Moments D676: Waiting Rooms

Here's something you likely don't know about me. I dislike waiting rooms. I know, most people likely do.  Really, who likes waiting around for someone else?  That said, some may enjoy the quiet downtime as they wait for their appointment. For me, it's a waste of very precious time.

Unfortunately, for me, my doctor is always running behind schedule. It's not just once in awhile. It's every single time I go to visit her. I wouldn't mind so much if it were merely 5-10, even 15 minutes each time. Sadly, the truth is that she is typically an hour late - or more. It's disrespectful of my time to always be so late.

Even so, she's still my doctor. I know, I know. I should just find a new MD and believe me, I've thought about it, but it's been a low priority given that I really only see her once, maybe twice a year.

Today was a check-up. All I needed was blood work done, so, in essence a requisition form for the lab. I'd see my doctor for maybe 5 minutes for it.

And I waited for just over an hour.

Normally I would have been quite tweaked by the end of my waiting time. Today was a different story. Today I had EQ with me as he's back in town! Our hour in the waiting room was a nice mid-day treat. Bonus time.

Instead of feeling like I had had time stolen from me, I now felt like I had stumbled across bonus time with my love. Perfect really considering he came back to Toronto early.  Bonus time!

We enjoyed every extra minute we had together today because of my tardy, ill-organized, overbooked doctor.  I'm not complaining.  Instead, I'm celebrating that moment.

Moments seeing with a different perspective.

Moments appreciating bonus time.

Moments D675: Spidey-senses

Today was an interesting day.  A day where my spidey-senses were off the charts with activity.  It felt like everything had a double meaning, or a deeper meaning.  Things unsaid were heard.  Things heard left the feeling that there was more to be said.  Small pieces didn't add up.  Bigger pieces felt forced together.

The puzzle was set up and done, but it just didn't feel right.

And I went about my day.  Ignoring the pieces.  Well, sort of.  I was aware of the misplaced pieces, but re-arranging them in my mind (over and over) was unbelievable. Truly.  The version of the puzzle that appeared to best fit, not only seemed unbelievable, it felt like a fairytale story.  No way was that version of the puzzle real.

And yet, as the day passed by, I came to believe that maybe it was possible.  Maybe, just maybe it wasn't just my imagination.  Maybe my gut instinct and understanding of the pieces were right.  Maybe.

On my way home from volleyball, I was on Skype with EQ sharing our days with one another.  As I drove up to the apartment, I realized that there wasn't parking right out front and said as much with, no doubt, annoyance in my voice.  I've never had EQ find a way off Skype with me as fast as he did in that moment.  That was the linchpin for me.  All the pieces locked in place.

Of course, I could still be wrong.

I slowly parked the car.  Methodically.  It was a perfect distance from the curb.
I slowly walked to the apartment.  It was dark.  The hallway light was on.
I slowly walked up the stairs to the apartment.  Nothing seemed out of place.  Nothing changed from when I left this morning.

My belief began to falter.

I opened the door.  It was pitch black inside.  I dropped my bags in the kitchen, said hello to kitt-eh and then flipped on the light.

And there he was.  Laying on my couch.  A big 'ol smile upon his face.  I laughed, still in my parka and stood there a moment and soaked him in.  He was really here, back in Toronto.

And I said:

"I knew it!"

A few seconds more I had dropped my parka and joined him on the couch and we fell into a moment of just holding each other.

What a fantastic, beautiful non-surprise.

EQ was home again.  Early by 4 days.  What a beautiful moment that was.  What a fairytale indeed.

Moments paying attention to the details and not believing what they were saying.

Moments enjoying one of the best surprises ever to come your way.

Moments D674: 30s Dance Party & Respect

Today I had an interesting lunch with a work colleague that I very much respect.  He's got 23 years on me which means he has a lot of experience to offer.  When he shares, I listen.

While our work lunch started with our typical ramblings of the fate of the industry and next steps for both our companies, we found ourselves veering away from that by mid-lunch.  The focus became more about age differences as he was about to head out on a date this coming weekend with a woman younger than he, and I, of course, am with a man 11  years older than me.   Common ground for a very personal subject.

We discussed the challenges and interesting opportunities that an age difference can bring.  Everything from expanding one's perspective to misunderstandings based on those unique perspectives.  It was a fantastic conversation and when I arrived back into the office, it was followed up with another brief moment of age differences.

This song came on the radio and Chica came walking into the office.  Fourteen years my younger, she suddenly broke out into a dance.  In the middle of the office.  Rocking away.  It was a 30s dance party.  It brought a smile and a laugh to everyone in the office.  A perfect breather after a couple of stressful days.

And that's when it all snapped into place.  Respect.  It's ageless.  It can show up in the form of a deep philosophical discussion, or it can show up in a moment of living life large.

Moments enjoying differences of ages.

Moments appreciating that respect can be ageless.

Moments D673: More random hugs

Well, it happened again today.  What can I say.  It's been a rough start to the week and my energy isn't what it typically is.

Mid-day, my co-worker walked up to my desk, took one look at my harried face, walked behind me and then enveloped me into a hug.  Then he told me to stand up.

And he gave me a bigger hug.

Just what I needed actually.  It certainly made the rest of the day go by a little easier.

I have really wonderful, caring co-workers.  For that I am thankful.

Moments appreciating a random, needed hug.

Moments appreciating your co-workers.

Moments D672: Needed hugs

Some days it just happens.  I project.  I don't mean to.  It just happens.  It happens when I'm too busy to slow down enough to see what energy I'm sharing with the world around me.

Today was one of those days.  I projected my stress outward.  It's not that I said anything about it, no, it was really just my quick responses, lacking any depth or energy to them.  Today, I had much on my "to do" list and I didn't want any of it to carry over to tomorrow.  (I failed on that point - that's ambition for you!)

Near the end of the day Chica came around to my desk and without saying anything gave me a big 'ol hug from behind as I continued to work away on a document on my computer.  At that point, I had to laugh and turned to thank her.

She said she knew I needed it.  And that was it.  She was off for the day and gone.

She was right.  Her small action made me pause and consider all that I was stressing over.  It will still be there tomorrow.

What a wonderful work moment today.

Moments being unaware of what you are projecting.

Moments being quickly brought back into awareness, with a needed hug.

Moments D671: Early bird catches the worm.....

.....or in this case the GOLD medal for men's hockey.

Mom, Dad & I were all up early this morning so we could watch the final match in men's hockey.   (After all, how could we call ourselves proud Canadians if we didn't?!!)

What an incredible game it was. They came out hard and fast, tweaked their game to better off-set the unexpected offence of the Swedes and kept fighting hard for the win right to the very end of the game.

It was a little surreal eating breakfast over a game of hockey, but I suppose that was a little less surreal than those drinking beer at 7 am today!

So very proud of our Team Canada this winter Olympics.  We ranked in third place in the medal standings in Sochi with a medal count of 25.  We had some spectacular moments this Olympics.  The first female bobsledders to earn two consecutive gold medal in the women's two-man event.   The bobsled crash, where no one was, miraculously, injured.   Sisters winning gold and silver medals in the same event.  Charles Hamelin, crashing out of his two top events.

Dreams being realized and others being dashed away.

We may not have topped our 2010 medal count, but Team Canada was impressive none-the-less.

Congratulations Team Canada.

Moments enjoying the Canadian sport of hockey.

Moments feeling pride for your country`s athletes.

Moments D670: Family Dinners

This afternoon I headed to Welland so that I could watch my nephew in his hockey tournament.  Typically such a visit is quick and I don't have much of a chance to really interact with my brother, SIL or my nephews.  I join them at the arena, spend some time with my SIL and younger nephew and then we all go our separate ways.  As fast as it is, I am always willing to make the drive, when I can, to cheer on my oldest nephew in the sport he loves.

As I sat enthusiastically cheering on my nephew (playing centre these days) I wondered where he would be in 10 years time.  He's only just turn 10, so there are many paths yet before him.  Will he still be playing hockey?  Would he push himself hard to ever make it to the Olympics?  (What can I say?  I have the Olympics on my brain!) Or, will he be more focused on learning?  Of course, I haven't any answers, but there was that moment today where I was pondering where he might go with his love of hockey.  (And boy-oh-boy does he love his hockey!)

While watching my nephew play is best was a heart-warming moment, the real moment today was a surprise family gathering.  The entire family was coming back for dinner after the game.  Not only my brother and his family, but my Big Sis and her family.  There was 11 of us in all.  What an incredible dinner it was.  Our food was simple, but perfect for the occasion and something we "kids" all love.  Spaghetti and meatballs with ceasar salad.  The dinner table was filled with fast moving conversations, silliness with my nephews and silliness with my "nieces".  Lots of laughter.  The only thing missing was my love.  (He's in California right now.)  I think we all missed him tonight.

I was so very happy that my Mom offered to pull this impromptu dinner together for everyone.  I may have only been in Welland for 18 hours, but I managed to see all my peeps.

That was pretty incredible.

Moments appreciating the effort Mom puts in to pull us busy kids together for dinner.

Moments loving and appreciating my family.