Everything Looks Different, Now

Everything looks different.

After 3mm of hell in the form of a kidney stone
that I bouted with 6 times in 6 months,
breaking the last digit of my middle finger
at work last week
by dropping my handtruck on it
seems like nothing.
I did the owie dance for four minutes,
but still,
it isn't a kidney stone.

After working as a Certified Nursing Assistant,
understanding the difficulties in getting the license,
understanding the difficulties of the job,
loving the hard work and the people,
hating the business,
always being ON with every moment
as one has to be when taking care of a group of dimentia patients,
I have a new understanding of my old job
that I used to complain about so heavily
and now offers so little in the form of challenges
that I understand it is GRAVY!
Add to that,
understanding my wife worked as a CNA
while putting herself through nursing school
and raising her daughter
as well as facing challenges life has to offer,
and my work is SUPER GRAVY!
Add yet to that
many nurses have had similar experiences
and I feel a brand new energy at my job
that gives me joy and enthusiasm
not felt in the previous round I had there.

Moving to Coos Bay gave me a new Love of Portland.
Coos Bay doesn't have much in the form of culture,
though I'm sure it has more than it did before 2000.
Coos Bay does have the most excellent Mexican restaurant
we have ever eaten at...Marcy's.
But...
In Portland, you can go out and listen to live music
on any given night.
In Portland, there is always something to do.
In Coos Bay, such is not the case.
The natural beauty of the ocean is wonderful,
but the lack of culture and anything to do
gives me a new understanding and appreciation of Portland.
Every morning that I head to work
I cross the Marquam Bridge
which gives you a great view of the city
and I Love seeing the city buildings
lit in their morning lights
as the rain falls upon the earth.

My Love for Shusli has grown in leaps and bounds
but that is more of a personal note
and details are shared with Shusli
and not you all here.

Taking up chess again
helps me to see patterns
that were difficult to see
even though I am usually pretty proud
of my ability to recognize patterns within things.
It teaches me to see life
and the world
differently
and how to make better decisions,
how to make more efficient moves,
how to think,
try not to move to fast,
try to think, first.

Although we haven't been in the best of health
since moving back,
and we have had to face a few unexpected challenges,
I'm tellin' ya,
life is much better than I understood it to be
before moving to Coos Bay.

There are many people who live in Coos Bay
that Love that little town.
Good for them.
Living in Coos Bay taught us a Love for Portland.
Good for us!
So I thank you, Coos Bay,
for showing us an appreciation of the city of Portland
That we Love and where we belong.

Life is good! Life is really really good!
From this position,
we should be able to take a good stance,
move forward,
think,
take the time we need,
and do that all important thing...
help one another.