I tend to get very reminiscent and nostalgic this time of year. Especially this year. I remember this time last year because I was really in a funk with my job and I was hell bent on finding a new job. It was our first Christmas after Maly had moved to Charleston to go to school. It was kind of a off Christmas time, mainly because of the weather.
Maly goes back to school on the 10th of this month. That’s in 5 days, and I’m making myself concious of that.
When she left home for Charleston in August of last year I got really depressed. And it lasted for a really long time. It probably wasn’t until we were talking about and making the plans for her to come home for Thanksgiving that I was able to get my head out of the fog.
And then she was home for the Christmas break, and then had to leave again to start the Spring semester, I’d learned to don’t make it sad. Shortly after she’d returned to Charleston I started a new job that I got excited about and enjoyed, and that kept me busy, occupied and fulfilled. When you’re at a job you don’t like it’s really easy to let your mind get buried in those dark places.
And then we she was home for the entire summer, and then had to leave again to start her Sophomore year, I’d wisened up quite a bit. I knew I’d need to do something to keep my mind (and hands) occupied. So I took up welding. The morning that she backed out of the driveway to drive herself across 5 states to go back to college I just started getting busy. I didn’t even walk back into the house after she drove away. I just started cleaning the garage. Elise started watering plants. Honestly, I think Elise and I were avoiding making eye contact because we both needed our own moments, otherwise if we’d looked at each other we both would’ve started crying and become useless bumbling idiots. I repurposed an old tool box and organized all of my drive sockets and then I started designing and fabricating the metal patio table and benches.
I have some welding project ideas. And some woodworking and epoxy project ideas. And there are always things to get rid of. I think I’m just learning that I’ll have to get busy getting busy.