Mixed Bag

I have been trying to post more often.  Here is a mixed bag of items too short for individual posts.

At lunch, I usually go to the office gym. It is a small area packed with one treadmill, several ellipticals, a couple of exercise bikes, and two weight machines. Yesterday, on the way to the gym, I ran into Popstar and a few others in the lunchroom. This is the first time I have seen Popstar since she ignored my text.

The group was talking, so I paused and entered the conversation. One woman was retiring. She has been commuting a long distance for the last six months as she transitions into retirement. Popstar made the following comment to the retiring coworker concerning the commute. "Heck, you could stay with me (instead of making the drive). I'm bored."

I didn't comment. If the year wasn't 2021 and this wasn't a conversation at work, I might have said. Bored? Then maybe you should have taken me up on my offer for dinner. Instead, I just headed to the gym.

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Firefly is awake. Her mother says there was no permanent damage. I have not heard directly from Firefly. Because of Covid, visiting patients is limited to one family member each day. I called the gift shop and arranged for them to send a stuffed animal to her room.

The pleasant-sounding giftshop volunteer relayed the animals they had available. I chose a zebra from those.  On the card, I had her put the following, "Zebras cannot change their stripes, but you can Cuddledud." 

I informed the woman there was no need to add my name. Firefly would know who it was from. I have been second-guessing the note. Does it sound harsh?  Get well soon or glad you are alive-- didn't seem appropriate.

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Ava is on a spiritual retreat in Jacksonville, Florida, for her birthday, which is Friday. I think it is a "working" retreat. She returns Monday. I offered to pick her up from the airport. Maybe we will get something to eat on the way home. All part of blurring the lines.