Moment of Joy 2021, part 15

I love baubles. 

Long story short, I got scammed on Facebook Marketplace by an ad for dirt cheap deck furniture on closeout. No money was lost, just that feeling of frustration not getting what you wanted. 

Feeling like I needed to be vindicated, I found a pillow-cut London topaz ring for $13 on Etsy. "We'll see," I thought as I placed my order. It's as amazing as I expected and is a cheerful bit of summer sky on my finger on a dull as dishwater night. 

Moment of Joy 2021, part 14

Earning the headache.

Once I decide my day is done, I will have the next 12 days off from work. 

And I don't feel bad about that one bit. As a matter of fact, I feel pretty damn terrific. 

I started my status in the world of work in food service, then moved to retail. Long hours, weird schedules and being in high school and then college, covering summer vacations for the regulars. 

Graduating into my career, I was stuck in the two weeks of vacation per year rut until I started at the hospital. 

And then I really paid the karma dues. I've worked third shifts on Christmas, first shifts on New Years, second shifts on Thanksgiving. I fielded the drunken phone calls on Memorial Day, Labor Day, and 4th of July. I've pulled doubles when people were no shows. And I've had to forego a bathroom break for 7 hours because I was working alone. 

I updated my resume shortly after that particular shift. 

Extremely grateful for this time off. 

Moment of Joy 2021, part 13

 

This used to be home sweet home. 

My mom sold the childhood home over the summer, so for the first time in 56 years, another family will be celebrating Christmas at the yellow house on Chester. 

I’m satisfied with my last meal at the house. We were in the midst of cleaning one terribly hot June day when Candi and John ran to pick up chicken and burgers. In the meantime, some of the kids we grew up with caught wind we were there and stopped by to hang out. I hadn’t seen April, Randy, and Jason in so long!

So there we all were - mom, my sisters, our husbands and kids, and the old neighborhood kids - hanging out on the back deck, eating chicken and talking about old times.  It was a nice goodbye. 

Moment of Joy 2021, part 12

It’s always a joy to see your kid thrive, but he and the 7th grade band did exceptionally well performing in the school holiday concert. Sticking around for the second half sparked an interest in performing with the jazz band and seeking an invite to join marching band early. I’ve been told this means developing a skill for making an abundance of crock pot meals. 

Moment of Joy, part 11

 

The miracle that is Paul McCartney

This year saw not one but two amazing things from Macca. First was the song Find My Way from his album McCartney III, with the video reimagining him as a 20-something pop star navigating a psychedelic hotel. Strange twist, Paul was actually Beck! 

Second was the long-awaited three part documentary Get Back, which is what the original Let it Be should have been. Credit to him for his work ethic and dedication to The Beatles, with a special shout out to Ringo for his patience and loyalty. He believed in the band and wanted to keep it together. Kudos to him also for recognizing he was an ass and didn’t give George enough room to shine; I wish they could have figured that out - in 1969! 

And much love to the Beatle wives appearing in the film - there’s a little bit of Yoko, Linda, and Maureen in all of us. I’ve watched the documentary three times (admittedly more viewings of the rooftop concert), and hadn’t caught a glimpse of Patti. But without Olivia, George’s second wife, this wouldn’t have come to fruition, so thanks to her for this and Living in the Material World. 

I see a marathon of all things Beatle in my future this holiday break. 

Moment of Joy 2021, part 10

Today will hopefully be a historic day for Ferris State University, when it plays for the national championship in football. Edited to add: They won - National Champions! 

For me, Ferris was a place where I grew comfortable in my skin, evolved as a person, and found my tribe. Admittedly, I was a solid B student, but instead of lamenting my lack of cum laude status, I acknowledge I was always open to learning more. 

This post via photos is actually three moments of joy - being able to thank President Eisler for what he has done for the university; meeting roommate Missy at Schuberg’s and having to wear our readers; and drinking margaritas with my Phi Gam sister Kelly. 

Moment of joy 2021, part 9

Remember that baseball son post? Player number one, Pedro, came to visit our family with his family in July. His boys hit it off with Will, we reminisced for days, which included a trip to AJs for mini golf and of course a tour of the ballpark where he won a league championship in 2006.