2:49pm, pacific standard time, bookstore parking lot, Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Sunday afternoon, November 20, 2022. My daughter is hanging out with another friend today and I am the chaperone again. Unlike yesterday, I am spending more time in the car than in the shops. I just don’t have the energy, or motivation, to follow teenage girls from store to store. I feel run down. My daughter’s mom is under the weather with a scratchy throat and runny nose. Hopefully I am not coming down with what she has.
Tag: mom
Only so many
4:42pm, pacific standard time, tire store in Lake Forest, California, USA, Friday afternoon, November 18, 2022. The plan was to reach Orange County this afternoon and pick my daughter up from school. Her mom needed new tires for a trip north next week and the appointment was scheduled for the time school let out. However, she wasn’t feeling well and asked if I could get the tires. So we met in Aliso Viejo and traded cars. I went to Lake Forest and she took my car to the school in Laguna Hills. I don’t mind running the errand (or paying for the tires even) but it means not getting to spend time with my daughter. I hate missing those opportunities, I only get so many.
One big celebration
6:46pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Thursday evening, November 4, 2022. Spent most of the day working on a plan of correction. The executive director, who was supposed to stay through tomorrow, left for good this morning. I guess she figured now that I am here there was no reason to stay. Other than work, not much to report. I called my mom this evening and discussed plans for our next get together. Her birthday is coming up and so are the holidays. We won’t be able to celebrate all of them separately so, it looks like we will plan one big get together, either for Thanksgiving or Christmas.
At the Salt Lake City airport
3:17pm, mountain standard time, Salt Lake City International Airport, Salt Lake City, Utah, Sunday afternoon, October 30, 2022. Today is the thirteen year anniversary of my last day as a full time hospice chaplain. The party last night was to be with co-workers from that era. Unfortunately, two couldn’t make it and one has a serious illness. Consequently, it was not the reunion anticipated. Still, it was nice to see old friends and a few long forgotten acquaintances. Now, after a farewell lunch with my mom, I am at the airport, traveling back to Orange County to spend Halloween with my daughter.
Reconnecting
6:17pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Dublin, California, USA, Tuesday night, October 25, 2022. Spent the day training the new executive director and finishing up last minute issues with payroll. Tomorrow is my final full day in Dublin. On Thursday, I fly to Salt Lake City to visit my mom and attend my previous supervisors wedding reception/Halloween party. I look forward connecting with friends and seeing my mom again. It has been over five years since I saw my old coworkers and almost six months since my mom visited me in Arizona.
The future
5:22pm, pacific standard time, Salt Creek Beach, Dana Point, California, USA, Saturday afternoon, July 16, 2022. Drove to California this morning, had a good conversation with my daughter’s mom about work, living arrangements and the future. We will do what is best for us our daughter, whatever that takes. At the beach right now. Tried to connect with my best friend from high school who is in town this weekend but, he is at Disneyland . Might be too much for him, and me, to get together today.
Inadvertent scare
5:33pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Wednesday evening, June 22, 2022. Another day, another interview. This one was a brief meeting with a new recruiter concerning a position here in the valley. I said I was willing to move forward but, to be honest, it is not really the right job for me. Also, this afternoon, I wrote follow up emails from yesterdays interviews and scheduled two more meetings for the rest of the week. On a personal note, my daughter’s mom texted this morning saying our daughter was exposed to Covid yesterday. Apparently, there is no concern unless she starts showing symptoms. Of course, as a concerned parent, I texted my daughter to see how she was feeling and to say I was worried about her. She was surprised. Apparently, the information was conveyed to her mom after she had gone to morning summer classes, but my daughter herself had not heard about the situation. The good news is, no issues so far. The bad news, I inadvertently gave her a scare.
Departure
4:29am, pacific standard time, Sky Harbor Airport, Phoenix, Arizona, Saturday morning, April 30, 2022. Made it to Phoenix airport early for my 6:05am flight to Salt Lake City, Utah. My mom will meet me there so we can drive back to Arizona together (with an overnight stop in Nevada) I look forward to seeing my mom, going on a road trip together, and seeing Utah again.
Upcoming visit
5:37am, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, USA, Thursday morning, April 28, 2022. Living alone has benefits; you go to bed when you want, you control the television remote and you have final say on all home decor decisions. But there are drawbacks to living alone; without other people around it is easy to cycle on negative thoughts, feel lonely and get depressed. My mom is coming out this weekend. I am flying to Salt Lake City, Utah early Saturday morning to meet her so we can drive back to Arizona together. It will be nice to see her again (She hasn’t been out since Christmas) and it will be beneficial to have another person in the apartment for a couple weeks.
Feeling of tranquility
5:50am, apartment in Chandler, Arizona, Monday morning, April 11, 2022. Not sure how or why, but last night a feeling of tranquility washed over me and has remained. I have been able to let go of stress and not focus on problems. I am going to work hard this week, enjoy time off with my daughter next week and take everything one day at a time. I talked with my mom last night. She is going to come visit the first part of May. I look forward to spending time with her.
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