Summery Thursday

I just love summer. It's 8:30 in the evening and it's still light out. In fact, the sun is barely setting and it is still warm. Love it Love it Love it. Never mind that I am making this observation driving home from Lisa's house as I drop Johnnie off there for the 2nd week in a row, all to support Lisa coming home early to play the piano. And not that she couldn't pick up Johnnie but who's bugging? It is simply way too beautiful a day that I enjoyed today to worry about anything at all. I remind myself that summer has brought about some of the biggest transformations and changes (and not really pleasant ones) in my life. No need to go any further than leaving USC Stevens in June 2013. Or leaving the Maplewood house for good in July 2018.  And even before that leaving USC June 2006. But I am also remiss if I don't remind myself that following those events came amazing transformations. July 2006 right after leaving USC happened to be the best time of my life (that was the Lisa summer). And then of course July 2013 I started at QueensCare the place that provided me with HOME. And then after leaving Maplewood, I reinvented myself and I am definitely not complaining. And so merely picking up Johnnie today, and then walking with him and the dog to Starbucks afterwards to get an afternoon snack, I have nothing to complain about at all. Just look at the smile on Johnnie's face that you can't even see while peeking out of the mask he made at camp today. It is all you can ask for I tell you. And so if I can remember today merely for the appreciation of the onset of another summer, then so be it. I was thinking the other day how unfair it was that Lisa gets to take Johnnie to Maui and I have to stay home and take care of her dog. But then again aren't days like today all I need to relax and recharge? After all, it wasn't like I worked all that hard today LOL. In fact, I was supposed to do my department goals because they are due tomorrow. Well, let's just say I got to open last year's goals at least. And when I read them... for both my departments no less I was sure I could finish the thing in a couple of hours MAX. Eh, I felt unmotivated to do it today. And that was what I appreciated. The ability to NOT have to push myself to do it today and choose to enjoy the summer afternoon instead. And so not even the phone call from Lisa from her house asking me to hand Johnnie and Claire off there rolled right off my back. Not even discovering that Michael Villanueva was over listening to her play the piano (meaning she could have EASILY come over to pick Johnnie and Claire up after all) bothered me. And finally, not even discovering that Johnnie had forgotten Claire at my apartment yet again, necessitating a SECOND trip to Lisa's house tonight, moved an emotional needle. It was on my way home from that second trip did I gaze at the sunset sky with contentment and gratitude. If every summer day was like this, I wouldn't mind at all. And so I went home, cleaned up the house a little and then chilled the rest of the evening away on the couch. It was a very nice day.