MEM WKND 2020 in These Foolish Things

Greetings from home on a rainy, rainy Memorial Day Monday. Just a few quickie updates since I wrote last:

• Meeting with my kind “cheerleader” on Friday couldn’t have gone better. It was great to see him after all these years (over a decade, wow!) and after we sat down and started talking, the memories all came flooding back. He’s doing well as a consultant right now - had been commuting to Philadelphia every week for the past three years and was happy to be working from home over the past several weeks. We could even remember some of the other folks who’d been in our group and laughed about some of them. Our outdoor lunch ended up lasting 2 ½ hours, and it was a good, quality talk. I came out of it more hopeful than ever and just happy to have been able to do it. Never would have gotten the chance to meet with him if it weren’t for Covid-19. Not saying I’m grateful for a global pandemic, but wild to think that he essentially lives in Philly when he’s working in his office.

• Friday evening, a neighbor asked me if I wanted to go to another patio place close by our building. At first I didn’t want to go, but then I ran into another neighbor and she and I walked over there together. It was an outdoor situation and the tables were far apart, but even then I didn’t feel 100% comfortable because I’d say there were maybe 20ish people in an open area. I mean, I think sitting outdoors is fine, but I also think that the more people, even when sitting outside, the greater chances of covid flying around. If one person sneezes hard and they are not wearing a mask, where are all of the droplets going to go? All over the place. It was a weird feeling. I tried very hard to relax, but I never felt 100% comfortable. We didn’t stay too long, and I couldn’t wait to leave. That’s a terrible feeling. The next couple of weeks are going to be very telling. I keep seeing images of GIGANTIC pool parties and such over the weekend all over the country. Clearly we’re going to see a spike, but just how large????

• Went to Mom and Dad’s on Saturday to get their meds and groceries (and mine as well). We always, always have a nice visit. I am so happy that we are as close as we’ve ever been…honestly, in probably my whole life. Another thing I’m grateful for during #covidtime, you know? Again, not grateful for this pandemic, but grateful for opportunities that are coming out of it. Anyway, had a little lunch, got their goods and then hung out on their back patio for a few hours. It was supposed to be rainy, but we got super lucky on Saturday. It’s so nice to be lucky.

• Sunday Funday was certainly that. Got up and looked at the weather report and it looked like the rain was still going to hold out for most of the morning so I took the dog on a niiiice long walk - several miles. In fact, way too many for poor Martini to walk so I carried her much of the time. I walked it all out. I walked off my feelings of fear and sadness and I came up with a new title for achieving the next chapter of my life: Operation Upgrade. I will be fleshing out Op Up in some upcoming entries, but I really, really needed that walk. I’m finally excited about the future. It’s not all bad, y’all. It’s gonna get better. I just know it.

• Came home and opened a bottle of bubbly and did a video chat with a friend. Our conversation lasted until the bottle was empty! I didn’t mean to do that. It just happened! But it was a lovely conversation and I’m glad I did it.

• And now it’s Memorial Day. And it’s been raining allllll day long. I’m actually surprised that it let up enough for me to take the dog out. I’ve been playing around on LinkedIn and all of the other socials. I also see that the next season of Dead to Me has come out on Netflix. And my kitchen needs cleaning - badly! So, there’s plenty to do on this rainy, rainy day. I think I’m gonna dig in now!

I hope you’re all enjoying whatever holiday you are celebrating today.

Love and more,
GS