It has been a year since you left this earth. In so many ways the time has flown by, and in other ways it has gone as slow as molasses. See what I did there? I used one of your lines, “slow as molasses.” I miss your little one liners. I think about you every day. Just today I wanted to call you. Tell you what has been happening in my life. Ask you what is new with you? Then I remembered… I can’t call you anymore. I can’t hear your voice, and that sarcastic humor.
Well, here you go, mom, this is what has been happening with me for the past year.
The week I returned from your funeral, I found out that I was going to be forced out of the company that I had dedicated my life to for twenty-eight years. I know that would have made you mad. I’ll be honest, at first it made me mad too. But, you know what? That may have been one of the best things that could have happened. I had not been happy there for a while. I was not feeling appreciated. You and I talked many times about how feeling appreciated was far more important than how much money you made. I suppose that is why I will never be a billionaire. That’s okay. I’m happy. And, things have not all been bad.
I focused on Rick Stringer Creative Services, LLC. Built a web site, worked out a contract with my former employer, and found some new clients. I’ve been exploring artwork that is far out of my comfort zone. There are exciting new things that I will be revealing soon. That has all been going well.
Working from home has been good, but I was going a little stir-crazy staying at home so much. So I branched out at bit. I decided to try doing Shipt. It actually was kind of fun. It got me out of the house, I met some very nice people, and earned a little bit of extra cash.
There is a local brewery that Cindee and I love, The Filling Station. We have been regulars there since it opened, and it is only a mile from our home. Early in the year I told, Todd, one of the owners, that I used to be a bartender. I would actually love to fill in some shifts for them. I don’t think he took me serious at first. A few months later, we were at The Filling Station. Todd was telling us how hard it was getting to fill shifts. I said, “My offer is still good.” He responded, “Want to fill out an application?” I looked at Cindee, then back at Todd, “Yes.” Todd left and came back with the application. I filled it in, and gave it back. Todd said, “Can you start Thursday?” I’ve been filling in a couple of shifts a week ever since. I love the people there, and enjoy it.
I miss you, mom. Life is not the same without you. You were always the anchor for our family. You will be happy to know that Tom and I still talk every Saturday morning. Just like we did with you. It’s not quite the same, but Tom and I promised each other that we would continue the tradition. It has been our little connection to you.
This part will make you sad. We finally got around to clearing out the storage units from Kim. Hard to believe that it has been more than fifteen years since her death. It was so hard to do. You know that. You never wanted to deal with it, so we didn’t until after you were gone.
Han and Luke have been a joy. I wish you could have met them. They are fun cats. You would have loved them. During Thanksgiving we got to see their sister, Leia. She is beautiful, but not as friendly as her brothers. We are so happy that she ended up with wonderful people. She is living her best life.
Neil and Rowan are both doing well. Neil is working from home, which he loves. Rowan is working with cats, which she loves.
You will like this one. Michigan beat Ohio State! Go Blue!
One more thing, mom, bitcoin is going to the moon!
I hope you and Kim are looking down on us, and smiling.
I love you.