I got more good news today about another mystery paycheck arriving in the mail. My last employer sent me a check, for what I don't know, but hey I'll take it.

 

A studio was listed for 795 a month in Spanish Harlem and I went to view the space. It was advertised as an immaculate apartment in a 4-year old building with a roof view, jacuzzi and laundry on every floor. Something told me that it was to good to be true at this price but I had to see for my self.

 

The space itself was small and I didn't get much info from the 13-year old girl that had showing the space. I guess the super wasn't there so she filled in, but the problem was that she didn't know any info like how long the lease was for. I left the building unsure about applying for it.

 

An old man standing a few houses down asked me as I was about to leave if I could wait until he brought his car around the corner because he didn't think it was safe to leave it on the corner. Call me crazy but I knew I wasn't going to take the place after he said that.

 

the saga continues....

 

My family found out today that my Dad has prostate cancer. I immediately felt helpless and sad. I also felt that my discomfort with my current situation just isn't important.

 

I went online and did research about the disease. He has tests this week to determine if the cancer has spread. With the results we will decide the best treatment option for him.

 

I called my Dad with the intentions of saying 'be strong and stay positive' etc. In typical fashion before I could utter those words, my dad says 'I'm not going to walk around with my head down about this. We're going to get the test results and do what we can do. I'm blessed to have lived 80 years now. I don't want you to walk around with your head down either.'

 

This is truly an amazing man. As I said before, in his life he has had many events in his life that he could have let get him down and hang his head but he didn't. His mother died 3 days after his birth. He only met his father 2 times in his life. He lived through the great depression and the Jim Crow south. On his 18th birthday, he enlisted into the Navy and joined the fight against Hitler in WWII. While enlisted, he met and married his first wife Cora we would die a few years later from a tragic fall. He's always been a fighter and a survivor and he continues to inspire me in ways the no one else can.

 

Please keep my father and my family in thoughts and prayers.   

 

It was tough for me to sleep last night. Before going to bed, I made a list of little things that I needed to do but for whatever reason haven't done. In my terrible handwriting my list consisted of:

 

Change of Address

Absentee Ballot Request

Mailing Small Claims Papers

Inquiry for PO Box

Paying bills

 

Its not a lot, but I'm glad that I was in motion today. There is a seriousness that has come over me. My perspective has changed and I'm no longer wrapped up in where I am now, but thinking of where I have to be.

 

We are defined by the choices we make and judged on the consequences that follow. My scope of choices has changed from how long to remain in New York to considering moving back to California to take care of my dad. An illness extends beyond the physical stress and includes mental and financial challenges. I can and will do whatever it takes to help my dad and my family get through this.

 

If I do decide to stay in New York, I will be going out to California at least once a month. My ambigious approach to life is no longer governed by what adventures or challenges I face on my own, but my number one priority is being there for him.

 

'All Aboard!' -The last words yelled by the conductor before leaving the station. I can never hear those words enough. It never gets old. To me it sounds like 'welcome home'.

 

On the train, I walk up the stairs and take a window seat. The first thing I grab is the trip brochure detailing unique cities and attractions along the journey. This is a treasure map to me.

 

I wonder....how many friends will I make on this trip? If there's a cute girl, will I have the courage to talk to her? Is the snack bar open yet?

 

I wish I could stay on this train for a whole year. Maybe just a month. I'll make the best of it now.

 

jwh

 

A year ago I can remember watching the Yankee vs. Red Sox series on television trying to imagine what the mood was like in their perspective cities. The passion for these teams exists all year round and the playoff's gives us non-yankee or red sox fans a chance to choose a side and color to root for. You can way in on which team you think will win in the new poll.

 

For my two cents (its probably down to 1 cent by now) I'm pulling for the underdog Boston. The Yankees have dominated them since 1918(the year of the last Red Sox World Series win) so you can't really call this a rivalry just like you can't say that a hammer and a nail have a rivalry. But with a win, Boston can feel that 'the curse' is over and the 21st century is full of promise.

 

Maybe many of us are hoping to feel the same way on Election day....

 

I saw an amazing Indie film tonight called 'Love in the Time of Money'. It's a circular plot with overlaping charectors that really are all in some way searching for the thing that is most lacking in their lives-love.

 

Most critics slammed it and gave it bad reviews. What I can appreciate about it is the hollowness in the film that I see in many people today. Love is an addicative complicated complex simple diverse conditional unconditional intergalactic sum of all positive energy.

 

And that's my final answer.