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Haboob and gratitude
Him: “Let’s go in, it’s really starting to come down.”
Me: “Oh my God, I just had a flash forward … is this us at 80? ‘It’s really comin’ down honey’.”
But when did we become this?
Not ‘we’ as in my honey and I, but ‘we’ meaning … I guess me and my age? Or, the anonymous ‘they’ at my age?
I was always taught by my mother “You’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt.”
I loved that.
I love the rain.
I love the sulphur scent – the asphalt and dirt kicking their unique fragrance into the air.
I love the misting on my body. Especially in the desert.
Love watching the lightning.
Bracing myself for the BOOM! of thunder.
As a result, and probably because I don’t wear a ton of makeup, I’m not afraid to get caught in the rain. (And yes, Pina Coladas and making love at midnight are nice too.)
____________________
I’ll cut to the quick – it’s almost 3 weeks since I’ve had my car.
Today, a dear friend and her husband loaned me their ‘beater’ which is anything but. It’s a trustworthy Toyota.
I was told to go home when a haboob presented itself – crossing the river.
(I did end up getting caught in it, which was bonkers.)
Was nice to be able to just go home – in juxtaposition to yesterday when I waited two hours after work for my son to get off of work and collect me.
Without a car, I feel so impotent.
But then I focused on the good.
That someone WAS coming – that I had a home to go home to bone tired.
That I was safe waiting where I was.
And knowing that NOW, finally, the mechanics are on my side (I really don’t want to go into that whole story, just know, it’s at least a ginormous post worth of negativity – and I don’t need negativity right now.)
Another part has been ordered, I was even offered a cell number to one of the owners and was offered use of his extra car.
Things are looking up.
And tomorrow is my honey’s birthday. SO glad he was born. And I’m gonna go sit back out in the rain – because life is beautiful.
Friends are too.
And here’s an old favorite of mine to put you in my rainy, yet grateful mood. Song is apropos for the time I spent looking for Jim to be back in my life too. God, how I missed him.
Musings from the Laundromat: Empty Rooms & Promises
“Where is everyone?”
“I know, it’s odd. You’re the first. I made coffee, I think it’s too strong.”
“Coffee can never be too strong.”
And I’m still the only one in the laundromat, it is delightfully quiet and calm.
It’s already been a busy morning – nice to have this reprieve.
Let me start at the beginning.
Friday, yours truly got a raise. I was shocked and it couldn’t have come at a better time.
Oh, I STILL don’t have my car by the way – apparently the part, that is coming from New Hampshire, must be coming by carrier pigeon. A PCM is too heavy for a pigeon! Don’t they know that?
Yesterday my mom came over to collect myself and my honey to stay over at one of the local casinos and to see Pat Benatar in concert. My parents treat for us.
That woman can still sing. Not just sing, but she belted out all the favorites – nailing every one of them!
Her husband and guitarist Neil ‘Spyder’ Giraldo was just as amazing. Playing around with some Led Zeppelin licks in between songs. Getting the crowd pumped up.
His skills on the piano were just as great.
Other than laughing with those around us at drunk girl, who insisted on standing when NO ONE else was – of course, right in front of us see pic:
Anway, OTHER than that, my favorite part was the version they did of Promises in the Dark.
I’ll see if I can find it. Hang on.
There you go. And, coincidentally, she was wearing that exact outfit last night too.
I love that they threaded stories throughout the songs. I love the story behind Promises – it was the first song they actually wrote about their relationship.
When the lights came up, you could hear everyone agreeing that she still had her pipes and smiles were everywhere.
We headed in to find food.
Stood in a bonkers line for a burger and fries and headed up to the room.
Now, all this time, Butters was home alone. I waited until the last-minute to take her out before we left, and prayed she would ‘hold it’ like she is prone to do.
We got up at 6:30 this morning, threw clothes on and headed back to our pets.
Butters HAD held it – and was ecstatic to see us. Good girl!
So, after laundry, I’m up for a nap!
Here’s some view pics from our room.
Have a great Sunday everyone! I’ll be sipping my strong coffee and staring at an empty laundromat.
Musings from the Laundromat: The Color of Blue edition.
Today the outdoors smells like a forgotten load of damp clothes in a dryer.
Musty.
Dank.
Airless.
The ground smells so different that Butters has refused for two days to venture across it to her normal ‘potty’ spot. Adamantly halting on her leash and not crossing some invisible scent line.
The laundromat floor is peppered with termite wings – a common occurrence out here in the desert after we’ve been slammed with a storm.
Yesterday our power went out and we technology addicts sat, sometimes paced, until we found something to entertain ourselves with.
Me? I finally picked up a book my friend Betty loaned me long ago, back when I was reading at least a book per week.
‘The Color of Water’ by James McBride.
I made it half way through by the time the electricity returned, after my initial relief at the ‘WHOOSH’ of the A/C – I settled back to the book.
I’m feeling, ‘off’.
My color today and most of yesterday is blue.
No one reason in particular.
I think a combination of the stifling breezeless humidity, the fact that I still don’t have my car, and an aching mouth could be major players in this mood of mine.
I’m just out of sorts.
It was humbling to have my boss bring me home Friday after work.
I have such a stubborn streak, and hate to be dependent on anyone for basic things like food, transportation or money.
My son and fiance went grocery shopping Friday, and for some reason, I don’t feel comfortable eating the food. Which is ridiculous. We support each other.
I feel like a stranger right now, even to myself.
I drove to the laundromat in my son’s car, nothing feels the same. Off kilter.
I was glad to get lost in that book yesterday, because it took me out of myself and my own bad atmosphere.
I’ve just been so tired lately. Tired and worried about this and that. This funk – I must shake. And I will.
Almost smiled when I discovered half of my Friday lunch in my purse this morning – cucumber and cheese sandwich. Tucked into its little sandwich bag. I’ll have to remember to toss that.
Poor thing. All prepared and didn’t end up getting to serving its purpose.
Yes, I still feel for inanimate objects. Even when I’m blue.
T.G.I.F!
Today was bonkers – in a good way. If it’s bonkers, it means we’re busy at work. Which is always a very good thing in real estate.
But after staring at my computer screen, with my only break being cleaning the bathroom and collecting the trash – which, was a reprieve, I was done by 3:30 mentally, and completely grumpy – which, I owned.
At one point, one of the owners who was playing music asked “Everyone ok with this?” I’ll be honest. I always am. And, side note, I love everyone I work with – but to me, it was elevator music, and with my grumpy, I quipped without thinking, “I’m just waiting for the Macy’s girl to spritz me with perfume.” Which, got a laugh. And that was nice.
Car is still out of commission – it needs a new PCM. *sigh* $$$
Won’t be ready until middle-to-end of next week.
New PCM is coming from New Hampshire.
Then they have to ‘flash’ it. Poor PCM. I hope it isn’t traumatized.
The great thing is, my son has totally stepped up and taken me to work and picked me up. Reminded me of taking him to school, and that very rare one on one opportunity to just ‘hang’. We chatted, listened to the only music I introduced him to that he loves, Dave Matthews Band – and spent time together. I have cherished this. I have missed my kid. Yeah, my 20-year-old kid, but he’s mine none the less. I HAVE missed him.
So, maybe everything DOES happen for a reason.
Maybe we needed brief, quality time together.
So today, I had to find a ride home. First, it was “get off early, borrow my car and go grocery shopping.” Then I decided it has been a freaking long week and I would rather do anything less exhausting than going anywhere!
So, the men went shopping.
(Nic had to work and could not pick me up.)
This is NOT an accurate portrayal of how my men shop. I go to the store site, download coupons, and …. well, here.
My response:
So, I didn’t get that stuff, but our fridge holds sustainable items.
That’s all I care about.
I’m so into ‘enough’.
Enough.
Having what we need, not what we want.
Sometimes, you really don’t need what you want.
But, as thunder sounds around us, in surround sound – I’m feeling very appreciative of the desert. Hoping my car isn’t scared. (Yeah, I’m still into inanimate objects having feelings – she’s deserted! Wait – deserted in the desert … poetic)
Butters is curled around Jim’s feet, probably dreaming of the mini-lake that happens when it floods. She has such fun!
This was her last ‘pond’ in our yard:
Did I care that she was wet? Did I care that she brought mud in? Nope. She had a blast!
So … the week is over – and I’m hanging out with the man I love, who, by the way, made it through at the TOP of the survivor type blog. Thank you all who voted.
Get ready for next week.
And I hope everyone has an amazing weekend!
And Nic, thanks for taking me back to when we hung out and thank you for helping me get to work. And Jim, thank you for shopping today so I didn’t have to. Love you both So much!
Debauchery Soup 