Last Tuesday I spent a great day at in Sioux City spending most of my day on the campus of Morningside College, where I earned my Bachelor's Degree. I walked around campus, popping in many many offices. I got to know many faculty and staff while I was studying and growing there, building many friendships; I had a lot of people I wanted to stop in and chat with for a bit. Found everyone I was looking for, too, except perhaps one. I had a great day of thinking about maybe where I see myself 5 years from now, reflecting on my experience this past year, hearing about new things going on in the area, and genuinely enjoying sitting in the same room with these awesome people sharing some smiles, laughs, and information.
Toward the end of the week a new opportunity came up for me in Omaha. I am so thankful for my Omaha family, the Eagens, helping me out these past few months and allowing me to live with them in the mean time. I am glad I was able to move up to Omaha, and I enjoyed picking up my job at the Egg and I, where I work with some great people and enjoy my work. Yet, for a few weeks I was starting to feel like it was about time. September was a bit of a deadline in my head I had for having something else figured out. Whether that meant having more work to do, being more self-sufficient, or I don't know... just something different. I kept thinking on Tuesday how I was itching for a little change it seemed, but I wasn't quite sure why. Guess my instincts were telling me something was coming. Perhaps an opportunity to do something different.
Through the Egg and I, I have begun getting to know this fine lady Mary. Mary has been living in Omaha for about 4 years now, and she eats breakfast at our restaurant almost every day of the week. She brings in her newspaper, flips through it, reads some articles, brings a smile, enjoys her meal, and is always chatting us up.
Well, Saturday morning she offered for me to come and live with her. She really wants someone around the house to help her out and simply just have someone else around. She is 72 years old, energetic, but has been trying to convince some of the other girls to move in with her for quite some time. When my manager heard this, she said this would be so great for Mary if I was willing to do it. I found myself thinking about it all day at work on Saturday. I called Mary up after I was off work and paid her a visit. Her house is just 3 or 4 blocks from the Egg and I. She gave me a tour of the house, and we discussed some things I could help out with if I were to move in. Pretty much had my decision made before I even called my mom. This felt like the right thing to do. A great way for me to help someone out.
Saturday night I went out to dinner with some of my great friends after a movie. Nice to see some of them, as I hadn't in what seemed like several weeks. We also played a board game, which kept me up later than I normally would like with work the next morning, but it was worth it to spend some more time with my friends while they were in town.
My mom came up Sunday afternoon to meet me at the Eagens, help me move my stuff to Mary's house, and meet Mary. My mom loved her and was excited for our adventure together. She made us take a picture together so my dad and brother could see my new roommate. Mary is not quite this short, she is just quite the character. :-)
I have my own bedroom down in the basement, where I have added a few of my personal touches.
.jpg)
It was great to spend a little time at home in this quick transition. Came back to Omaha late Monday afternoon. On my way, I received a message from my manager that my friend Becca (manager Jodi's daughter) had her baby boy that afternoon. Asa Dale Davidson. She told me I should show Mary the photo on Facebook. I pulled into the driveway, walked in, and asked Mary if she had seen the photo yet. "No," she said," but as soon as you drop your stuff off we are going to go visit." Off to the hospital we went. Cute little guy. Becca also looked really happy. We both had a chance to hold Asa, and then we went back home for the night to share a few slices of Mary's homemade peach pie. Really good homemade peach pie, by the way. Fun little first night with my new roommate.
So, I decided I wanted to start wearing my National Park of American Samoa pin I was gifted by my ranger friends at the end of the school year. Sits quite well above the logo on my Egg and I polo. Might as well, and it helps remind me of some of my other passions in life. Two big things - sharing a love and appreciation for nature and helping others in many different ways.
Almost every single one of my coworkers asked me what my cool pin was for. Mary also noticed it when she came in for breakfast, commenting how nice of a pin it was. :-)
I had the opportunity to wait on a group of 11 ladies, who were discussing a feminist book together. Apparently this group comes in once a month, varying in size each month. Rumor had it many of our severs never really enjoyed waiting on these ladies, so of course I volunteered to take it. It went really well. No order mess-ups, they were friendly to me, I shared my smiles, a few fun comments, and the Jessica Boschen service and hospitality. They tipped me pretty well, which the supervisor noticed that day. The lady in charge of the group told me before she left that I really did a great job, thanked me, and said she was going to request me for next month. Haha cool. Doing well with this table made up for a slow day, so my tips balanced out.
Mary and I worked in the basement for a while after I came home from work on Tuesday. She has a row of weaving looms and spinning wheels that have been moved around. We are reorganizing and cleaning up a bit down there. I also have a little living room with a couch, chairs, and a TV, once we clear out some of the yarn and such.
Had the 6am shift at work Wednesday morning, and I have been walking to and from work now that I am living with Mary. It only takes me 7 minutes one-way. I love that! Nice and convenient for now. Another slow day at the restaurant. I had a decent amount of customers between 6am and 7am, but then it died down. Mary came in, and I sat with her for a while on my little break. I noticed a different ring on her finger that morning. Right away my brain remembered that Mary had commented on my rings a few days ago - my Black Hills gold rings. I took a double-take at her ring, and I realized we are wearing the exact same one. How cool is that? Perhaps we really were meant to be. Destined roommates. :-)
Mary explained her ring was gifted from her husband when they had visited the Black Hills. I explained how this was my mom's promise ring from my dad that I have recently begun wearing after my return from American Samoa. I also talked about my other Black Hills gold ring I wear on my other hand that was a gift from my parents when our family revisited the Black Hills when my brother and I were in high school.
I had to take a picture of our matching rings. I wear this one on my left middle finger.
I ended up being let go at 10am. Mary was just on her way out, and she took me with her. We ventured out to a Farm Market up near Cherry Hills Plaza. Mary said this was the best one she has found in town. Fun little stop, where we found some great fruits and veggies.
I cleaened up the kitchen counter that afternoon. One of my big projects for the day. Then, I was trying to help Mary with some computer stuff. We were struggling to get her Android phone to sync with her MacBook. I finally gave up after trying many things, and we made a trip to the Apple store. Took that guy quite a while too, and I was just one extra step away from finishing the problem.
Mary is energetic, friendly, loves being with people, loves chatting, is an eccentric driver, tells many stories, and loves to throw in jokes. We are getting along really well so far. I get to help her out, she helps me out, and we get to have some adventures together. Pretty nice deal. Mary even told me when we were driving back from the farm market how she is so happy that I have moved in with her. Here's to a new life adventure. Living with Mary, helping her out, continuing to work at The Egg and I in the meantime, and seeing what else life has in store for me.
I almost forgot to mention the recipe that Mary found in the morning newspaper and showed me right away; we decide we would try it out. She had an eggplant in her fridge the first night I moved in, and she said it's not very often she finds someone that likes eggplant as much as her. We were very excited about our little meal for the night - eggplant and mozzarella melt. Boy did it turn out good! A beautiful little entree with some farm fresh watermelon for dessert. We had a lot of fun cooking it up. Often you will hear people say it is so much easier to cook for two people than it is for only one. I suppose that is pretty true. Another adventure with Mary for the week.
Hope everyone has a great rest of the week! I hope to not fall so far behind on my blog again for a while. Just had a lot going on these past few days, and then I am beat when I finally make it to my bedroom for the night. Understandable, right? ;-) Toodles!
No comments:
Post a Comment