It was an icy commute home today on roads I didn’t want to be on but felt confident handling because I had no reason to rush and the ability to take the long way home.
By the time I returned the younger Mr. Wilner was at the tail end of his day because he has his own icy commute to attend to but it begins around 4:30 AM.
Good times, up before then so that you can wander into what will probably be about 25 degrees out but will feel more like 11.
Thought about him when the word came out that Putin was launching a military operation in Ukraine because it reminded me of when we went into Iraq for the second Gulf war.
He was three then, so much younger than 21.
It is hard to find any hint of the little boy he was and that is as it should be.
Thought about my 22 year-old nephew today as well, also in context of the events of the evening.
Neither of these boys are in the service but I saw kids who are on my flight back from Los Angeles.
It is strange to look at them and know I have to be at least twice their age and that is being generous to myself.
Private Words For You
A work colleague asked me if I was afraid to be in California.
“Don’t you worry about earthquakes? What would you have done if one hit? What if it was really big and the house or hotel fell down on you?”
It is not the first time I have been asked nor will it be the last. Not sure why people worry so much about earthquakes, maybe because it is foreign to them.
It is not something we consciously think or worry about.
If you are smart you have an emergency kit. I keep one wherever I live because accidents and natural disasters don’t happen when it is convenient.
Earthquakes aren’t like hurricanes or tornadoes. You don’t have seasons for them. You don’t generally go through periods of time where you keep an eye out for them because they are more likely to happen.
When I travel I generally know where the exits are and have shoes, clothes and car keys close by. That is all I can do and it is enough for me.
But as I have said here before I have been through several large earthquakes, riots and been evacuated from a forest fire.
If I told you what I worry about you won’t find any of those at the top of my list. Been there, done that and if ever necessary I’ll handle it again.
Prefer not to, but what I prefer doesn’t always come through.
Anyhoo.
****
Wrote more words down following the most recent visit for reasons best listed as just because and cuz they fit some of what was said here.
Had to put some of it out there because there is kind of a 90 day countdown going on.
Provides some clarity, honesty and accountability.
You Can Fool Me
I looked outside of a conference room and watched soft flurries move back and forth in the wind. Stared at the ice forming on the windshield of my car and wondered what the ride back might be like.
Made a point to hit the restroom just in case things took a while because some things you can prepare for.
Not long before I had cut off a diatribe by someone whose speech concerned me. I wasn’t sure if what I was hearing was accurate or if there wasn’t two or three insults layered inside their speech.
“You can fool me and many have, but I am pretty transparent. I’ll tell you what I know and what I don’t know or I’ll just make up a good story.”
That got a round of chuckles and I wondered if that tickle in my gut was to be trusted because something didn’t feel right.
Something made me think a speaker lacked respect and that got me thinking.
On a personal level I don’t care what they think. Got no reason to be concerned about whether they like me, love me or hate me.
But there was that other part that was nagging at me, that sense that if I didn’t wrest control it might go sideways.
So I did and I was good. I was on a roll and I could see the faces around me verifying that I accomplished most of what I wanted to.
But hours later I wonder about it. Wonder if there was a snake there with me and if I was bit before or after. Irks me to have consider it, but sometimes this is the arena we play the game in.
****
Got some background music flowing through the airpods and a space heater on my left. The window at my back is leaking a bit so I can feel some cool air upon my back.
Periodically I think about taking a few steps to fix things and then I remember I don’t own this place. It is just a stop and I don’t have reason to spend much upon it.
Would be nice to make it more comfortable and part of me wants to because it gives me a project to get busy upon but I am not spending my time and money on it.
Some things are worth investing in, but this is not one of them.
Pointed out to the kids that while I may not always be correct pushing to get cars last year was a smart move.
The pandemic’s impact upon the supply chain wasn’t going to be resolved over night and we’re going to feel the impact in some place for a while.
Hell, I don’t get everything right nor do all my predictions come true but I still know some things and whether it is because of logic and application of experience or a gut feeling is debatable.
Here’s hoping that I don’t wake up when the big kid prepares his early morning breakfast. There was a time when I slept through anything, but now it takes a little more effort.
Won’t be long before more changes come along, wonder what they will bring.
