Ch- Ch- Ch- Changes

Apparently, given enough downtime, I will begin to blog again. Who knew? (Mostly putting this here so I can find them easily. I'm not really that vain.)

I've had some fun publishing "Nines" on my Facebook at the end of each year. It started in 2018 with nine photo highlights from my year. I found it a great way to look back and be thankful rather than be "happy to have that year behind us." The pictures still make me smile.

In 2022, after posting scads of selfies, I decided to compile those pictures too and watch my own journey progress. I was finally feeling free, smiling more, and learning to love and accept the individual God created me to be. This also made me smile.

I don't remember if I couldn't choose in 2023, or if I wanted a picture from each and every month, because instead of the usual "nine" I upped the ante to 16. At least one from every month. It's my own study in aging so I can't stop now.

The year 2024 brought a few rough patches, along with a new pair of bifocals. My co worker and I faced indicated reports for an incident in our classroom, I lost my job at the daycare, and then stayed home with my grandchildren all summer. In September I followed my friend and her son to Florida and drove back home alone. I took the job at Dunkin soon after my return. The pictures still make me smile. Life has been good. I breathe easier even with the challenges.

Here we are at the end of 2025. I've worked at Dunkin for a full year now, and am considering possible alternatives. It's been a hard year for so many people, unbelievably agonizing for others. We've been tipped upside down politically. To say "God is good all the time," feels trite and somewhat untrue. So much awfulness has transpired... My heart hurts for those affected. Yet, there are a myriad of reasons to be thankful, and to hope for better days in the year to come or the stamina to soldier through.

I haven't given up on the "Nines" in the midst of aging. I'm determined to remember the good and to smile when I remember all the blessings of the year.

Another Florida Christmas

I didn't make it to Florida in December of 2024. I had already been in March and again in September, and with my then new job at Dunkin, taking time off in December just didn't seem prudent. And then I went through 11 months of 2025 without a plan to go. Jim had visited here alone in August, and then again with the family at Thanksgiving. It just didn't appear to be in the cards for me to go there. Then our managers slashed work hours just before Michele sent the invitation for a Florida Christmas. I jumped at the chance!

Jim and Jonah picked me up at the Orlando airport early last Friday afternoon. We stopped at Gideon's Bakehouse in Winter Park for some cookies on the way home and I spent a leisurely week of holiday fun with my Florida family. There was a little bit of shopping (at Walmart), several dinners at Grammy and Granddad's house, a trip to the Orlando Science Museum, and a whole bunch of crafting! There was also a ton of gift giving. So much fun!!!

I arrived in Orlando with a slight cough and a hoarse throat. I kept thinking whatever it was was going away, but it kept returning. (Most colds start in my head and drop into my chest. This appeared to do just the opposite. A slight wheeze on the exhale for a week prior to my departure, finally reaching my sinuses by Christmas two weeks later.) I rarely ever get sick and can't even believe I am when it happens. I never got a fever, never felt sick to my stomach, didn't have a headache other than from missing my cup of coffee. Just the loss of my voice and a nonproductive cough that made lots of noise. (It's a little more productive now... like you need to know.)

We had three Christmases in Florida. The first was Christmas Eve morning because Santa arrives early at my son's house, leaving time to stop at Grammy's later on that night. We did not go to church this year (maybe more on that later... maybe) but there was a Christmas Eve dinner at Grammy's where the family all received new pajamas and stayed overnight in order to be there on Christmas morning. We stayed all day. They opened their gifts, we played games, ate junk food, and finally went home when it got dark out. That's when Southwest sent me a text about bad weather in the northeast and letting me know I could cancel my flight or book an alternative.

I ended up just watching the weather. It snowed all day Friday in Rochester, NY but Saturday looked precipitation free. I opted to keep my flights in place. Jim and I got up early and arrived at the airport as the sun was coming up. My flight was already slightly delayed, maybe by an hour so I didn't feel terribly rushed. We boarded the plane at about 9:30am, pulled away from the gate, and got in line to take off. That's when the Captain informed us we were number 10 in line. LOL! We were finally cleared for departure at 10:44am. Thankfully my flight out of Baltimore was also delayed and the assigned gate wasn't three miles away. I was able to grab a coffee and a raspberry croissant at a Dunkin on my way from one to the other. Hannah was waiting for me by the baggage claim on my return to snowy Rochester.

I unpacked my bags last night, did my laundry, and am thoroughly enjoying my loveseat in the corner of my living room. I slept like a baby in my own bed, grateful for a week of Florida family fun and sunshine. I don't go back to work until Tuesday morning.

Revisiting the Bucket List

I enjoy my job and like my coworkers. The customers are mostly wonderful. I feel comfortable in my surroundings, even if I am "the older lady." (How did that happen anyway?) I have worked 6 am until 2 pm since mid May (37 1/2 hours) and have been very aware that our hours could be reduced come January when winter closes in, people venture out less often, and we are all paying off holiday expenditures. I did not expect a slash in available work hours mid holiday season. I did not expect to be scheduled to work next Friday when I will be on my way to Florida. Our manager had okayed my absence and if we are slow, then surely someone will be looking to fill their schedule. I was taken aback by seeing my Wednesday entirely off next week.. "I don't make the schedule..." said the assistant manager, but her "best friend" is working my Wednesday... I am grateful for a loving landlord (LOL! It's me!) and bills that are paid. My car payment isn't due until mid January and I'm not a big spender, but I do need a job and full time employment is preferred. I expect something will come along, but I really don't enjoy the possibility of needing to find another job. I'm tired just thinking about it!

This week has been more stressful than normal. Or more "exciting!" as one of our customers would say. My homeowner's insurance was cancelled due to a late payment... except it's been withdrawn from bank account and is presently in limbo who knows where... (They're presently trying to track it down as it doesn't appear anywhere in their system.) I've spent way too much time haggling with automated voices on the other end of the line, speaking with agents or their representatives, pacing the floor at the credit union, and listening to elevator music. I'm now waiting for a follow up email to see what happens from here. 

Work produced a little panic on Monday morning when the manager informed me I would be working in the drive through window. In the past year I have seldom worked that position and then only for brief moments of time. "I do the work of two people," says Leigh, who is typically in the window. It is her favorite place, but her hours have also been cut and she was not present on Monday. The headset beeps when a car comes to order. Then we take the order through the headset, which involves pressing little buttons up on the side of your head so you can hear back and forth, while simultaneously covering one ear to block out extra noise and typing in the order. Everyone else in the establishment can hear everything you say even while you struggle to hear a thing. LOL! Then the order must be transferred to the actual register. Other team members fill the orders and bring the items to the drive through where the drive through person must sort them out, add straws/napkins, ring out the customer when they arrive at the window, and pass the food out without dropping or spilling anything (Think credit cards, change, dollar bills, food, drink...) all while the headset continues to beep because new customers keep pulling in. (I forgot to mention mobile orders and that the drive through person is also responsible to either retrieve donuts/baked goods, or call them out to another team member, along with placating irate/impatient customers. Fun times! I like making coffee and drinks better. Ha ha!

I'm looking forward to visiting my Florida family for Christmas. They already took the Christmas blankets home, hidden in a big, red, fabric bag when they left after Thanksgiving, so I don't have to pack presents in my bags. I long to see my son and his family again, sit outside with a morning coffee, and rest my bare feet on the pavement. The tension melts away just thinking about it.

Oh, yeah... The Bucket List. That's what is going to help me decide where to go from here if my present job totally tanks.