Day 23: December 27th
It’s 4am and I’m up. I should be asleep — with my full day yesterday, I don’t know how I do it. I drift off back to sleep.
I receive a call. “Amazon. Your delivery is here.” I go down, pick up a large box, and return upstairs. My new linen: sheets, pillowcases, comforter, and pillow. I have all the makings to complete a well-kept bed.
I smile at each item. Joy fills my heart. Joy. I’m thankful. I sit these aside and return to bed.
7:45am. I’m back up, expecting my technician in a short while. Internet services — I got a really good deal. I receive a call at 10 and confirm. Installation is a breeze. It did take a little bit, something on the other end as the tech repeatedly apologizes.
I tell him, “I don’t worry about uncontrollable things. You’re doing your best and that’s all I expect. No problem here.”
He thanks me for being so understanding. He stated most of the people he services are upset or mouthy. “So thank you for being cool about it.”
In my mind I think: What can I do? What would getting mad do? Nothing productive. So I don’t bother.
I smile and continue reading over some notes I made the day before while writing out my schedule for today. Before you know it, it’s all done. He gave me a few pointers and went on his way. Another sub-goal scratched off my list.
I clean up, get dressed, and head out for the day.
First stop: Best Buy. I need an SSD. The store clerk seemed rather annoyed when I asked for some assistance — larger fellow, with a really unhealthy gut, heavy breathing, almost laboring from the look of his shoulders.
“I’m helping someone else,” he points. “That guy will help you.” The guy he points to has no clue I’m even in this section.
I smile. Silly man.
I walk over to the clerk, glance at his name tag from afar. I approach him by name. “Hey Mike, can you grab an SSD for me? The 1TB Crucial brand — it’s the only one of its kind there.” He brushes his card against the glass and unlocks the glass wall. “Will this be all?” Yes. We walk to the counter and I pay, and about my day I go.
It’s approaching noon. A taco truck in sight. I walk up and order a steak super burrito and a Coke — $16 dollars. I find my route. I have 13 minutes, so I get started on my burrito sitting, waiting for the bus.
Delicious! I should have bought Mexican food last night. I wasn’t too impressed with the chicken I received last night, and my pie and cheesecake was lackluster.
I remember Nation’s having good pie, thicker crust on the cheesecake. What I received last night was ridiculous. I must have been so in the moment ordering it I didn’t really look it over. But this crust was paper thin. The filling: cream cheese and 10 cups of sugar. I ate around it — definitely not worth $9 a slice.
I found myself in irritation of this mess and have now vowed to make my own cheesecake very soon, and much, much better.
Next stop: IKEA. I need a cast iron skillet, a lamp, storage, and plants. I need a bookshelf but didn’t see one I liked. Glass food storage for my meal prep, a throw, and I’m at the checkout.
I’m a very methodical shopper. I always have my list handy. It’s been one of the pillars I’ve built along the way: financial wellness. Jim says be a good planner. I keep a budget and I stick to my budgets. Jim says keep strict accounts. You have to know where it’s all going. So I do.
Hands full now, I figure I’ll make one more stop. Ross for boots and thicker socks. I found exactly what I wanted and need: a pair of Ralph Lauren boots, thick socks, and I’m out the door. I jump on my approaching bus and head home.
Everything is coming together nicely.
After making a second run out the door, I had this thought: You can’t always expect your plan to go just right. But what I have noticed is if you ask, you plan, you get moving towards it — things happen. Not always, but almost.
You can’t have perfect around the clock. You have to learn lessons, and life is the best teacher. It’s not punishment, but maybe you neglected something and life is really pointing it out: You have to work on this. And if you don’t, I’m going to keep showing you.
I learn my lessons, and I move on. I enjoy the process, and every day I’m feeling better and better.