Some Days Are Diamonds and Some Days Are...

June 27, 2009 — Well it's true. Some days are diamonds and some days are rocks. There is just no gettin' around it. Yesterday I started out on the wrong foot. I did not sleep worth a flip the night before and as a matter of fact I was up at 0130 (that's military expressed time for those that do not know) as I am almost every morning it seems. I had many things planned for the day the most important of which was moving Wanda's and my household goods out of storage and to our new rental house. I also needed to contact my healthcare insurance administrator to seek assistance in obtaining a PET scan I need. Then there was taking my youngest son Larry to his meeting and then on to school. Well it just did not start well 'cause I was really tired.

Wanda went off at 0730 to be at the new house to meet utility people for hookups we needed done. At 0800 I picked up Larry and off we went. While he was in his meetin', I called the aforementioned healthcare insurance administrator and got little or no help. Frustrated, I then called my PCM again and explained to the office manager that I needed the PET scan done, but could not get it unless they authorized and asked the healthcare insurance administrator for permission to do so. It took half the day to get it done, but they finally came through and I will have the PET on this coming Monday.

While all of this was going on, Wanda's son Walter went to get a trailer to move the household goods. I decided to ask Larry to miss school (does that make me a bad parent?) and help with the move as I knew I would be useless. He agreed and after several more stops we met Walter at the storage place. He had already loaded the trailer with the majority of our things. He is amazing some times that Walter guy. Strong as an Ox because his profession is as a water well driller and he does not back down from any challenge. So after a short break for him to refuel with Gatorade and a breakfast tacco it was off to the new house and unloading. Wanda was anxiously waiting. Before I make this story much longer than it needs to be, everything got moved in the very oppressive heat we are having. Wanda is now happily beginning the arranging of our things they way we want it. There is no one better at this then she is. It will take some time, but it will get done as she wants it.

After awaking from a 3½ hr nap, I was in a generally grumpy mood. Nothing in particular...just generally grumpy. What a waste of time that is! I soon got over it and realized that all of the rocks of the day had come and gone and I was about to experience a real diamond.

My son Larry and I have been somewhat estranged lately. That is probably to put it mildly. I often sit outside when I can and I like to talk to people and Larry and I got into a talk about our relationship. It started out about his wanting to join the military when he can and my telling him that he had a lot changing to do before he'd be able to make it. He keeps telling me times have changed since my Navy days and they have somewhat, but what has not changed is having an understanding about respect and authority. They are two traits you must have when a member of our nations finest. The discussion then led to his feelings about his brothers and sister and me and that he felt he is always treated like a child and not given respect. Some of what he said was true. Larry has a grudge (I'll just call it that) because his brothers and sister did do much with him in his earlier years. I simply said that his feeling was valid, but that forgiveness is powerful medicine and it begins from within. We then moved on to our feelings about each other. As I listened I heard his cry for respect and what he is trying to do right now in his life. All of it is good stuff as my brother Jake would say. I have promised that I will give him respect where due and will expect the same in return. We even cried a bit over it all.

I love him dearly and I am glad that we had the conversation. It brings our relationship into a new light and that is very important to me right now. It is what really matters!