Think of Laura

Nothing but good luck here...

Much like the day before, I slept later than I usually do. I slept until 5:55am. If there ever was a week to do so this was the one. Also, I knew that I needed to be fresh today at work since I would be the only manager in the center. Stealing a few extra winks of sleep could only help. I was busy with my morning calisthenics until 6:10am. Ykraps and I were out the door by 6:15am.

I noticed immediately that the trash collectors hadn’t picked up yet, which I found surprising. After all, you can almost set your watch by these guys. They’re usually at the curb within five minutes of 6:00am – either side. It was 6:30am when we made our way back into the house. It sprinkled just a smidge while we walked. I checked the radar and saw a green blob about thirty miles wide just barely crossing north of the I-70 barrier. Just to our south they seemed to be getting the majority of the storm just as it’s been most of the early summer. Winter and summer storms both often track along I-70 or I-71. Not sure why that is.

I went about the rest of my morning at home like any other. I watered flowers, made food, and showered for work. I left the house at 8am sharp. As I drove to work I saw clouds and rain to our south and clear blue to the north. I arrived to a sunny work place around 8:15am.I was eager to get on with my day with an eye towards the weekend. I tend to be all the more excited about the weekend after coming off an on-call weekend. I suppose it makes me appreciate them more.

The day didn’t begin so busy at all. In fact, save for a couple of pesky problems, it was eerily calm for a Friday. I stayed busy with some online leadership training & planning one on one meetings with my team. I left for lunch five minutes earlier than normal. I left at 1240pm.

It was 78 degrees and mostly sunny. It was an invigorating run. My legs were a little weary as I pushed through the last mile. I had brought my keys in my gym bag just in case I decided to run the Trooper over to Discount Tires for a free rotation. I chose to do just that when I finished my shower. I had put this off for almost a year now. Come September, I will have had these tires for two years. Last time I popped in they were too busy. Today they weren’t. The more than friendly gentleman working the counter assured me that they’d be done in less than 30 minutes. I chose to wait in the lobby even though I tinkered with walking over to Lowe’s to exchange our propane tank. I figured carrying full tank across the parking lot was to taxing and besides, it was Friday.

As promised, they were done in about thirty minutes. I walked about the Trooper before pulling away just to be certain that they tightened all of the lug nuts. Satisfied that they did, I drove across the street to Lowe’s. There, I exchanged our propane tank and then went back in to get to gate hooks for Gloria and some new super glue for around the house. I was careful to pick a rather new looking tank since the last one must have leaked. It lasted barely eight weeks. In fact, remembering back, I noticed when I exchanged for it that it looked old and worn.

Accomplishing each of my minor errands, I headed back to the office feeling fulfilled. The afternoon wasn’t as easy going as the morning. Something happened while I was away driving up our workload. It happens like that sometimes. There on out we were balls to the wall, so to speak. I wrapped up my day in the office by 5:15pm. I was eager to begin the weekend.

I took the back way home because I-270 was backed up and there were reports of two separate accidents, both potentially stifling to my travel. I made it home by 5:30pm. I walked Ykraps why Mindy mopped the tile floors. She was expecting her childhood friend, Laura to arrive sometime after 6pm, who was in town for their 20 year high school reunion. Laura currently lives in Jersey, right across the West River from Manhattan. Feeling tired, I went upstairs to take a nap while Mindy did a few other things. I must’ve slept for ten or fifteen minutes, and it felt great. I woke then changed into comfy Barley’s attire. While downloading some pics, a door-to-door salesperson arrived trying to sell Mindy something. It just so happened that Laura arrived at the exact same time, although I didn’t realize it. The salesperson seemed pushy so I told Mindy just to close the door, again, not understanding that Laura was on the porch, too. She must have found that exchange a bit strange after all, I hadn’t as much as met her yet.

Mindy was extremely excited to see Laura, whom she hasn’t seen a stitch of in a couple of years. They grew up right around the corner from each other and have been friends since early childhood. Laura has a very interesting story. She grew up with a broken family on the Westside in Holy Hill and had every reason to fall into the “sider trap”. Instead, however, she made something of herself. After college she moved to New York to become a television producer in New York for Today Show. There she met her eventual husband who now has a very successful company in Manhattan. She’s now a stay-at-home mom and seems to enjoy it. As we chatted over a glass of wine and me a beer, I couldn’t help but notice a distinct similarity to my step-mother, Sheila who passed just 3 months ago.

We hung out telling stories on the deck until 8:10pm when we decided to leave for Barley’s. Mindy & Laura rode together. I drove the Trooper. There was a moderate crowd and usual gang was present at the bar. Still missing were some of the usual late arrivers. They eventually showed. We had a fun time. Mary Ann had to work so Bob came solo (somewhat rare occurrence). Tara, Mindy’s teacher pal, showed up too. I hadn’t seen her since winter. She’s very interesting!

We hung at Barley’s until 11pm or so. We said our goodbye’s to Laura as she headed home to her mother’s, although we expected to see her Saturday evening at the 20 year reunion. We headed home too and went right to bed.