Chapter 19: Sort of Vacation

Maureen and I will soon be traveling to Las Vegas. I'm going to be involved in a presentation, ostensibly moderating it though that will involve asking a few easy questions and pointing out who the experts are.

What matters most to me is that Maureen is able to join me. We're celebrating our eighth anniversary during the week and I couldn't imagine not being with her. And because of the wonders of "Saturday stayover" costs, we are paying less by staying until Sunday than we would have by leaving three days earlier. So, we'll actually have a couple days to ourselves in Vegas.

We'll visit one of Maureen's friends she hasn't seen in years and whose child we've never seen in person. Luckily neither of us are gamblers, so we should be able to hold our money to some degree. I'll probably lose a quarter or two while I'm there.

It's been so long since we've had a real vacation trip that this business trip will have to do. I feel guilty knowing that some of the days she'll be alone while I stand in uncomfortable shoes in an exhibition hall and smile happily at people I don't know and likely don't care much to know.

But we'll have Friday and Saturday. I expect it will be a trip we remember forever. Not because it's Vegas exactly, but because it's us together a step removed from the constant calls and pressures of living pay check to pay check. (Maybe only half a step.)

This year has been one of transition, and as we head into the home stretch of 2004, I hope it'll be a good transition where we look forward to 2005 and real progress. I've got deadlines for my novel and aspirations for the second one. I need an agent, I of course need a publisher, but I have reasons to hit that ground running. If all goes as we believe it can, 2005 will be the year in which some of our dreams come true. Then the hard work really begins...

Chapter 18.9: Birthday wishes to an old friend

An old friend, Mark, will turn 36 tomorrow. I've not spoken with him in more than a year. It's my fault; I simply haven't called.

He and his wife invited us to a party around July 4 (2003). I don't think I even RSVP'd, though we were to be out of town that weekend. My life has been so busy, but that's hardly a good excuse. Maybe we've grown apart over the years. That's not any better of an excuse, though it's probably more understandable by other people.

I'll call him and see how life has gone. "Catch up," as the cliché goes. I hope all is well, and I know I'm being truthful in that remark. If nothing else, I want to say "Happy birthday" and that he was on my mind. No matter where we go in life, we carry the memories our brains are capable of holding. It seems fair to let him know he's in mine.

Chapter 18.7: Sunshine and Clouds

I guess the title for this section sounds hokey and soft, but it's the mood I'm in right now. I'm writing while at the squad building. The weekend has been busy, with duty for me and for Maureen yesterday. It has also included the third anniversary of the horrible day that affected just about everyone in this area, and really has affected the world.

On Friday, which is the date of both the beginning and ending of my book -- that is, the novel begins on 9/10/00 and ends exactly one year later -- Maureen and I enjoyed a pleasant evening at home, sitting on the patio enjoying the Indian summer weather, sipping drinks and chatting about everything in the light of Citronella candles.

Yesterday I attended the memorial service for a friend's father. He died in Ireland about six weeks ago after having caught a salmon. I consider it such a perfectly Irish way to die. My friend and her family seem to be handling it well, though I know it was not easy for them. (Is death ever easy?) Later that night, Maureen and I joined with the squad and fire department and police department on the village green for a candlelight service.

Today I saw a person who looks older than he should, whose life seems to be rolling away faster than the commercials he watched on television. Yet, outside the sun is shining, the sky is blue and life seems perfect. I hope that such beauty is not missed or forgotten.

Sometimes I think that after a spat of rain, when the sun comes out again it's as though I've never seen it before -- as though it's better than any other day before it. I feel like a dog when the master of the house has returned: "Oh, joy, you're home! Come play with me, feed me and pet me and let me know again that you love me!"

Perhaps without the tragedies of 9/11/01 I wouldn't appreciate as much of the good in my life as I do, but I still don't understand why the lesson had to be so harsh and affect so many people. And it was such a beautiful day...

Chapter 18.4: Movie, Movie

Got into a conversation with a co-worker today discussing Garden State. I haven't heard one person who didn't like it, (see my comments in Chapter 15.5, on August 1) though I've read at least one online review that hated it and walked out.

I'm not getting any money for this comment, but I suggest that any one who can tolerate a movie that isn't wed to the formulaic story lines of today's bigger budget films should see it. Plus, it's a good date movie.

So far, of the films I wanted to see this summer, that's the best.

Go see it!

Chapter 18.2: New Season

OK, the Mets are so dead and decomposing that they've lost their stink and are simply beyond recognition. You'd need dental files and DNA to show that this is the same team that was a game out of first place before the All-Star break.

Time to turn to football!

I have slightly more hope for the Giants than I did for the Mets entering the season. But when they open their season against the Eagles, they're in for trouble. I'm hoping the Giants can pull off a 9-7 season and possibly contend for a wild card slot. The division will be tough, with the Eagles, Cowboys and even Joe Gibbs' Redskins formidable foes.

As the team's long-forgotten cheerleaders reportedly wrote out in placards in the 1970s:

OG GINATS OG!

Chapter 18: Labor Every Day

I love holiday weekends, perhaps more now than when I was young. It's been a busy couple of weeks, and production begins on Tuesday, so next week will be horrific as well. Plus I need to get the next issue assigned during the week.

Sometimes this drives me nuts -- the never-ending tasks associated with my job. I suspect such tedium is typical of all jobs. Indeed, I've never truly enjoyed any job, except perhaps when I was a camp counselor. Even that had its problems.

Luckily, I have a wonderful wife and family. With those things in place, I can tolerate work.

Now, it's back to doing things around the house. I love vacation!