend the funeral, but hubbs wasn't comfortable with that and honestly, I get it.) I feel privileged to have known her dad, and indeed all of her family. I hope to get the chance to come visit soon and place flowers on his grave. Introduce our hubbys, spend some time at the grotto, take a drive with my friend and talk out all of the mysteries of life. I love and miss you.

Looking back on life, it's funny how things sometimes replay. I met this friend on day 1 of orientation at college and we were something of an odd mix. I used to joke that she was the Saint and I was the sinner (evidenced in one of my FAV pix of us, her in a white "children of God" shirt and me in a black Metallica one). Fast forward to Korea and day 1 of training I meet J. We are again something of an odd mix. Yet in both cases our friendship endures thru years and many life changes. I definitely see the hand of God in both of these relationships and I am so, so grateful to Him for my friends. If it wasn't for T keeping me somewhat on the right path, I may not have stayed at FUS long enough to meet my bestie and LORDY how different life would be. I am truly blessed, and I hope my friends know how much I appreciate them. I'll never be able to repay all that I owe to those who have stayed by me through all these seasons of life... and I am truly awed by how enriched my life has been because of them. No matter how far away we live or how long its been since we last saw one another, the love remains the same and that is beautiful. 

Yep, I love this pix of us.

Hubbs' transition to day walker is rough, but he is toughing it out. Between an obscene wake-up time, dealing with traffic coming home, and getting used to new meal times, the poor man has been hurting. On the other hand, getting to spend time together at the end of the work days has been lovely. We did have a couple changes to work thru- he is now the instigater of the goodnight kiss, as he goes to bed before me, and he also wakes me before he leaves. Sleeping arrangements probably won't change until we get a better bed (independent raising capability, ability to not feel the other moving, that kind of thing), but the extra few hours where we are both awake and coherent are nice. His work week is still sun-thurs, which I learned throws me off. I spent all my mon-fri work week a day ahead (thought mon was tue, tue was wed, etc.). Kinda weird. I did feel a little bad scheduling things for after work since this was week 1 of him working days, but I still did my thurs yoga and treated myself to a massage on fri. 😁

Island massage spa is a lovely place 

Older sis texted on fri that her dogs legs no longer can support her, so she had to put her down. Super sad.

Gonna miss the purse puppy. Then on sat our other friends husky passed away. OMG, this is the WORST. Why was it such a bad weekend for the puppies?!?!

Had someone at yoga ask me the other day what my fitness goals are and I told her "to be able to get up off the floor at 90" followed with "and I better MAKE IT to 90!" I guess the thoughts have pseudo-shifted. I'm still weighing myself and have a certain goal # in mind, but the point of lifting has become "age is strength." Saw a 78 yr old lady's post about "growing old is inevitable, growing weak is optional." I'm gonna age like gma, so when I get my knee replaced someone is gonna have to follow me around with a walker cuz I'm not gonna use it! 

Saturday hubbs and I went to chilis for lunch, then went shopping. We got stuff at the Japanese store in town, then frames from Michael's, food from aldi and Kroger. I ran out of oomph about halfway thru Kroger. Came home, framed my art, and then poured myself a glass of red, sat down with a pack of Swiss rolls, and turned on Kong: Skull Island. 😁

First

Second

3rd, 4th, and 5th. Gonna hang them at work. 😁

Sunday the plan is for hubbs to go to work, I'm gonna go to Mass and then coffee shop, then come home to make Philly cheesesteak and mashed potatos. Should be good. I'll let you know in a week 😉

Hugs for all, especially those who are mourning. I love you and miss you and I wish I could be with you.