I try to never say "Rest in Peace"
It's hard
when you reach the age
where you go to more funerals
than weddings
see more deaths
than births.
I try not to dwell on the sorrow
but on the joy of someone's life
Today
I will try to remember
that she loved elephants
she had a small exquisite collection
on her desk
crammed with photos of her children
and her grandchildren
That she was a joy
That she smiled with her entire face
That she was loved
and that she was my friend.
I hope heaven has elephants to love
Friday, July 27, 2018
Thursday, July 19, 2018
42
No Not Jackie Robinson's number, although I was thinking of Jackie yesterday as I looked at the excellent photo collection on display on Lower Level four ( History) in the building I work in. Central is not "My" building, I just work there. My responsibility- at least for the moment- is the 72 branches of the Los Angeles Public Library.
No, it was 42 years ago today that a wide-eyed eighteen year old me started work in the Pacoima Library. I couldn't believe my luck. Here was a JOB in the library, great pay, vacations, holidays and sick pay. I was making the princely sum of $3.33 an hour! To put in on perspective, most of my friends were making around $1.85 and working with grease fryers. Not that those were bad jobs, but man was I lucky!
I loved that job.
I am looking at working for two years, two and a half months more. I don't know. Lately work has been not as satisfying as it once was and I often feel like I am working in a war zone instead of an office. My friend Pauline, who will probably read this will tell me AGAIN, that I should retire and how wonderful retirement is. I know, Pauline, I just have always had it in my head to make 40 years. There's an opening at the Department of Cannabis- yeah it's a real thing- I wonder if that might not be better. I don't know.
I am hoping that once my knees are replaced and getting around is not so hard, I might have a new perspective or my old pep back. I have graduated to the walker. It is a wonderful walker but I HATE having to use it. It's "for now' not "forever", right?
Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Some days are like that and getting it out of my head and onto the virtual paper of this blog has helped me think. My therapist ( yes, I have someone I talk to who listens and guides me to make choices to improve things) says writing it down might be the best way for me to deal with things. After all, although I am not a published writer ( unless you count the poem I wrote that went in the newspaper when I was seven) Writing is my "art"
I have about 830 calendar days util the day I THINK will put me at 40. I need to log on to the City Retirement calculator and see what it tells me. I have a few legal issues that need to be cleared up. All parties have agreed, it's just the paperwork and the lawyers fees at this point. Once THAT is done, I can seriously look at what retirement will look like for me.
Funny, this started out as a celebration of achieving 42 years with the City of LA. I never really know where these blogs will go. They are, mostly, an unplanned and unvarnished look at what is going on in my brain after the first jolt of coffee hits it. ALMOST like Victorian "automatic writing, but not quite ( I do try to go back and edit for some sort of clarity)
Thanks for riding with me.
No, it was 42 years ago today that a wide-eyed eighteen year old me started work in the Pacoima Library. I couldn't believe my luck. Here was a JOB in the library, great pay, vacations, holidays and sick pay. I was making the princely sum of $3.33 an hour! To put in on perspective, most of my friends were making around $1.85 and working with grease fryers. Not that those were bad jobs, but man was I lucky!
I loved that job.
I am looking at working for two years, two and a half months more. I don't know. Lately work has been not as satisfying as it once was and I often feel like I am working in a war zone instead of an office. My friend Pauline, who will probably read this will tell me AGAIN, that I should retire and how wonderful retirement is. I know, Pauline, I just have always had it in my head to make 40 years. There's an opening at the Department of Cannabis- yeah it's a real thing- I wonder if that might not be better. I don't know.
I am hoping that once my knees are replaced and getting around is not so hard, I might have a new perspective or my old pep back. I have graduated to the walker. It is a wonderful walker but I HATE having to use it. It's "for now' not "forever", right?
Sorry to be Debbie Downer. Some days are like that and getting it out of my head and onto the virtual paper of this blog has helped me think. My therapist ( yes, I have someone I talk to who listens and guides me to make choices to improve things) says writing it down might be the best way for me to deal with things. After all, although I am not a published writer ( unless you count the poem I wrote that went in the newspaper when I was seven) Writing is my "art"
I have about 830 calendar days util the day I THINK will put me at 40. I need to log on to the City Retirement calculator and see what it tells me. I have a few legal issues that need to be cleared up. All parties have agreed, it's just the paperwork and the lawyers fees at this point. Once THAT is done, I can seriously look at what retirement will look like for me.
Funny, this started out as a celebration of achieving 42 years with the City of LA. I never really know where these blogs will go. They are, mostly, an unplanned and unvarnished look at what is going on in my brain after the first jolt of coffee hits it. ALMOST like Victorian "automatic writing, but not quite ( I do try to go back and edit for some sort of clarity)
Thanks for riding with me.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
Float
My good friend Christine is always finding these odd places to go and I love to tag along because aside from the fact that I love Christine ( and her son Lennon and, yeah Max I love you too) she goes places I would NEVER think of, much less go to.
Case in point? Float. It is JUST what you think it might be; a private chamber in which to float. I kept remembering the movie "Altered States" where Jeff Bridges has a weird experience in a flotation tank and goes nuts ( really I can't remember the plot, I just remember that someone I knew ran screaming from the theater when she went to see it- the plot remains vague)
Anyway, Float is one of those new age-y places, all that soft music that seems to be a collection of squeaks and hums. The people were very nice as they explained the process. You have a private room, strip to your birthday suit, shower using their soap and shampoo- but NOT the conditioner which you use after, them get into the tub of saltwater ( you enter the chamber thru a door that reminded me of a submarine door) and float. There are lights to begin with , but they slowly fade and you float around in total darkness. If you need lights there is a button to keep them on, but I wondered how you would know time was up if you did that so float in the dark I did. Truth to tell I was kind of bored and at one point bounced a bit off the side of the tub to change things up. I tried some guided imagery meditation and that helped pass the time. The lights came back up and I got out. I showered and dressed quickly. I kept having this image of them unlocking the door to tell me my time was up and finding me in my all-together. They did not.
Floating is supposed to help you sleep and they say one session may not help. They try to up sell you a year. Not happening. My sleep was no better and no worse that it had been, but it WAS worth a try.
I think I should open a place called "Nap" You get those great big soft beds like they have in fancy hotels, with big soft pillows and those white comforters that keep you cozy, but neither too hot or too cold. The rooms would have those blackout shades like Cameron Diaz had at her house in The Holiday ( look it up, it's fun romantic comedy). You get soft music or a book for ten minutes them the lights all go out (except maybe a night light, just in case) You are offered comfy jammies and the sheets are that t-shirt material or high tread-count cotton ( you can choose your package!) You can nap for an hour or two if you paid for two but an hour is what experts say is best. The bedding, including pillows and comforters are changed COMPLETELY with every guest; no weird wondering who slept there before you as I sometimes do in hotel rooms.
Wadda ya think? Would you use a place like "Nap"?
Case in point? Float. It is JUST what you think it might be; a private chamber in which to float. I kept remembering the movie "Altered States" where Jeff Bridges has a weird experience in a flotation tank and goes nuts ( really I can't remember the plot, I just remember that someone I knew ran screaming from the theater when she went to see it- the plot remains vague)
Anyway, Float is one of those new age-y places, all that soft music that seems to be a collection of squeaks and hums. The people were very nice as they explained the process. You have a private room, strip to your birthday suit, shower using their soap and shampoo- but NOT the conditioner which you use after, them get into the tub of saltwater ( you enter the chamber thru a door that reminded me of a submarine door) and float. There are lights to begin with , but they slowly fade and you float around in total darkness. If you need lights there is a button to keep them on, but I wondered how you would know time was up if you did that so float in the dark I did. Truth to tell I was kind of bored and at one point bounced a bit off the side of the tub to change things up. I tried some guided imagery meditation and that helped pass the time. The lights came back up and I got out. I showered and dressed quickly. I kept having this image of them unlocking the door to tell me my time was up and finding me in my all-together. They did not.
Floating is supposed to help you sleep and they say one session may not help. They try to up sell you a year. Not happening. My sleep was no better and no worse that it had been, but it WAS worth a try.
I think I should open a place called "Nap" You get those great big soft beds like they have in fancy hotels, with big soft pillows and those white comforters that keep you cozy, but neither too hot or too cold. The rooms would have those blackout shades like Cameron Diaz had at her house in The Holiday ( look it up, it's fun romantic comedy). You get soft music or a book for ten minutes them the lights all go out (except maybe a night light, just in case) You are offered comfy jammies and the sheets are that t-shirt material or high tread-count cotton ( you can choose your package!) You can nap for an hour or two if you paid for two but an hour is what experts say is best. The bedding, including pillows and comforters are changed COMPLETELY with every guest; no weird wondering who slept there before you as I sometimes do in hotel rooms.
Wadda ya think? Would you use a place like "Nap"?
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