Continuing on my journey through life.

From my Facebook page 10/11/10

No more Costco!

After 15 years + no longer employed by Costco!! It was time for a change. I have always said,”that if it is not fun, why do it?” Unfortunately it hasn't been fun for a while. I have been doing some substitute teaching, taking it easy, and sleeping way 2 much! What's next? Whatever it is it will be something that I've never done before! So there are new doors to open and walk through!

Continued here on 10/18/10

Life keeps tossing change-ups! Am down in Bay Area. Came down for a very brief visit. An old family friend soon to be stepson was getting Bar Mitzvahed on Saturday, 10/14. Then in the evening he – the step-dad, not the Bar Mitzvahie – was getting married to the mother of Mr. B Mitzvah! My mother wanted to go. So nothing would do except that I come down from Alaska to take her. Let me emphasize that I came willing. There was no pressure of any kind used or needed.

My mother needed a blood transfusion. She has amyloidosis, a somewhat rare form of cancer with amazing deliberating effects! Although mom was only planing to attend the Bar Mitzvah, she was hopping the transfusion would give her an energy boost, as it has in the past. We arrived at Kaiser for her 9:00 AM appointment a little early. Then the blood wasn't ready until 11:30! They insisted on hooking mom up immediately, even though she had to urinate. It was quite a trip to rest room. Mom in her wheelchair, me following with the transfusion contraption. Then it was back in the chair for 4 hours!. Mom is in that chair for 7 hours +! Good thing she saved 5 minutes by getting hooked up before she went to the rest room. After that she was just too tired to go anywhere but home to take a nap.

Clarification - My mother has received very good care at Kaiser.  This was an exception.
As for me there was no way I was going to leave her at home and so anywhere. Besides my souvenir of Boston, a Brooks Brothers suit, had disappeared from the closet where I had left it from my early September visit for Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. While I am still from the '60's and the step-dad/groom is a refugee from Canyon, I would, however, have felt out of place going in my blue jeans.
After this my journey through life is probably going to change. Am going to be here until 11/2. Then I will be back around 11/18 and remain until after the first of the year. Or maybe I'll just stick around indefinitely. So for now that means no more substituting. And I am a little unsure about what I am going to do for work while I am here. Maybe I will just collect UI. There is always a chance that I will go back to Costco. I was here for 15 months and had a blast at the Concord Costco. Even now over 2 years later, when I walk in am greeted like I am everyone's favorite person of all time.
When I got back to Juneau in April of '08, I promised Sasha that I would never leave her for so long. Even though I went up to visit every 2 months it was to long a time. But my situation with Sasha is different now. It hardly seems like it would be possible, but I am seeing her even less then when I was in California! And less then at any time since her mother insisted on separating 5 years ago! I will keep my apartment in Juneau this time. It is just to good to give up.
Oh for sure I will warn you when I do write about my views on child custody battles. The harm that has been done to Sasha by keeping her away from her father is not pretty. But for now don't get me started. It is to hard to stop.
My mother is 88. Until 2 years ago she was doing just fine. Then out of nowhere she fractured a hip. She didn't fall, but there was the fracture. Then her hands started to give her pain. This is an effect from the amyloidosis. I don't think she is going anywhere soon, but I want to spend as much time with her as I can. Joni, who I am separated from never, by her own admission, understood why I felt the need to go and take care of her when the need might arise. Hold me back, it is about to start.

Until next time.....