Ten.Two Thousand & Fifty-Two
Today.
I start right away on the email to her and then try to edit all of the transcripts quickly. It is taking longer than I thought it would, and I am regretting all of my decisions on process.
She calls to ask if we need to reschedule my appointment. What does she mean? I am in the car, halfway there. I had the wrong time. I hang up the phone. I started this whole day wrong.
I know what I did wrong: I went straight to work on a day off. I should have started with a list of gratitudes.
We manage to make lunch happen: steak frites, tomato soup, a kale salad, lemonade, laughter, and real talk. I tell her she’s turned my day around.
But I should really not go to work tomorrow for real, right?
I sit and write a list of 38 things for which I am grateful.
None of the kids are here for dinner, so we do an impromptu walk and head to Goose and Gander.
There is an older black couple at the table behind me, and I can’t keep myself from staring at the woman. Her dreadlocks look fresh, gray hairs sitting just at the base of her scalp. Matte red lip. No eye makeup. Her voice is low and slow. A quiet beauty. A gentle power. I want to know her.
It’s not about today. It’s about all of the days I have left.
