It was a challenge this morning to constrain the runaway horses of thought when I first woke. That's not unusual and quite common when I get caught up in the dramas that might be unfolding around me, or within me. I managed to rein them in long enough to reflect simply on the fact that another day lies ahead. Although their stamping feet and braying continue, it's not consuming my attention or distracting me from finding my center of balance. My mom is struggling again from the treatments and, I suspect, the reality of her condition. Tommy started his 10-week internship at Stanford today. Outside of a brief tension yesterday which negatively impacted our dinner at Original Joe's with Jon, he's been cooperative and focused on the opportunity ahead. Scottie continues to make minor improvements, but I think one bad landing will undo it all. Like my mom, this is the new normal. Lauren called to chat again on Sunday and continues to work on her own set of introspections and realizations, which is wonderful to witness and share in. Jen returned today after 4 days in Indian Wells with Cheryl and Christy. I have a possible buyer for the BMW lined up to check it out next Saturday, and I hope that pans out. We stopped by to visit my mom after getting her at the airport, and I said I would start coming over on Tuesdays to help her with whatever, and Jen and I would come on Thursday evenings for weekly dinners. Her first desire is to clear books out and donate them to the library, which is fitting, given her having spent so much time there helping with book sorting. I am still being honest and direct with her about the realities because I see no point in pretending that this will get better. I want her to be aware of and consider what options may become necessities as this continues. It's a gift to be engaged even though there are times (especially during commute hours) that it's frustrating. Those are very short-lived incidents that I am working to reduce and eliminate. When this is all behind me I'll regret the loss of the inconveniences. I squeezed in a few home tasks of my own this afternoon - I put the UV-blocking film on Tommy's windows. It wasn't easy and there are a few areas I would like to do over, but this is an 80/20 call. It's good enough. I also fixed the poorly installed dog door and removed the plastic flap that seemed to be a barrier for Scottie. Tomorrow starts what looks like a four or five-day stretch of high 80s - low 90s temperatures. I am hoping some of my efforts to better manage to keep the house cool and the electricity costs down will pan out to be successful.
