I've worked my two days for this week, and next week I'll be there Wednesday and Thursday. Wow, a vacation every week! Co-workers ask me how I like part-time, and I have to say I love it. The small paychecks aren't even so bad, now that I've toned down my spending. In retrospect, it seems I mainly used my income for extras.
So, I have adjusted my spending. We passed up our annual trip to Georgia on Easter weekend; Cliff hates to do all that driving anyhow, and it isn't cheap, going down there. I won't be going to the Dallas reunion of my Internet friends this year, much as I'd like to. But it comes down to priorities, when all is said and done. If Cliff and I are going to take a trip or two this year together, something has to give.
He's mentioned Colorado, and I'd love to go. But I'd like to go to Branson again, too. Now I'm juggling expenses, trying to decide if we should do both of these, or just one. Our necessities are covered. It's the luxuries for which we must budget.
I have my wonderful horse, and every ride down by the Missouri River is a mini-vacation.
But there's the Old Thresher's Reunion, Labor Day weekend.
I do have the tickets bought to Van's Warped Tour for my granddaughter Amber, my grandson Brett, and myself.
Meanwhile, other things are going through my mind: Like a local man who killed himself last weekend; a fellow who, as a boy, used to come up here and play with my son. I can't help but wonder why.
The memory of all my aunts and uncles, or for that matter, my mom and dad, who are gone on to their respective rewards, lays heavy on my soul. The brevity of life stares me in the face. Everywhere around me, the children who played in my yard with my children are approaching middle age. And I watched thier kids playing football in my yard this very evening.
I so appreciate the people in mylife now: my children; my grandchildren; my wonderful, unique, tractor-loving husband. My co-workers and my friends and neighbors. How is it possible to love my ex-daughter-in-law and my ex-son-in-law, and still love my present daughter-in-law and son-in-law? But I do! How lucky is that? And to be able to get along with them all is a miracle.
It just doesn't get any better than this.
But the clock keeps ticking.