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

Mom made it safely

11:18pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Tuesday night, December 28, 2022. Mom made it safely to Wyoming without my accompanying her. The accomplishment was a team effort; my daughter’s mom drove her to the airport, my daughter and her friend got her through check in and finally, a family acquaintance picked her up in Salt Lake City for the drive back to Wyoming. I am glad she made it and, to be honest, happy I didn’t have to go. This weekend gave me a chance to relax and change perspective regarding work. Now I feel less stressed. If I had missed work yesterday I would have fallen back into the same energy as before. I needed a change. Fortunately there are only three more work days until 2023. Time to make the best of them.

A long week ahead

6:27pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Monday night, December, 26, 2022. Came to Palm Desert instead of staying in Aliso Viejo tonight. Originally the plan was to take Tuesday off, fly to Salt Lake City with mom, turn around, fly back, then drive to Palm Desert Wednesday afternoon. However, the clinical manager here in Palm Desert had a family emergency so, she is not available to open the office tomorrow. I altered my vacation plans to be here as needed. Unfortunately, that meant traveling on an extremely busy afternoon. A drive that normally takes 2 hours took closer to four. I am tired and getting ready for bed. It feels like this is going to be a long week.

Lake Forest, California, Saturday afternoon

4:10pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Lake Forest, California, USA, Saturday afternoon, December 17, 2022. Woke up last night in Salt Lake City to a very hot hotel room. Turns out the thermostat in the room was malfunctioning. That meant no matter what the setting said (64 with the air conditioning on) the heater kept running full blast. After two hours of sweltering frustration and nearly at my wits end, I finally realized I could unplug the unit and shut it off completely. But, by then I could not relax and go back to sleep. So I got out of bed, showered, and headed to the lobby to wait for the 5:30am shuttle. After a nice, short flight my mom and I arrived in Orange County just before 9am. We were both a little tired and ready to relax but because everyone is sick we could not go to the apartment. Instead, we reserved hotel rooms in Lake Forest. However, the rooms were not ready until the afternoon so we filled the time with shopping, lunch and running errands. Now we are comfortably settled in and ready for a quiet evening of much needed rest.

Friday night in Salt Lake City, Utah

5:09pm, mountain standard time, hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA, Friday evening, December 16, 2022. Hanging out at the hotel in Salt Lake City, watching Happy Gilmore. I flew in this afternoon and connected with my mom around 3pm. Now, we are going to grab dinner but, with no car and it being very cold, we will order in or eat at the hotel. Tomorrow we fly back to Orange County first thing in the morning. The good news is I feel better than I did yesterday. Perhaps it was wearing a mask that had sat in my trunk for a year that made me feel stuffy.

Leave in the morning

5:35pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Thursday night, December 15, 2022. The plan was to return to Aliso Viejo tonight and leave for Salt Lake City in the morning. However, with everyone being sick, I decided to stay an extra night in Palm Desert and drive to Orange County early. So far I have not gotten sick but, I do feel a slight headache right now. Hopefully, it is from a change in weather and not because I have Covid.

They have Covid

6:09pm, pacific standard time, hotel in Palm Desert, California, USA, Wednesday night, December 14, 2022. Turns out my daughter and her mom have Covid. No wonder they were feeling under the weather this week. My daughter seems to be fairing well but, her mom is more symptomatic. I am feeling alright so far, which is good. Friday I fly to Salt Lake City to meet my mom and fly back with her to Orange County. I called her this evening to let her know the situation. She just got a Covid booster shot so, she isn’t overly concerned. We are moving forward with the original plan and will celebrate the holidays together.

Monday in Aliso Viejo

8:26pm, pacific standard time, apartment in Aliso Viejo, California, USA, Monday night, December, 12, 2022. My daughter and her mom are both sick. I originally stayed the extra day because her mom had a court case to attend and needed me to take our daughter to school. Instead, I spent the day with my daughter while she stayed home. The extra day away from the office was nice but, it is hard to fully engage through email. I will head out early and get to Palm Desert around noon tomorrow. There are only a couple days before I fly to Salt Lake City to pick up my mom for the holidays.

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.

Day two in wyoming

6:26pm, mountain standard time, mom’s house, Evanston, Wyoming, Friday evening, October 28, 2022. Slept in this morning then drove three hours to West Wendover, Nevada. We gambled for four hours before grabbing dinner to go in Salt Lake City. Now we are watching television and having beer and pizza.