Eventually all things are lost

6:41pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday evening, January 22, 2023. There is a finite amount of time left in Arizona. I am struggling to say goodbye. I can’t stay but, letting go is difficult. A part of me exists here that doesn’t subsist anywhere else; waking up in my apartment, going for walks, exercising in the gym and drinking coffee while watching the weather. It is the best start to a morning I have ever experienced. Now the opportunities do those things are dwindling. Life is like that; you celebrate times and then let them go. It was just announced the minor league baseball team in Salt Lake City, Utah is moving to the suburbs. They are going to tear down the stadium in the area where I have watched games since I was nine years old. So many memories with my brother, my dad, my family exist in that ballpark. It is sad to see it go but, time marches on. Eventually all things fade and are lost. We have no choice but to enjoy them while we can and miss them when they are no longer here.

Smith’a Ballpark, Salt Lake City, Utah, photo by Erik Alberto/Axios

Night one: sharing a room with mom

7:22am, pacific standard time, hotel lobby in Palm Desert, California, USA, Tuesday morning, December 20, 2022. My mom and I made it through the first night sharing a hotel room with only a king bed. The couch pulled out for a surprisingly comfortable hide-a-bed and the desk has rollers for an impromptu partisan. This morning I woke up early to exercise then stayed in the lobby drinking coffee and watching sports. At 7am I went back up to shower, get dressed and reassemble the couch. Mom is still asleep and I am downstairs for another cup of coffee before heading to the office. It isn’t perfect but, we are making the best of the situation.

Ready for the weekend

9:48pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Friday night, November 25, 2022. Woke up this morning in Santa Clarita, California. Spent time walking the dog, reading the paper and drinking coffee. Drove to Orange County this afternoon, did some shopping with my daughter before settling in for the night. I walked the dog, then got ready for bed. All in all a good low key day. Ready for the weekend tomorrow.

Newspapers

6:46pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Wednesday night, November 16, 2022. The hotel where I am staying has newspapers at the front desk. I grab one every morning when I get my coffee. I forgot how much I enjoy reading news from such a medium, rather than always peering through my small, cracked, phone screen. However, I don’t think society will go back to printing newspapers in mass quantity ever again. Like so many things in life, they had their moment and now are slowly fading into obsolescence. That is alright. Best to remember how it once was rather than cling to what can never be again.

Arizona afternoon

4:34pm, mountain standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday afternoon, November 13, 2022. The usual morning routine; walk, workout, coffee. Later, I went to the store for some items, washed the car and vacuumed the floor mats. This afternoon was sapient packing things for my daughter and getting the house ready for my friend. Now I am watching football and enjoying a nice, fall, Arizona afternoon.

“Domino Beach”

1:32pm, pacific standard time, Oakland International Airport, Oakland, California, USA, Thursday afternoon, October 20, 2022. I got another five minute short story from the vending machine at the airport. This one is called “Domino Beach” by Marie Ivantechenko. I like the fact the first time I got a story from the vending machine it was from a highly regarded author, O. Henry. This time I got one from a student. The story was runner up in Short Edition’s Long Story Short Award, 2020. I grabbed a cup of coffee and a danish before sitting down. It was a very pleasurable experience and a good read. This is my second to last time traveling through Oakland. After next week I will be in Palm Desert, California. I don’t know if I will miss air travel and crowded airports, but I will miss the routine I created.

Friendship

4:50pm, pacific standard time, Parking lot in Tempe Marketplace, Sunday afternoon, August 7, 2022. Had a rare day in regards to social activity today. Met a friend for coffee this morning, then another friend came over to watch television. Now I am going to have a drink with a friend in Tempe. I don’t often have opportunities to be this social, I will enjoy it while I can. It is nice getting of the house for a change.

The usual trip

5:18pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Sunday evening, June 19, 2022. Took the dog for a walk this morning, got coffee and gas, caught up on news and anime. Left California before 11am and got to Chandler at 4:30pm. It was a typical Sunday and the usual California to Arizona return trip.

Sunday May 29

6:11pm, pacific standard time, Dana Point, California, USA, Sunday evening, May 29, 2022. Woke up around 4:30am, took the dog for a walk, got coffee and dog treats, then came home to read articles online. At 9am I went for a quick work out, followed by some grocery shopping and a good bathroom cleaning. This afternoon we visited friends for a small get together and bbq. Now we are home relaxing for the rest of the evening.

Day six of vacation

8:53am, pacific standard time, apartment in Dana Point, California, USA, Wednesday morning, April 20, 2022, day six of vacation. We got back home from the theme park last night just before ten pm and went to bed shortly thereafter. The trip was exhausting but, overall, extremely fun. I had a generalized plan to sleep in this morning but, our dog was eager wake up and explore; probably because we missed our walk yesterday. I did make the decision to cut the walk short because my legs were still sore. Nonetheless, this morning has been productive. It isn’t 9am yet and I have had two cups of coffee, loaded the dishwasher and started three loads of laundry.