Setting the stage

I'm sitting in my motel room more than 2000 miles from home and trying to control my excitement for tomorrow. My ex-boss' wife and I have a plan: my two former co-workers and I will go to my ex-boss' house tomorrow morning while his daughter is taking him to his radiation treatment. We are going to help his wife set up lunch, and when he returns home we will jump out and surprise him. One of my former co-workers flew even farther than I did to get here. This could be kind of awesome - I hope, I think.

I left my job here 18 years ago; I have no idea how those years went by so fast! But I worked here for 5 years, and they were so special. I came here after my own father died unexpectedly, and I needed a job that was closer to my mother. The people here had enough faith to hire me even though I think I was a bit of a mess during my interview visit. Working here meant I could take the bus up on weekends to see my mother. Working here led to my meeting my husband. Working here changed my life.

And I had two bosses when I worked here. One picked me up from the airport tonight; it was wonderful to see him. And the other we will surprise tomorrow. I'm almost too excited to sleep!

I had a special present custom-made. When I was here, we worked on a project which was a first for all of us. I had a 3D model of the results of our project inscribed in a small block of glass. I also have a lighted base to rest the block on. It will be a (literally!) shining reminder of an exciting time when we were all having fun working toward the same goal. And I like to think that in future days, when my ex-boss is lying in bed and too weary to do much, that this bit of art will remind him of our surprise visit.

Oh, and I managed to stay on track today, despite the traveling and time difference. It helps a lot that I don't have teenagers to feed and can pick food to suit just my own needs. I miss the family, but I feel like I have too much time and not enough for my brain to do, not thinking about what they need!