So the day began with my bladder ordering me awake. The neighbor upstairs was doing his workout upstairs involving heavy equipment that he drags along his floor/my ceiling, and he drops weights and all kinds of things that make me feel I will die by ceiling. So I couldn’t go back to sleep. I was still tired and needed my dream time. But I went out to get coffee and a bagel.
Physically, I have been feeling somewhat weak, so instead of going to my preferred store, I went to a closer store. I asked for a buttered bagel lightly toasted. When I got home, I saw I had a partially burnt roll lightly buttered. We both spoke English well, so it wasn’t a misunderstanding.
I was hungry, so I ate most of it. I wanted to go back to sleep, but the MF-er upstairs was doing his thing – treating the apartment like a gym. It wasn’t built to be a gym, so this is a problem. He seems to also run track up there. I’ve made contact with him twice in the past and even told the super. I have not told the landlord yet because I was hoping we could solve this without doing that. In other ways he seems like a decent person. I might have liked him if he didn’t live above me. I took a big stick I have and banged on the ceiling a lot. He eventually stopped.
I checked email and was encouraged by an email from the executive director of City Lore. He asked for my okay to include a poem of mine in the Corona Archives and to use in a future exhibit. Oh yes! Fine with me. The poem was about when we heard Biden was announced the winner of the presidential election. He said I caught the moment. That felt good. I need to feel good.
I went back to sleep.
Disturbing dreams as usual, but they have to happen so that I may have some peace when awake.
Woken by someone knocking on my door. It was the delivery of a package from a beautiful woman I was lucky to have as a boss for four years several years ago. She made a difference in my life, and I often relive times with her in my mind just to feel better.
I haven’t opened the package yet; I like to elongate the
anticipation.
I fell back asleep, and then it was night. See how topsy-turvy my life has become? I lost my job before the pandemic and then everything just became harder. But honestly, with the new administration at that job, I wouldn’t have lasted there anyway. It became almost the opposite of what it was 18 years earlier when I began working there.
I went out to some stores. In the Mexican place where I was waiting for my chicken tacos, a man who is a regular in the neighborhood, came into the store (which is small and only allows one person at a time now) to try to sell me a pocketbook for $5. The owner told him he couldn’t be there without a mask. He left, and on his way out, told me, “I just want to get something to eat.” I told him, “I know.” I got my tacos, paid with a five-dollar bill and got a dollar back. When I left the store, I gave him the dollar. There are days when I am searching pockets, under couch pillows, old pocketbooks, etc. for change. So I know one day I might miss that dollar, but tonight, I was able to spare it. He thanked me and said, “God bless you.”
When I returned, I checked my mail and there was a fat envelope from my friend Liz who I met in my twenties at a corporate job. She was one of the rare ones with humanity. She kept me afloat during those trying years. I haven’t opened that yet either.
I often feel God has blessed me even if as a child, I wondered if God knew I was here.
5th night of Hanukkah
So much love to CGG-M. 💚 💛 💜
That’s great that you are getting presents. I also received some that I plan to open at Xmas.
ReplyDeleteYou deserve a great gift. Take care, love, Carolyn
I hope and pray that the Biden administration will bring change to help all those who need it most. And I believe they will.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn, you warmed my heart. Thank you. I feel that I got a great present from the man who secretly bought me a laptop earlier in the year. I'm still stunned.
ReplyDeleteDavid, the poem that was requested by City Lore is the one inspired by Jessica's photo.