It's been a long long week. Arriving late Sunday evening already sleep deprived...realizing as each day passed that sleep--real sleep is not possible on the road...and finding vegetarian food in Texas is a joke...with the exception of 7-11 bean and cheese burritos--but one can only take so much of that...protein shakes and milk--sustenance....
Audits, systems meetings, forecasting and process mapping. Today will be spent on presentations, listing the findings, proposing solutions or at a minimum recommended actions. I have meetings scheduled through 7:30pm Texas time...and then back on the road.
I am going to head to Navajo country in New Mexico and Arizona...a place I missed on my drive across the States last sumer. The painted desert and the red rocks--something that would be new to me...something I regret not having made the time to do.
Congrats to Sheka at ASU...she graduates with her Masters today. Can't imagine the sense of accomplishment...but it is probably wonderful.
Texas boys like to wink...maybe it's the badge that says "California" or the greeting of, "How's life going", maybe it is just something I have forgotten about the South...a sort of ease in being...in sharing space...because there is so much open country. Unknown.
Had an interesting conversation with my boss...religion...he is a devout Christian. A true believer...but not dogmatic...was interesting. But at the end of the conversation he said, "If I have to choose between you and helping my Christian brother--I have to help my Christian brother first as the Bible says." Yep...and I responded, "That's the difference between you and I...my world takes you as you are, yours excludes." We laughed, but I am not certain what the consequences will be. Guess that's the way of most groups, cultures, people--that mentality, "mine first" and then humanity. hmmm. Interestingly enough, he gave me, "How to Win Friendss and Influence People". Which makes me giggle because the most profound lesson one learns--and perhaps one that takes them furthest is the ability to resonate with another...to make a person feel accepted as they are. Or maybe this is his lesson...acceptance with conditions or indifference. More about this as time goes on.
I miss my family, my kids, my husband and Cathy. I miss coming home and laughing and saying, "Hey gurlie" to my buddy. I miss picking up lil Freddie from school...exchanging how our day was...his changing the radio station--and when he hears that song that he loves (whichever one in the moment) he raises his hand and bops his head just a little and sings along. And I think about Jefferson...and that time is fleeting...and that he has such a big heart and wants to make a positive change in this world...that he one this teenage battle--and is proud that he came through victorious...and that he is on his way to living his life, in his way...I miss him coming into our room and sitting on the bed...I miss his silly way of being resting his chin on his hand...and then he looks at you with that grin and nods his head...and departs as if only to communicate--I was here--you were here. And I miss Steve...and his crazy unfocussedness...a whirlwind of energy even though he smashed my car into anothers yesterday (it's just a car boy wonder--as long as the humans involved are ok...hehe, be with the lesson...oop!)...I miss his "Hi Honey" and the bright eyed wonder...and the touch of his hand caressing my face.
Another nine days to go. On with the journey.