The Midlife

Hi, Reader!

I hope this message finds you well. Just kidding. While I hope you all are well, does anyone else dislike getting this at the start of a work email? When someone writes “hope this message finds you well,” they are getting ready to 1) Give me a work assignment they don’t want to do or 2) Give me bad news. I really want none of that for you.

It’s been some time since my last post. During this sabbatical, I’ve been trying to stay mostly positive even despite some personal challenges. I’m choosing to keep my sense of humor about most of it all. Here are some miscellaneous and random thoughts and concerns.

1. My mom’s condition has been up and down progressively. And while this isn’t funny, I’m making the most of our phone conversations by making her laugh and reminiscing about my childhood and hers. We can’t go very deep in our conversations because most of the time when my mom calls me, her first question is Did you call me? No, I didn’t, but it’s nice to talk to you now, I say. My mother has grown far quieter, a far cry from the vivacious and animated person who raised me. It’s difficult for me to see these changes. So any time I can get her to laugh about something, whether it be the latest Bachelor episode or how crazy the weather has been, I call that a win-win.

2. Speaking of The Bachelor, before you hit unsubscribe, now would be a good time to share that I am a long-time fan. Not because the romantic formula of a man (or woman in the case of The Bachelorette and Bachelor in Paradise – both of which I watch, too) meeting 25 – 30 women and over the course of less than 10 weeks, get engaged and have that engagement/marriage last forever. By the way, it seldom does last. However, the absurdity, subsequent drama, beautiful geographic locales, and the IDEA of romance are what draw me in week after week, much to the chagrin of my husband and daughter. They know Monday nights are the evenings I ignore them beginning at 7:59 pm.

3. My work wife left me for a newer and better opportunity. I say this with absolutely zero jealousy and all the anguish you can imagine. It’s my hope that everyone has a work bestie, wife, soul mate. One of my favorite colleagues moved on, and if you, too, are lucky to have a work homie that is always upbeat even when the doo-doo hits the fan, is grace under pressure, is smarter than most people but never makes you feel stupid, always looks well put together, cheers other people on the most …. and on and on… Please tell that person how much they mean to you. They need to hear it more often.

4. During a recent visit to the post office, I was mailing a card to my sister-in-law. I’m not sure why I feel the need to pull the mail slot door down a second time to make sure the card made its way down the chute. I mean, it’s on an angle. I see other people do this, and I always laugh.

5. For most of my adult life, I’ve been a two dogs’ owner. I like the idea of knowing my dogs have a dog companion while I’m at work. I don’t know why this is important to me, but I’d worry if my dogs were alone and bored. Even though, most of the time they are just laying around on my couch sleeping. One of my peeves in dog ownership — and surprisingly, there are few — is when folks in my neighborhood drop random food and bones in their yard. And my dogs, especially my 10+ year old (He’s a rescue, and this is his estimated age.). So, when I see him chomping on something, I’m praying we are not headed to the vet to dislodge something from his throat or colon. #welcometotheneighborhood

6. Back in December, the world lost an amazing dancer to suicide. Stephen “tWitch” Boss’s life really had an impact on me. I know we think of celebrities as super human, but they really are “just like us,” with their own everyday problems and struggles. I wanted to share one my favorite dances of his from his time on So You Thnk You Can Dance?

Well, I will close this post with warm regards and good intentions for all of you. I won’t sign off with Best, ________________. Or Best Regards, _____________________ These work sign-offs aren’t me either. I hope that whatever you are up to today or in the week ahead, brings you joy in every sense.