Everwhere is walking distance if you have the time

[ClingingToHope]

Fun but exhausting weekend.

Friday great lunch date. Friday night I meet my church group at a restaurant next to work. This is a cool church group. They like to get out and enjoy life. Church_31, now Church_32, was there. We're good. She's bounced to another boyfriend. She's looking for someone to take care of her financially so it's good that never went anywhere. She's a sweety though.

After 90 minutes with them I headed across town and hung out with another couple of friends that I hadn't seen in six weeks. That was fun.

Home then up relatively early to go cover a massive farm land auction. It's a once-in-a-generation thing around here. Businessman sold 3,400 acres of farm land for nearly $25 million.

The way the auction was run was fascinating. I wasn't going to go out but a coworker was free and we met another friend .... and I was out late again. Again, lots of fun. I just feel lighter.

Funny, a lady who used to work for my XW showed up and was friends with one of the people I was with. So she hung around. She told me she worked for XW and I said "She fired you, didn't she?" And she smiled. XW is a stickler for the rules at her job. If you follow them to a T, you're fine. If not ... sayonara.

Just a weird coincidence.

I was really tired today, but I made it to church and then into work to catch up a bit. XW texted though and needed help. Someone had to drive D12 to a parade both girls are in but in different groups and different start time.

No problem. There were a couple things running through my head.

I really like the HBO series "Hung." Forget what it's about, at its core it's about a guy who really loved his wife and is making his way without her the best way he can. Of course, he's a male prostitute now, that's the show's hook. Still it's a great show.

In last week's episode he was paid to accompany a woman who used to be a man to her high school reunion. He was freaked to be there because he was having problem with the whole sex change thing. Then he saw how people's attitudes changed towards her -- and him -- when they figured out who she used to be.

He stood up, got over his problem and danced with her the rest of the night. The show closed with the line "The one good thing about growing old is that you stop caring about what other people think of you. You just care about what you think about yourself."

I have had the hots for XW since I was 18 years old. I was lucky enough to meet her again and marry her and spend 13 years together. The story didn't end like I wanted it to, still lots of people never enjoy the feeling I had when we got married. I get caught up a lot in the overwhelming likelihood that we'll never be together again. At least I have 15 years (two before marriage) of memories. When you're old and gray, that's what you have anyway, memories.

Second thing, simple saying from church last weekend that popped back into my head this morning. I was tired and not feeling well from two nights out in a row -- the single life is tiring. And I remembered they talked about "choosing joy." I could choose to be angry and bitter today or I could "choose joy."

So I chose joy.

Anyway, I picked up D12 and took her over to the parade. D9 was chickening out and didn't want to march. The only way she would is if XW marched with her. So XW texted that they'd need a ride after the parade -- and could she borrow some gloves.

So I lent her mine and drove to the end of the parade and waited for them. They were all three icecycles and then we had dinner and I blew D9 a kiss as they left and I headed back to work.

I am tired, but it is a joyful day.