Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Stress and darkness and bedbugs, oh my

It has been a shake-up crazy week at work and in life. Turns out I may have needed the retreat in Santa Barbara more than I thought because of what has come to me this week... It has been an overwhelming week at work, starting with the smell and discovery of rotting watermelons after five days of being gone and between registration for our Thanksgiving give away, more clients in a single day than I've ever seen, free flu shots at the pantry and rain making everyone grumpy. It was a good test for me of my own will power, ability to breathe and smile at the clients as they approached me and my volunteers skills.

We also don't have electricity in our apartment right now. It's been more than 36 hours at this point and it won't be on all night long tonight. The city of Glendale is doing some work in our building, and we get a generator for a few hours each night to turn on the fridge again and have a lamp on. It was supposed to be done today, but it's going to be off for another night. The first night it was kind of fun and romantic to go out for dinner together, sit around and read by candle light and blow out the candles at the end of the evening. Tonight I feel like I'll be more aware of the cold shower, the inability to make food, the rotting food in the fridge and the lack of internet and TV. (Which is why I'm still at work an hour after I could go home).

Also, we have bedbugs. I don't want to even begin to get into THIS story and journey, but they are in the house. I am currently not being bitten, and we have an inspector coming tomorrow to give us a clue of what to do next.

In the end, I'm very glad I went out for coffee and had great conversation and insight with a new friend last night, and that tonight I get to go to yoga. I'm making the roots that hold me down and steady in a way I know I was not just about three months ago, when all of this would have made me curl up in a ball and cry. And for that, I am thankful. I am working very hard to develop gratitude where gratitude is due.

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