Ambrose was in the dream that I remember from last night. I was in a visitors center and I had a goal, I was going somewhere, and then I saw him in front of me, wearing that short sleeved turquoise blue shirt that had patterns and textures, and I wanted to go to him, but he went into the men’s room and I continued on my goal (to claim a campsite) figuring I’d find him again after I got the site for us.
I got up early and did my mile walk by the light of the moon. My throat still felt a bit scratchy when I woke up, but I didn’t feel sick so I did the full hill. I thought about doing my exercises before work, but I didn’t really have time. I decided that Monday and Wednesday would be the days that I wouldn’t do the Shoulder Impingement program workouts. I did spinal oscillations after breakfast instead.
2/2 this year was a lot different from last year. Last year it fell on a Sunday, and there was snow on the ground. This year, no snow and I had to work all day. I think maybe next year I’ll take that day off. Although maybe the 30 month mark won’t hit me as hard as the 18 has.
It was hard to focus on work in the morning. I was trying to shove my feelings down. When I relented and let myself cry a bit, I felt more able to continue the day. Which was good because I had a morning meeting, and then three performance evaluations to lead in the afternoon.
The mail used to get to my box by noon, but the last couple weeks it’s been later, so there was no mail when I walked to check it after eating lunch. Last year I was going for my lunch hour walk before I ate; this year, I’m going after I eat to help my digestion.
I needed to use a cough drop after completing two of the three evaluations, but otherwise my throat has been doing okay. And I’ve got those evaluations done for the year, which is great. They are not my favorite activity at work.
After work was over, I went on another mile walk. I was going for speed, but then some neighbors drove by and I had to chat with them for a moment because I’d seen some constructions equipment on their property and I wanted to know what was going on. They are building a house, but ran into a boulder that the equipment couldn’t shift, so we’ll see how that turns out.
I had family zoom this evening. I had thawed out my black beans earlier in the day. I chopped and cooked an onion, a red bell pepper, and a jalapeno, and I made a parmesan pasta side. Once both were cooked, I combined them and then portioned them and the beans out into three meals. Now I won’t have to cook again until Saturday, since I’ll get something in Council after giving blood on Thursday and I have the crab feed on Friday.
The beans and veggies and pasta is quite filling. A hearty meal. I wonder what Ambrose would make of it.
Towards the end of the family zoom, my dad asked me to tell an Ambrose story. I told them about Ambrose and I getting separated on the way to Snowslide Lakes. They enjoyed the tale, and I enjoyed talking about Ambrose. By strange coincidence, today is also the anniversary of my dad’s dad’s death, though he passed in 1999. I don’t really think about that anniversary; I was never close to him.
After the zoom ended, I finished eating and then felt compelled to move. I started the dishwasher with all the cooking dishes in it. I got a birthday card ready to take to the mailbox. I did a bit of picking up in the kitchen, which I want to get clean, but I haven’t quite been able to do it. It’s not exactly messy, but it’s not clean right now either. I vacuumed a bit. Still more of that to do before I even complete a full circuit of the house. I should be vacuuming the whole house once a week. I’ll get there.
There was a beautiful moonrise this evening. I wish I had a camera that could truly capture the delicate beauty of the moonrise.
18 months since he died. 18 more days until I’ve completed my probation.
I’m figuring things out. It’s all I can do.
