2018 - It's a New Year again

2018 is a week away. I still have my health and a great job working at a wonderful organization. No one has passed on in my family so that subject is still intact, too. I have yet to move from the house I rent in the sometimes sketchy neighborhood replete with transplanted Hispanics, domestic violence, and drug dealings. Even so, I feel safe. I was accepted a while back as part of the sketchiness.

I am the single white female that daily walks her little dogs around the block. I will smile and wave or say "hello" or "hola" but you have to ignite the conversation. For those that live across the street from me, like Mrs. Kravitz, they have had a bird's eye view of the relationships that have started...and ended. They keep an eye on me and quickly match man with vehicle. They don't know that Jim has died or why someone will appear out of nowhere, disappear, and then reappear. One time I was told by the new man of the hour that after he parked his truck he was boldly approached by one of my neighbors. The older black man crossed the street and without hesitation stood at the new guy's driver side window to quiz him about his intentions.

My windows are open and I can hear the church bells being rung. Why at this time of the morning? Perhaps someone has died or perhaps they, too, are mourning the passing of the greatness of our country. The tax overhaul that favors the rich and big business, the FCC vote against Net Neutrality, or no longer proclaiming to those in need that we take in your tired and poor. All of these are satisfactory reasons to mourn for our country's slippery slope.

While some things are the same, others are not. If you expect change, when it happens, you won't be surprised and if it is a new trial instead of a new celebration, it might be easier to bear. I know that while my body lives, my soul is pinned to the earth. I might as well do my best. 

The Year of Transition

To celebrate the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017, Carolyn, my Reiki teacher and compadre in all things spiritual, went out to dinner at a delicious Italian restaurant called Dolce Italia. It was Carolyn's suggestion and an excellent one at that. The food was so good!

I have always been attracted to people that are different. I don't know why. Sometimes it as not been the healthiest thing for me. In Carolyn's case, it has been very healthy for me. We both see dead people so it's all good.

One of the topics of conversation was 2016 and politics aside, all of the different things that took place. It has definitely been a year of transitions. Each December, I think about receiving my W-2 and submitting my taxes. This year I will have FOUR w-2s. That blew my mind.

Starting at the top of the year, I spent the first few months at the job I had worked at for four years. Every day was a new torture to endure and I have never been so glad to leave a place.

The second W-2 comes from a window installation business that one week into my employment the woman that hired me was fired. Her replacement wasn't a fan of mine and after three to four months I was told I should be in a supervisory role, not this one. Please move on. Here's a small severance package. Good luck.

The third W-2 will be from the temp-to-perm agency that hired me for the job I am at now. To fulfill the contracted obligation, I had to work a certain number of hours before I could be officially hired so I got paid by the agency from 7/5/16 through 10/31/16. It was a weird situation to be in. I was a part of the organization but not really.

The fourth W-2 will be from the organization that waited out the contract with me and officially hired me on 11/01/16. I love where I work. The people are fun, amazing, and wonderful human beings. It takes a certain personality to be comfortable working in and around the kind of patients we have. Our mission statement:

The mission of the Community AIDS Network is to provide a continuum of medical, social and education services essential to the health and well-being of those living with HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, sexually transmitted diseases, other diseases and to enhance public awareness.

This transition took three moves on the game board, but they were worth it to get to where I am now.

Two personal relationships ended. One was my choice; the other was not. I am still working through Jim's passing. He hangs around me quite a bit and I find it comforting. I learned so much about life and myself from being with him. He learned from me, too.

I hope that this year brings more joy than sadness, more growth, more love, and more success for you and me. Surround yourself with people that have good intentions and open hearts. Ones that want to play and be mischievous. The kind that will laugh when you laugh and cry when you cry. Those that are like the citizens of Who-ville. They will help your heart to grow.

From Dr. Seuss, "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"