Look what I found at my local CVS…
Now the only question is where should I put it in the apartment…
(BTW, that video was shot and uploaded using my Droid! Droid Rulez!!!)
It always comes back to the cinema, or so it seems. DJ and I would go to the movies together all the time. It was often our own private sanctuary from the world outside… where I was being demanded to provide for a broken household and where he was being demanded to become more independent quickly. Once that piece of paper had been handed in, he could act his age… and I could act his age. I tend to think that I won our more on that deal, but he did get to eat a large popcorn by himself… even if it took him two days to do it.
Yesterday, Poppy and I traveled out to New Jersey to take the Wolves to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The book has a bit of special meaning, because I had bought it for the Professor back in 2007 soon after DJ was lost to us. I’ll admit it, I read the book and really enjoyed it. I like to think it helped him as he transitioned from one school to another and from being 1 of 5 to 1 of 4.
The movie itself was a really great translation from the book, including the drawing style that had made the book so rich and unique. It’s the kind of film that I would rank up there with Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. It’s not really the Diary of a Wimpy Kid as much as it is the Diary of Every Kid, whether they want to admit it or not.
There was one part of the movie where I felt myself blown away by the philosophical truth in the statement. In an attempt to remain spoiler free, it comes from the main characters mother when they are discussing choices and whether or not the main character should do something or not do something.
She says something along the lines of, “The choices you make are what defines you for the rest of your life.”
It’s so obvious. So simple. So true.
Add on “and will shape the lives of those around you” and there would be the true meaning of life.
If it weren’t already 42, that is.
And when I walked out of that theater it really had me thinking… and a wave of sadness descended upon me because I don’t think DJ realized how important he was to me. I don’t think he realized how he shaped my life for the better. I hope that the next time we meet, I’ll have the chance to not only tell him… but to show him.
Over two weeks ago I had a relatively old, yet new, experience.
For the first time I met bloggers that I had never met in person before.
Now let’s be honest… I’ve attended two TequilaCons, Brittcon, Avitable’s Halloween Party the last two years, I’ve been to a Dave event, a Ren event, and of course I am now madly in love with the first blogger I ever met. So it is a fact that I have indeed met other bloggers face to face before… but there was a difference this time.
This time, sure the other bloggers knew who I was as I knew who they were… but they really didn’t know me just as I really did not know much about them.
I met alot of people. Quite a few of them are people I’ve been reading for years and a few of them are more recently added reads. Everyone was open, friendly, and welcoming. For that matter, I literally shook the hand of someone who I would have classified as my Nemesis in the blogosphere… but he had no idea that it was me nor did I realize it was he until much later in the night. While I did figure out who he was… still not sure if he figured out who I am… which may or may not be a bad thing.
Sure there was talk about blog platforms, search engine optimization, favorite plug-ins. There was talk about favorite smart phone apps, and some specific and common themes and ideas that had found themselves spawned from online discussions. All the talk there were things you can hear at other blogger gatherings.
What was oddly absent was the talk about everything else. There was no talk about our significant others, children, or recent visits to a restaurant we had blogged about. There wasn’t any talk about personal hopes or personal dreams, personal inspirations or personal aspirations. The discussion there was oddly, at least to myself, absent of personal things.
It was the kind of conversation you would have with like minded co-workers.
It wasn’t the kind of conversation you would have with friends.
Was it bad? Not necessarily.
Was it good? Quite possibly.
It was definitely different… and it gave me a new found appreciation for the relationships I have built from this blog.
With that said, I think it’s only fair that I make a statement regarding the future of this blog.
It seems that once again people are closing up shop, changing URLs, looking for a chance to start anew. Some of them have told me where they are going… others have not. I understand this feeling… this need for a fresh start… this need to forget the past… this need to move beyond the current blog and whatever senseless drama may surround it. I understand this… because I have felt that way a few times myself.
With that in mind…
I have to be honest, I’m really fortunate with the variety of patients I encounter. Whether it be former child television stars turned undomiciled moguls, planet devourers, or senior citizen ninjas… my job can be really interesting because of the people.
At times.
Every now and then though, there comes a patient that is both interesting and challenging to provide a service for. Usually it’s because of their personality or perhaps some sort of unique circumstance… but rarely is it for both those reasons. When things like that happen it can equate to our version of the perfect storm… where there we are in the eye, thinking we’re gonna make it… and then WHAM! That huge wave rolls over us and sets us back a few feet.
Sometimes… that wave has treads. Such is the case of a new patient we had yesterday, who I will call The General. The General is really nice enough, commanding an army of caretakers efficiently, directing with a flair which way to lift, prop, fluff, and cross to make their transport as comfortable as possible. The General‘s personality would be enough to make the experience interesting… but it’s what The General drives that makes the experience challenging…
Whoever thought it was good to give patients Sherman Tanks instead of Jazzy scooters needs to have their head examined. Really. Do you know how hard it is to get one of those into the back of an ambulance? Even with ramps, modifications, and some customization that I’m still not sure is legal… it was as simple as square object going into a round hole. Just not gonna happen after 45 minutes of trying.
After unsuccessfully getting yesterday’s transport off the ground, I asked The General if maybe they would want to drive over to the facility themselves. “I’ll drag race you if you want,” he replied with a smile as I accepted defeat and returned him to the fortress. I bet he would have… but The General would still need a driver’s license to head into the street… and he’s at least 3 years shy of that.
It’s okay though. This morning, like Douglas MacArthur, I will return to my own personal Phillipiness. I will take The General and his tank and I’ll be making it happen.
Nothing is impossible.
Not even moving a Sherman tank from one borough to another.
Impossible just takes a little longer.
Or in this case… 24 hours and a 55 gallon drum of Crisco.
Hoorah!
Tonight marks the one year anniversary for another family living in a different reality and the day the Internet got a tad bit dimmer…
So close, no matter how far
Couldn’t be much more from the heart
Forever trusting who we are
and nothing else mattersNever opened myself this way
Life is ours, we live it our way
All these words I don’t just say
and nothing else matters
-Nothing Else Matters, Metallica
Hope you’re enjoying the backstage passes in Heaven… miss you Lisa…
categories: Blogging Blogger Meet-Ups TequilaCon 2009 Personal Memories
