4:27pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Monday afternoon, May 30, 2022, Memorial Day. Left Orange County early to beat traffic but, it wasn’t necessary. In fact, it was the fastest trip across the desert so far. I even had time for a quick nap afterwards. My mom sent pictures of the graves in Wyoming this morning. Everything looks nice. She always does a good job. Seeing the pictures brought back fond memories of my brother and dad.
Tag: memories
Illusion
6:46am that the illusion was shattered. I could find happiness for a moment but perpetual bliss did not exist. Happiness existed in the ephemera. A time making love, a fleeting memory. lunch with a friend. Those were times I could feel alive. At peace and hopeful. But they were mere grains of precious metal in a bin of the messy dirt of everyday life. The meetings, trudging to work, forms and fights that overwhelm existence. All we ever have are the moments.
More than a feeling
9:44am Wednesday. I had to run out to a community this morning to get a revocation form signed for a hospice patient that chose to go to the hospital. After I got the form signed I drove home Instead of going back to the office. I made myself a bowl of sugar cereal. Cereal seems such an odd concept. Sugary crispy ground up corn with milk poured over it. It tasted good. Just seems odd at the moment. This morning driving to work I bawled my eyes out. Not eyes slightly watering. True tears running down my cheeks sobbing bawling. I had been thinking all morning about quitting my job, becoming a PRN chaplain. Doing what I love instead of stressing all the time. I didn’t want to go to work. I wanted to blow the day off, go for a drive, watch a movie. Write something. But left for work at my usual time and took my usual route. Halfway there the song More Than a Feeling by the band Boston came on the radio. After the morning I had I set myself up to be emotionally vulnerable. The lyrics of the song coupled with the memories associated with hearing it hit me hard. I could not stop crying. I had a hard time concentrating on the road. I drove the rest of the way singing and wiping tears off my cheek. I got to the office about ten minutes to 8am and took a minute to compose myself. When I felt better I grabbed my bag, locked my car up and walked in. I am not crying any more I feel haunted by memories. “So many people have come and gone. Their faces fade as the years go by. Yet I still recall as I wander on. As clear as the sun in the summer sky.”
Outside my emotions
5:48am Wednesday morning, in the apartment in chandler. My routine has been consistent lately. Get up at 4am. Go for a walk. Go workout. Come home. Have a protein bar and some water. Make a cup of coffee. Watch the weather. This morning I watched the highlights of the basketball championship from last night. Today is a rare day where I have perspective. I am in the moment with all of its joy and stress. I am not working toward something better. I don’t believe there is a measurable “better” life. Rather there are things that make me happy, things that make me sad and things that cause me stress. They all swirl through my mind. Occupying my thoughts. To deal with the sad and stressful parts I escape into memories of the past. Or i scheme for a different future. On some emotional levels I allow myself to believe the future is better. Or the past was better. But logically I know that isn’t the case. I probably can say that because I am not overwhelmed by stress at the moment. I am not sad. And I am not overjoyed. I am outside my emotions looking at my life. Such an interesting place to be.
Last week
6:27am memories of last week have been coming back all morning. I loved waking up and taking the dog for a walk. Going to work out or staying at the apartment drinking coffee. The place was filled with love and life. Now it feels empty. I look forward to them coming back soon.