I am now on day eleven of my twelve days of coffee set from Costco. A cup of holiday blend cools in my coffee mug, waiting for my second sip. The coffee tastes traditional. The sort of coffee that one would find at a nice café, and then comment, “The coffee is not bad.” But, yet never return to the café for the coffee.
Beautiful fall weather rolled in last night, and I am loving the cool day. I feel warm and happy inside as I sip my coffee and take a moment to reflect and think about the day ahead. I continue to be in awe of how far we have come and how much has changed in just a year.
This time last year, we wondered what lay ahead. Washington was in a state of turmoil after the presidential election results. We awaited a vaccine; we wondered if that vaccine would work. We wondered what kind of President Biden would be, and whether Vice President Kamala would follow him into the oval office in the years to come.
On the home front, we stressed over Brainy Bird’s college applications, and we wondered where he would be in the fall. We worried about how we would pay for college. By this time last year, Brainy Bird had been accepted to the University of Texas, Indiana University, and the University of Missouri. I remember thinking that he did not seem excited by these options. I realize now, he worried about the cost.
Little Chirp had just started his basketball season this time last year, and he was stoked about being on the team. I remember watching him excitedly order his basketball gear online. Little Chirp and I both felt anxious about the idea of Brainy Bird leaving us for college.
Fast forward a year, my mind is on completely different matters. In the immediate, I am wondering how Brainy Bird’s Thanksgiving travel home will go next week. All of the airlines are experiencing issues with flight delays fueled by a variety of things including weather and labor shortages. On top of that, a major storm front is moving into the eastern seaboard right as Brainy Bird is supposed to start his trip home. He may wind up alone in a Marriott for Thanksgiving. I REALLY want him home for Thanksgiving, but I have no doubt that he will make the most of it if he gets stuck. My cousin lives two hours away, and will check-in on Brainy Bird in case he gets stuck in the Carolinas.
Little Chirp’s basketball season is in full swing. He made the team again this year. Now, he is focused on making the A team. Speaking of A’s, in the classroom, Little Chirp has a 99 or higher in Spanish, history, PE, health, and science. He has a 93 in English, and an 88 in geometry. He assures me that he is going to bring up his geometry grade. I believe him, and I feel pleased with his grades.
I finished all of my Christmas shopping, and I have money leftover. I plan to buy some new Christmas decorations and then save the rest for food. I am making tentative plans for Thanksgiving with my sister. We have so much to be thankful for. On Thursday, the boys and I are eating at Perry’s with Yvonne’s family. On Friday, I am going back home for a friend’s 25th wedding anniversary. The weekend plans are up in the air, and this is good news.
Dean had been in quarantine, not allowed visitors, after testing positive for Covid. Imagine having a double lung transplant and liver transplant, and then testing positive for Covid. They are now confident that he does not have Covid. Moreover, his recovery is running much more smoothly than it had initially. He is now out of quarantine and again allowed visitors. This means that my sister may come to Houston for Thanksgiving, so they can visit Dean and be with Nancy has well. Obviously, this is my hope. I cannot tell you how happy we all are to see Dean doing so much better. My heart is hopeful and grateful.
Work continues to go in the right direction. I continue to save like a squirrel getting ready for a winter in Antarctica, but this is driven by my life choice rather than circumstances. I like my simple, stress free life. I work hard because I love the company and people that I work for. This does not mean that I never feel stressed, but it means that the kind of stress I feel is a good kind of stress. It is the stress of wanting to do my very best, rather than the stress of a bad work environment.
This is the second to the last day of my twelve days of coffee (until I start on my next coffee advent calendar). I am enjoying taking a little time each morning to enjoy my coffee. I look forward to the days ahead…