Too Close For Comfort

I started feeling bad well over a week ago. I attributed it to the fact I work too much, don't eat enough and have terrible sleeping habits. Last week on my day off I took a six hour nap on the living room sofa and woke up feeling not so much refreshed as more exhausted. My next day off I spent the entire day taking a nap with about the same results.

I'm my own worst enemy.

Finally made it through my Sunday day shift and collapsed into bed before six PM still wearing my work clothes. I told my daughter I was going to get up early and go to the doctor before work on Monday afternoon. I had a sinus headache the size of Texas, cold chills that wouldn't go away and my ears had started to hurt too. Not good signs.

I had to force myself out of bed Monday morning, changed out of my work clothes  into jeans and a heavy sweater ( 75 degrees outside) and drove to the Minute Clinic run by Emory at the local CVS. I thought about trying to get in to see my own doctor but "Minute Clinic" sounded a lot quicker and accepted insurance.

Only one of the four little chairs were occupied so took that as a sign I'd made the right choice and sat in one, shivering. I sat and sat and sat. Guessed whoever was currently behind the door must be having open heart surgery or a lobotomy but forty five minutes later emerged just looking like an old dude in overalls. The nurse practitioner looked at me, asked my name, looked at her list and asked if I had signed in on the computer around the corner?

CRAP!

I went around the corner to wait behind a man who had come in thirty minutes after I had and put my name on the list. The nurse said I had nine people in front of me and called out three names. No one answered. She called out three more with the same non response. I considered that good luck except for that sneaky dude who already knew about the computer sign in. The one lady next to me went in next and sneaky dude went off shopping in the store with his wife. After the lady came out thirty minutes later another woman showed back up just as her named was called. The nurse said if no one else showed back up I'd be next. The woman going in patted me on my back and said "I won't take long at all, honey."

One hour later she emerged and  felt like asking her how her hip replacement had gone? She did at least apologize for taking so long. I said I was just glad she hadn't gone in telling me "This may take a while."

Sneaky dude was still shopping for bargains with his wife I suppose and finally after well over two hours got my turn behind the (operating room) door. My temp was over 101, not pleasant for an adult. My blood pressure was only slightly elevated (duh) and heart rate was good. Bad news was bronchitis, a sinus infection, ear infection and throat appeared to have the signs on oncoming strep.

Good news was I have excellent health insurance now. The office visit cost me twenty five bucks, three prescriptions and an inhaler cost me forty. I almost felt lucky to be sick!

By this time I had already called out for my shift which was just about to start so got my prescriptions filled and went home, not undressing again and tumbled back into bed. I sweated for twenty four hours straight, hacked my head off for at least eight but just felt better knowing I would eventually be better now. I was off the next day and planned on picking up a shift. Not the best plan.

I had to take the next day off too. I wanted to go to work but for the life of me couldn't lift my matted head off the sweat soaked pillow. I consoled myself with the fact my paycheck was already pending in my bank account and was a pretty hefty one. I work where some people call out for no reason other than they can . I've worked there for almost two years and haven't called out once. I figured I was due.

I didn't feel human again until late this afternoon. My sheets were disgusting. My side was covered in dried sweat and the other side in dog hair where one pup was always in attendance to make mama feel better.

My comforter is in the dryer and sheets in the washer. The kids were awesome at bringing me something to eat every time I had to take the powerful antibiotic and can see remnants of every meal in the sink traps in the kitchen sink. It doesn't rattle when I breathe anymore, my ears stopped hurting and think I'll be just fine by the time I go in for a day shift tomorrow.

Guess I'm not Superwoman after all but sure feel better after my bout of Kryptonite Krap!

One more night of rest and will be good as new tomorrow.

Til next time...COTTON

To be a Leach

Celebrated my newly acquired niece's birthday tonight at my sister's house where she married my nephew a few short weeks ago. Welcome to our family, Elisa!

Here's the thing about being part of the Leach family...it's awesome.

 We've never had a lot of money but always been filthy rich with love.

If you're a Leach, you're loved. (That should be our family motto)

We were hands down the luckiest family on the planet until August 19, 1977 when momma suddenly died in less than sixty seconds while out shopping with me and my sister. It was sixty seconds that changed our world. Her early departure instilled a fear in all of us to never let a second, moment or even day go by without telling your family you love them...and mean it.

We somehow carried on without her...or maybe because of her.

We added  grandchildren she never got to meet and the former family of five begin to grow larger.

(So did our love)

I laugh a lot, it's my nature, but never laugh more than when I'm with this family...MY family.

This is one of my favorite pictures of me and my brother. The picture says it all.

Our brother acts all crusty but is one of the greatest people you could ever be lucky enough to meet. I've never met anyone who isn't crazy about him. Thank God he never had children of his own...frees him up to help ours and certainly has (when not helping his sisters).

Then there's my sister. Without her life would be a whole lot tougher and not even sure if I would have survived but did, with many thanks to her as well.

Our relationship reminds of the line from Terms of Endearment when Patsy tells Emma "You're my touchstone."

She's my sister, she's my bestie and she's my touchstone.

Webster's defines touchstone as "A quality or example used to test the excellence or genuineness of others."

I'm lucky to be a Leach and lucky to have so many touchstones in my life.

I think I got this now.

I may be fifty five and a slow learner but still have excellent memory, remember where I came from and mighty grateful I do.

I Miss Summer Already

It's hard to believe next week will be October. Where and how did summer go so quickly?

I'm okay with fall, actually love the seasons changing but know that after fall comes winter will and winter means cold weather until spring. I do hot a lot easier than cold, my hot flashes are proof of that.

Guess I'll drag some clothes out of the bins in the garage and get ready to layer up! Before that I have to contend with this...

Tomorrow (now today) is not only a full moon but a blood moon and  total lunar eclipse. That sounds like craziness for sure and already (scheduled for) work in a crazy house called the world's busiest airport.

Let the good times roll.

It was weirdly quiet tonight at work. Last night was balls to the wall and slam banging from beginning to end. Made incredible money and sailed out of work well before midnight.

Came home and went to bed by one thirty, early by my standards but was worn out. I couldn't get to  sleep, although Ziggy snoozing next to me on the bed seemed to have no problems at all.

I fell asleep around five thirty but woke up before nine. Had an awesome forty five minute nap around eleven and got up for work by noon.

Yep, full moon madness was in full effect and already affecting ME.

We don't have a restroom in our restaurant... heck all our food product and alcohol are kept across the hall located behind Starbucks in two locked coolers... linens, towels and uniforms included. Space is at a minimum in the airport. The travelers act shocked, dismayed and often ticked that they have to actually walk a hundred feet to a restroom.

Geez, think how employees feel when we have to pee and it's busy?

There have been times when I've walked out of the restaurant untying my apron as I (fast) walked across the atrium and by the time was hitting the restrooms had my belt undone holding my apron over the front of my jeans (already unbuttoned) ready to cop a squat because the more you think about having to pee the more you have to go...especially if you're fifty five.

At least they can go when they first get the urge.

A co worker had to go pee tonight and I watched her tables for her. She only had one and they had already paid.

Murphy's Law:

They triple sat her. I greeted the first table and took a drink order, did the same to next one and said hello to the third. When greeting the third table, told them their server's name and said I would help them until she could.  The woman looked at me and said (not kidding) "What's she doing, parking her car?"

Yep, it's gonna be a crazy crazy full moon.

What's even crazier is I'm kinda almost looking forward to it. Every day is a crazy one. Can't wait to see what Mr.(blood, full, total lunar eclipse)Moon has in store. Should be awesome to write about.

I came home and blogged. I also finished a load of laundry. I let the dogs out for a while. I think I'll sleep okay tonight but even if I don't only have a day shift to contend with. By six o'clock Sunday night will be home and can do as I please.

Til next time... COTTON

Relief is a Good Feeling

I think I've finally stopped relentlessly worrying about absolutely everything and sometimes nothing. Tim and I both have had terrific new jobs for well over a year now and all bills are paid on time. Some weeks are tight but I'm okay with tight. We strived for "just tight" for over five years and feel blessed to be "just tight" but alright!

The airport slowed down for about a month but has really started to pick back up and am trying to make the most of every single shift.

I seem to make a connection with most every table, especially the english speaking ones and sometimes even ones where you have to point or even draw pictures to get the point across. I'm an excellent pointer and pretty good draw(er) so that's okay too. Most shifts I make well over two hundred and lately been closer to and sometimes over three hundred. I have no qualms in saying this job has changed our lives and all for the better. After a really busy night last week I got out a calculator and discovered that night made $81.80 an hour. That's insane money for me and am grateful to have this wonderful opportunity.

Some nights I do just okay and am just as grateful for it. Waiting tables is a crap shoot and nothing is ever guaranteed so when I have an off night it simply serves as a reality check and reminder of just how lucky I usually am.

Massey has started back to college for her third year after transferring to West Georgia and now living at home. She was working four days a week during the summer but dropped to three once classes started back.

We get along really well as work buddies and  know how to switch gears and not be mother/daughter but co workers. She's been working there since May and just last week one of the cooks told me he didn't know Massey was my daughter until someone told him. Trust me, that's a good thing when your kids work where you do.

She's done really well at the restaurant. It's the first "Hard" job she's ever had and has done excellent. Every once in a while the momma in me comes out and tell her something she needs to do or has done wrong but for the most part...she's got this.

She can spot a celebrity a mile away.

Ang Lee, award winning director of Life of Pi and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon was eating with his film crew one night and she spotted him immediately. He just looked like a middle aged Asian dude to me but she knew exactly who it was and he was very nice, taking this picture with her and making her night!

Then she spotted Chris Evans before he even came in the door to the restaurant. To me, he was just a really nice looking young man. I've never seen an Avengers movie but she quickly informed me he was Captain America and once again the guy was happy to pose for a pic with my girl.

Just this past weekend I asked her to go across the hall to our supply cooler and get some linens. It's behind the Starbucks directly behind our restaurant and she came bouncing back five minutes later with the linen and a selfie she had taken with Sam Smith when she spotted him at Starbucks. He even asked if she minded him taking it?

I'm more the type who recognizes the old farts like me.

When I waited on Charlie Gibson I knew he was somebody but couldn't quite put my finger on it. When I took his credit card to run the payment it was like "Bingo!" in my head. He was with his wife on the way to Amsterdam and was an extremely nice man. When I took the card back admitted I couldn't quite put my finger on it but knew he looked familiar.

He said "Don't worry, I get that a lot. Some people ask if I was a network news anchor and some people ask if I bagged groceries at the A&P."

When I waited on Trent Lott and his wife, knew he was a political big wig but couldn't put a name to his face either until I saw his credit card too. When I took the bill back for his signature, thanked them both and told him to "Keep'em honest in Washington!" He smiled and said "I'm not a magician."

Touche'.

I've waited on Joe Biden's granddaughter when she was going overseas with a friend and her family. All the Secret Service guys kind of gave that one away but both attended the same school where the President's daughters go. I thought that was really cool, but what do I know? I'm an old fart...just like the ones I do recognize.


Massey made enough money over the summer to pay her fall tuition and buy books. I'm proud of her. She saw her father and me struggle for over five years and knows first hand how quickly life can (and did) change on a dime.

She has the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life and every corner of the planet, and has. It's a great job for a college kid, and sure someone will come in one day who can help her attain her goals...and will. She wants to work with the military, soldiers suffering from PTSD and ones returning to civilian life. She is going to start volunteering at the USO in the airport one day a week.

Lucky for me, today was National Daughters Day and feel okay bragging about my girl a bit.

It's not always roses, sometimes you have to be the parent and isn't an easy pill for a kid to swallow but I've been blessed. My girl genuinely loves me, and I her.

We've been through a lot together. She almost killed me twenty years ago coming three months early and weighing barely four pounds.

She grew up quick, that's for sure.

I'm really really lucky. My daughter is twenty years old and still doesn't mind hanging with momma.

She keeps me young and in the loop. I try and keep her grounded.

I've thought about it a lot. How many women are lucky enough to land a life saving job at the age of almost fifty five, be able to work with (and enjoy) the company of their twenty year old  daughter and her seem to enjoy your company too?

God had a plan...and it worked. He tested me, he tested my family. We never gave up and sometimes laughed at the most ridiculous misfortunes and even at the lowest points. It didn't pay the bills but helped get us through!

My little beauty didn't say much of anything for four years but hasn't quit talking since.

Yep! She's my girl.

We gave her the best life we could and was great for almost fourteen years. She saw us struggle for over five and never (rarely) complained.

She saw us stumble and scramble and witnessed us survive.

This is my absolute favorite picture of Massey. I remember when the pics came in at her day care. Her teacher said before handing me the photos "Just want you to know, she's not really smiling in them."

No she wasn't... but she was thinking.

My girl is really going to fly and feel pretty secure in saying you can bet on it.

Do you know how awesome it feels to be lucky enough to raise and still have your best friend?

I count my blessings every day and every day they continue to grow, all three of them.

Til next time...COTTON

Life Really is a Gift

It really is. I mean sometimes it can be a not so nice gift and even at times be really crappy gift but it's always a gift and will never be a re-gifted one.

Mine's pretty much been all the above and that's okay too. Now that a lot of the crappy gifts are behind me, I can look back and find some nice things about all of them and are actually all  appreciated.

Tim's still a cowboy out in Texas and almost halfway through with his two year sentence (stay) in Lubbock. He travels all week which am sure helps and the kids call him a lot so we've all kept in touch. I'm not big on Skype or Facetime, can't stand the way I look on it but we text and talk on the phone.

The not so good gift of being in Texas for two years has been the gift that saved our marriage.

Tim's a lot nicer person than I am and pretty sure after the last five years of him putting up with me being right and him being wrong (totally not the case) feels as much relief as I do for a short stint apart.

He's always been an excellent father and Massey misses him most, the boys do too but boys are boys.

The boys are twenty nine and and twenty three now. They both think they're grown up.

A lot they know!

I'm already getting nervous about having to quit my job in a little over a year. It was a huge leap of faith which turned out to be saving grace and hands down the greatest job I've ever had. It's totally seasonal work but after over a year have learned to adjust. Sometimes is almost embarrassing how much money I make and other times drops to just a really good night when worked street side. I've learned to save  during the Phat times and be grateful for the not so Phat times which are still way above what I used to make.

We had a slow period a few weeks back, knew it was coming and did. My paycheck dropped almost in half but was still enough to get by and pay all bills.

Then just as quickly it picked up again and my next check was the largest it's ever been. After a really spectacular night I sat and added up on a calculator what I made that night. Eighty eight dollars an hour.

If anybody in Human Resources really knew me, would go to their higher up and say "We pay that  old clown eighty eight bucks an hour?"

Yes they sometimes do and this old clown is grateful for every penny!


Whatever gift comes next, will...and going to be grateful for that one too.

Til next time...COTTON

The Silver One...Just Like Our Hair

 It's been a quarter of a century. Sometimes seems like two years and sometimes two hundred.

Got a picture text from him today, he's traveling again. He travels about five days a week and don't think he was in NYC when he snapped this one. Bless his pea pickin' heart.

Massey posted a group message (which I detest and still don't understand) this morning to Tim and me.

"Happy Anniversary you two! 25 years and still going strong!"

Tim text back:

"Yes  25 years and your mother still puts up with me, even though she had to ship me to Texas to make it this long."

Massey text back:

"25 years and you still put our family first. We miss you daddy."

Tim:

"I miss y'all too."

That back and forth text between my husband, father of our children and our daughter was the greatest anniversary present and group text this ole gal will ever (sometimes confusingly) be a part of.

I'd say we're doing okay and almost up to that being a tremendous understatement!

 Lots of little things in life build up and make it  huge.

If you think life sucks, you're missing its enormity.

Look again my friends.

Till next time...COTTON

Has It Really Been Almost Thirty Years?

I was twenty eight when I met Tim. I had me some wild twenties, I'll be the first to admit but in my defense was at least smart enough to know it was better to do it then than to do it later... when I may actually have responsibilities.

I met Tim at Johnny's Pizza where I worked. After our first date, it was a given. Hello Soul Mate.

We simply had fun and did everything together, with friends and family (incredibly enough both sides) and just seemed right after about a month; maybe even less than a month to never be able to think about your life without this person in it and simply just know you never will.

Heck, we got married less than two years later.

It's 2015 and I still love him, even more now for marrying me when I had that (now obvious) stupid hair cut. He'd better love me for marrying him when he wore a mullet on his head and a cheap Casio on his wrist.

Obviously we were a match made in Heaven. He rarely spoke a word but that was okay. I always knew what he was gonna say anyway and usually made it sound a lot funnier when I said it. (another reason I love him, he hasn't tried to kill me once, bless his heart)

The first twenty years were the smoothest sailing years of our lives. The only bad thing I can think of that ever happened to us is when my diddy died from the West Nile Virus.

Then just as suddenly; absolutely almost everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Then it kept going wrong again and again and again.

For years...

Tim lost his job, a really good job. I lost a job I had for almost fourteen years.

He couldn't find a good job, looked relentlessly for almost two years.

I'm a waitress, I can always find a job, and did.

I'm going to tell you one honest fact about a marriage.

After a couple of years struggling like we have never struggled nor want to again (although  now obviously know can) begins to tear apart the closeness of a marriage and flood it with distanced , unspoken resentment.

I'm gonna be brutally honest now.

I don't know who it was harder on...him or me!? I think it may be a tie.

At least we survived. That's something right there!

He's half a country away with a great job and I'm here at home with the same.

God knew we needed a break. He gave us both breaks.

I made the first sacrifice working like a speed freak for almost three years.

Tim 's now made the ultimate sacrifice. He's a thousand miles away, providing nicely for the family he has here.

People just don't listen to the vows in their marriage anymore. We've upheld and been through more of these promises than you could ever want to imagine.

I think I'll buy Tim a new Casio watch for our twenty fifth wedding anniversary.

I walked out of work a week or two ago and saw this rainbow. It was magnificent, it was awesome and the calm after a storm

Our marriage is a rainbow.

We're not at the end of our rainbow, but closer to than from. It's been great, it's been tough and sometimes got ugly but I know me and I know (often speak for) Tim.

We both signed up for it. Neither of us saw a shotgun pointed at us and after almost thirty years for some crazy reason still couldn't imagine not being married to him (and hopefully him to me).

Anybody know of a great deal on an airline ticket from ATL to DFW and then to Lubbock?

Happy Twenty Fifth Wedding Anniversary Timbo!

Til next time... Mrs. Tim Cotton