Good Trouble

 I had a few friends over for lunch today.  Before they left one gave me a card.  Was it a thank you for lunch?  My friend said it was a late birthday card.  I read it quick.  Then I read it again after they left and I was so touched.  It says,

"Tammy, When I saw this card, I thought of you right away - someone who gets outside and enjoys the lakes and parks all year long. I hope you had a good birthday and it's good to see you enjoying your home and life.  Thanks for being a great friend, teammate, letter-writer, poet and encourager to me all these years.  And now to"...(and he named his wife and baby) "too!"

All of it is nourishing to me, however the part that I think touches me most is "encourager".  This is not a friend I would expect to hear that from.  I really don't talk, or see him much at all.

It is also really touching to hear him say "it's good to see you enjoying your home and life."  It makes me think about how it has been a hard road that has brought me here.  And I  have not denied or hidden that. I'm trying. And it is nice to have someone say that shows.

This friend got married two summers ago. 

They had a baby in September, who I met today. We had lunch with another mutual friend and then took a brisk walk.

My friend hasn't played on my soccer team since the baby until 2 weeks ago when he subbed.  We play half field and at this particular location the goals are particularly small.  My friend jumped up to head a ball when our goalie was up field and smashed his head right into the top of the goal.

On a normal field that isn't possible, so it wasn't something he was thinking about.

Anyway, I was glad to hear today that it turned out fine.

And now I'm going to watch the kind of film I like (or at least assume I do)  John Lewis: Good Trouble

"Using interviews and rare archival footage, JOHN LEWIS: GOOD TROUBLE chronicles Lewis' 60-plus years of social activism and legislative action on civil rights, voting rights, gun control, health-care reform and immigration"

Efficiently Written Gratitudes

 #1 - My cousin got the job she wanted/applied for.

#2 - It starts in early March so she is going to move in with me at the end of the month.

#3 - This is perfect timing as I hoped she would wait at least another week and a half.  I am having a radon mitigation system put in my bedroom closet, so I need to empty that closet, and I assume move anything else out of the room that I don't want to clean concrete dust off of.  That is happening in a little over a week.

#4 - Emptying out my spare bedroom closet is making me store my things more efficiently, as well as go thru some papers.

#5 - The empty boxes that I had stored in the top shelves of my closets will be used by my friend during her remodel, including the packing materials I asked if she wanted to use or I should throw away.

I Know You

#1 -  I'm feeling a little stressed and anxious tonight.  It is the same as when I was in college at the beginning of the semester or a big project or...that is when I get stressed and anxious.  The night before the test or the assignment is due, I'm ok, I'm prepared, I'm going to bed on time. I've done what  I can and I let go (though if it is a test of course I still may feel nervous).

So I'm seeing a big "project" of sorts a few months ahead and all the pieces that will need to be put in place/figured out by then.  And though I'm not at the point where there isn't stress or anxiousness, I can at least say, "Hey I know you, you always come about this time.  You are welcome to sit besides me," (this is something Elizabeth Gilbert would say), "but you are not driving. I will handle that."

#2 - Tonight is the first time in 1 1/2 years of living here, that I've been waiting to use the laundry!  There have been a couple times I've walked in the laundry room and the washer was running, but I've just gone back 30 minutes later and been fine.  

Tonight I went in around 5pm and it was in use. I did eventually get my laundry washed, however the last time I checked someone else's clothes were still just sitting in the dryer, and I don't know whose...and I'd like to dry my sheets to get them back on my bed.  However let me say this again

THIS IS  THE FIRST TIME IN 1 1/2 YEARS THIS HAS HAPPENED!

#3 - I started with a new home visiting family this week.  The mom is (thus far) engaged/attentive/not on her phone at all and the kids have a lot of imagination.  We pretended the stuffed unicorn today was having a birthday party and all the animals were having cake.  The kid said it was "broccoli cake"!  Of course I had the animals say, "YUM!" even the tiger who usually only likes meat.

#4 - One of my cousins may come live with me - maybe just for a month or two - maybe longer.  I'm looking forward to the possibility, yet also a little nervous.  We have a really good relationship and I hope it doesn't change that.

#5 - I spent part of the day with another cousin (sister of the aforementioned).  I didn't think I'd have much time with her today, however one of my home visits was cancelled so it worked out well.  And it's a mom who already suggested we'd do a make up visit, which makes things much easier when a visit is missed.