Since Friday

Well, I had a list of things that I would miss persuant to leaving The Alzheimer's Project. Here are a few that I don't miss (at all):

The toilet in the hall bathroom: no more holding the handle to get it to flush
The A/C and heating system: no more dramatic (menopausal-like) temperature fluctuations
Spiders on the window sills: James, they are all yours now my friend.

Okay, that's it. Pretty pathetic if you want to know the truth. But, that's all I have..."there ain't no more."

After Friday

While I have been trying (really hard) to not be sentimental about leaving this job, it has grown more difficult by the day. Truly, though, I think "leaving" this job began in August when Liz left for similar reasons (budget and funding) and then reared its ugly head again in October when Cathy resigned. I suppose that I held out hope that I would still be here when the tide began to turn. However, such is not the case. So, you see, I have a growing list of things that I will miss after Friday. In no particular order...

Coffee in the kitchen with Bill and Recie.

Tomato and sprout sandwiches with Recie.

Staff meetings where we get so side-tracked that we laugh until we cry.

Support group meetings and Jim Jordan and Anne Baxter.

Teal Benoit. What else can I say?

Cathy.

Inukshuks.

The sqeaky, hand-me-down copy machine.

Brooks coming in late looking like the cat just spit him out.

James and his kilt. Not to mention his fabulous hugs.

The sun streaming into what used to be my "office."

Liz.

Walking Colin to school from the office.

Secret chicken biscuits with Bill.

Bob Goins and his never ending list of "Thank You's."

Recie, Bill, James, and yes, Brooks.

I know the list will grow for a while longer. But, I wanted to put some of it down before I forgot all of them - they change daily. And, sometimes by the hour.

Chasing "My Youth"

I wish I had pictures of yesterday's "Memorial Day" ride taken by someone riding behind me. It is important to note that the pictures would have had to have been taken from behind me so that one would also be able to see "My Youth" in front of me. "My Youth" in this instance would be my teenage son, Colin, who just so happened to be riding with the lead group along with yet another Youth (ATAC team mate Colby Allen) on yesterday's 33+ mile bicycle road ride. Last year I "hooked up" with this very same group for a wonderful ride early in the morning of Memorial Day. I had a great time, and the ride was followed by a BBQ at home of one of the rider's. This year Colin was able and allowed to accompany me on the ride, but I should have known...

Youth and ignorance will cause pain in the parent. Yes, I still feel the need to keep him in my line of vision even as he nears the age of 15. So, as he was climbing hills with apparent ease, and flying along the scenic, rural back roads of Leon County at 20 or so m.p.h., I was sweating and huffing and mashing on the pedals just to keep in him in sight. Never mind that he was not even within shouting distance or recognizable as an individual other than a cyclist. Thankfully his riding "kit" is a brightly colored jersey with lots of red and yellow, and his cycling shorts are a matching bright red. I knew if I saw red there was better than a 50/50 chance that it was Colin and Colby (also wearing red) and not necessarily the blood from an aneurysm in my brain.

Thank you to Lee S. and David K. for imparting some of your extensive riding knowledge and experience upon him. Thank you George for "hosting" the ride and showers and brunch. Thank you Kathy and Mike, Mandy and Sean, and Robert and Karin and Mike for putting up with a "snot" such as "My Youth." He did have a great time and is looking forward to another ride with all of you or perhaps Freedom Springs....

Today's Twilight and the Coming Dawn

In the twilight of a career, does one stop to ponder the dawn of the next, or merely the pending darkness of that which is passing?

I hope that I have adopted the attitude of looking forward to the dawn and not back to the darkness. It is always a challenge to rely on one's faith and God when things are not so positive as well as being able to remember to give thanks when things are GREAT. I have enjoyed four and half years of wonderful experiences during my tenure with The Alzheimer's Project, Inc. I have seen many things develop and flourish, and many things come to fruition that I never expected to see. As my final day approaches and I begin to feel more and more the saddness that is inevitable, I hope that I will be able to focus on what may become rather than on what has been. This, for me, is difficult. I grow attached to things like super co-workers, and comfortable surroundings; like flexible hours and convenient locations; like understanding supervisors and sympathetic friends.

More and more I have come to appreciate that environment and companion-like co-workers are EVERYTHING in the job setting. I know I will not find a group such as this anywhere else I go, but I can do what is within me to make my new job as wonderful for those around me as I can.

Just for fun...

Yes, it is a sad state of literary affairs when I have nothing more interesting to post today than a picture of Aidan at the annual ATAC Awards Banquet and Teen Dance. He "loves (truly) him some Coach Amanda" and boy is he hamming it up with her in this picture.

April Is Freely Flowing into May Flowers

April was VERY good to the Abbeys, I have to admit. Colin had a splendid showing at the Red Hills Triathlon again; all four of us got to see Wicked: The New Musical during Easter weekend as well as visit with my parents; we hired a wonderful contractor (Lone Wolf, Inc.) to begin work on our deck/french doors/hot tub/screen porch remodel project; and Colin earned two new Junior Olympic time standards (100 and 200 Freestyle Long Course) in Panama City where he placed 10th in the 13-14 Boys age group; and Aidan has really begun to enjoy swimming with ATAC 3 or 4 days a week in the Novice program. He even "won ribbons" a couple of weekends ago at a "practice meet."

Above: Chillin' (with a minor showing of attitude) in the shade between events. Below: Warming up for the 200 Free.

The deck is looking mah-velous. It is somewhat semi-circular (sort of half of an octagon) with benches and railings on two sides. It will also have some very nice lighting, furniture and hot tub/spa when completed. The french doors are ordered and on the way. The entire project should be finished in under a month - total time from first post hole to filled up hot tub. I can't wait.

Above, I have included photographic documentation of the current state of the deck-building, a couple of pictures of Colin at Panama City Long Course meet in what he is calling his "fast pants" and a video (sideways - Sorry) of Aidan swimming the breast stroke on April 18th.

Marvelous Milestones

Not much in the way of excitement happened around here this week. Aidan had a little "practice swim meet" where he bested two of his times: 25 yard free style and 25 yard breast stroke. He really needs to learn how to NOT "pinball" his way across the pool during the back stroke, but it will come - I have been promised. Colin had a great swim practice on Saturday while Mike made phenomenal strides in his continuation of "taming" and landscaping the back yard.

The only thing I did of note, besides being the mom, was to crest the 1000 mile mark in training for the year. As of Saturday evening, I have logged 1,062.37 miles of running and riding for the year 2009. I sort of, kind of, set a goal of 2,000 miles riding this year, and I am at about 900 right now and could actually achieve that goal if I keep going at the rate I am currently. I don't plan to ramp up the running beyond maintenance and shorter runs/races until August or September when I start looking at marathon season. Right now, I'm happy with where I am and how I feel and how the feet are. Yippee!

More later .... See you on the streets.