Highlights: Where to start? At the beginning, I suppose, which was the usual 6:30 AM canine nudging. This time, though, I vowed to return to bed. I did, but to no avail. Sleep was over for the moment. I took my seat at the window, read and briefly wrote, and mapped out the priorities for the day. Here it is, the end of a day during which I recognized many accomplishments and noteworthy observations. Yet, all that comes to mind is watching Lucky wrestling to track a pair of squirrels rapidly scrambling back and forth between two trees for several minutes. It was hilarious and thrilling. And a great moment of perspective, too, as to the 'little moments.' None of this is news, but I like to stay aware of such things. There are so many that come and go without being noticed. Lucy and Abbey left their yard this evening as Tommy was leaving, so he called and told us. Jen and I corraled them back in to find that the gate wasn't locking and must have blown open. I tried to reach Tom, but he and Danice were gone then, and his number was no longer in service. I contacted the neighborhood group thread reporting the incident and asked if anybody had Tom's correct number. Moments later, Tommy texted that Clara contacted him, and they got out again. I returned to find them still there, but I secured things further. When I returned, the group chat had been active, including Clara sharing that she'd sent Tom the info, only to report a moment later in a follow-up that it was Tommy she contacted, not Tom! SMH. You can't make this stuff up. I drove down the street a while later, just as they'd returned. How timely. I stopped and shared the details so he understood who tie-wrapped his side gate shut. I spent some time on the patio, immensely enjoying the space and pleasant weather. I took the time to dig out and re-seat the walkway divider that was poorly installed by me the first time to a much-improved end. I used the momentum to do the same with the other side that had never been put in place. That led to blowing leaves, which clearly out the decade or so of built-up dirt under the lavender bush and trimming that too. I was on a roll and enjoyed it, along with a viscerally inspiring podcast episode on stoicism and goals that are helping me to recognize some patterns that need to be changed or adopted. I'll be re-listening again tomorrow as I work on the wedding. I contacted the Kirkwood Hospital regarding Tommy's bill going through insurance, and also reached out to the insurance company. I've ensured I have the right process and steps to aggressively filing cliams and reporting out of pocket expenses. The whole insurance industry is corrupt and designed to make it as difficult and time consuming as possible to get the beneifts you deserve. It makes me want to leave the US. Many things do.
