
Day 44 in the Sink Hole announces itself with My Husband calling me to tell me it’s 8:05am. It feels nice to sleep in and in my own bed. It’s even more nice because it’s a holiday.
I then hear Toshiko coming up the stairs. I think, “He must know that today is a holiday.” So, I get up and go unlock the door, before he starts pounding on the screen door.
“Ohayo,” I greeted him.
“Ohayo. Genki desu ka?” are you well, he greets me.
“Hai, kiyo wa, yasumi desu.” Today is a day off, I remind him.
“Hai, batsu you mahstu go to jeemu,” he says matter of factly.
“Ok, let me get myself ready,” I tell him as I let him in the door.
I then ask, “Are you coming with me?” This I gotta see. So, in a way, I hope he says yes.
“No. Jastu camu oba to leemahndu you,” he says.
Darn! Oh, well, all of our wishes can’t come true.
I get back into the livingroom and he’s watching Good Morning America. They’re talking about making authentic tacos. I try to hold back my opinions on what this day really is about and wonder why they’re showing authentic tacos. Now, taco flavor burgers, that’s another take. Guacamole on burgers and carne asada burgers, that’s assimilating to the American culture. Yeah, Ok, whatever, I say to myself.
Toshiko sees this expression that I’ve made while thinking all of this and asks, “What you sanking?”
“Oh, nothing. It’s truly nothing,” I apathetically say. I then continue, “Are you sure you’re not coming? Are you going to stay here?”
“Stay heeah,” He answers.
“Ok, I’ll be home in a couple of hours, I need to go to Target to pick up some stuff, since I got a gift card from there,” I explain.
“Ok, taku timu,” he answers.
As I’m going to the gym, I say my prayer in the car.
Dear Lord Jesus,
Thank you for this day that we have named Memorial Day. Thank you for all the men and women that have died to keep this nation safe through all the wars that we’ve fought in the past, present, and future.
I can never thank you enough that I can live in a nation of ours that we can freely have a personal relationship with you and not have to worry about being caught. It is because of these brave men and women that have sacrificed their lives so that I may have the freedom to pray to You in my car.
Thank you that today I have a free day to catch up on things and have another day of rest.
I pray now that as I go to the gym, I can have a really great work out and feel refreshed and renewed.
In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I park my car and get my things together to go in and do some cardio and sit-ups. I don’t plan on staying for more than 45 minutes, as I need to run to Target and then go home and try to clean up some, before making dinner.
The gym is a bit busy, as expected, for a holiday. Hopefully, the elliptical works, as I’ve noticed some of the machines are starting to go broke.
I try one elliptical, I try to make it go down, but the number keeps saying “10”. I think it’s going down, but I decide to use another one. Again, it’s doing the same thing. Finally, the third one works, but the heart rate indicator isn’t working. Oh well, 1 out of 2 is not bad. I plug in my iPod Shuffle and listen to everything from DC Talk to Smash Mouth. Yes, I admit, I have a very eclectic taste in music. I can never go bored.
While on the elliptical, I think of the past 2 days and realized that I haven’t done much. This was one thing I could get away with while in school. I always had something to do. I could never go bored. I’m starting to have that feeling.
Granted, I’m planning my career, trying to get my house back in shape, and getting myself back into shape; I still have that nagging feeling that every night I will come home from work and have that feeling of just plunking myself down in front of the tv until it’s time to go to bed. Or, I’ll plunk myself down in front of the computer and surf the web, facebook, and shop, until it’s time to go to bed.
I then as reminded of the verse of Luke 22:41-44 (Message Bible)
He pulled away from them about a stone’s throw, knelt down, and prayed, “Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?” At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.
I mean, I’m not sweating blood, yeah, sweat from being on this elliptical, but I’m thinking hard as to what God wants me to do next.
These past few months, I’ve been hearing from so many people that I should be proud that I was able to finish school and work 40 hours a week. Yes, that was a fete in itself. So, it’s not so much accomplishing something I put my mind to, but figuring out what to do next, until I can find that place of work that will help me flourish into my career.
I have a lot of ideas- do family photography, make handcrafts and sell them, host craft parties/demos, do hair, and so on and so on.
I finally finish the elliptical and go do some sit-ups. I then realize that I need to start a workout regimen, just so I can keep track of what I need to do.
After doing 288, I look at the time and realize I need to do some stretching and get going.
As I go out the door, after a good 50 minutes of a workout, I look in the trash. I find 2 recyclables. Yes, when My Husband lost his job 5 years ago, we started skimming the trash to get recyclables. They don’t pay A LOT, but it does help with gas or extracurricular activities. It also gives me an incentive to go to this particular gym.
I get in my car and roll all the windows down, including opening the sunroof, as I need to cool down from the workout.
I get over to Target and make a mental note that to hurry, because if I need to use the restroom, there is no restroom at Target, anymore. Well, at least a safe one. I prefer not to have a peeping Tom watch me go to the restroom.
I grab my stuff and check out. I think to myself, “This poor guy who looks like a bum, checking me out, must not be happy here. But, because of our society and we allow our young ones to rule the world, he’s given no chance to succeed.”
When I go to get my stuff that’s been bagged, he’s got food with clothing items, cold stuff with Goo Gone, and 3 bags stuffed to the brim. I say nothing, because the poor guy left to another register. So, I take it upon myself to rebag most of the stuff.
Then, a woman assumes that I’m waiting for a register, gets my attention by saying, “He’s open on 10.”
I tell her, “I’m done, but the poor guy couldn’t bag my stuff. He’s got food with clothing. Just wait a sec.”
“Can I get by?” She so rudely says.
“No, just wait a sec, I’m almost done!” I tell her firmly. I then remark, “Geez, can’t anybody think of the other person. Here I’m doing someone else’s job. I’m then told to move it along by another customer who can wait just a few seconds.” I say loudly.
I finish and say, “There, that’s how you bag things and you, madame, can now go to register 10.”
OH MAH GAWSH! I need to just get home and start on other things.
After getting my stuff into the car and making my way home, I call My Husband to wake up and help me bring the things up.
Luckily, I was able to find a spot right next to our place. I take half of the stuff up and My Husband took the other stuff up.
After putting the stuff away, I check off my To-Do List that I started a few days ago. I remind myself that I need to come up with a way to keep me on track, as I know that if I do, I can keep myself busy.
I then tell My Husband that I need to take a nap. I then noticed that Toshiko wasn’t around. I asked if he was going to join us for dinner. My Husband said yes, that he’ll be by around 4ish.
Good, I have time to nap and shower.
After sleeping for 20 minutes, I realize that I need to shower. I STINK. After the shower, I was able to sleep in my papasan chair for another 20 minutes, when Toshiko’s feet start making their way up the stairs.
He lets himself in and I make way in to the kitchen. He then asks, “Tetsudai imasu ka?” Can I help you?
“Can you please make the hamburger patties?” I ask.
I then ask My Husband to turn on the bar-be-que downstairs.
Toshiko sees all the meat I’m going to grill. I have pork chops, chicken legs, and the burgers. I can see his expression. So, I explain, “Yesterday, I took out the pork and chicken to cook yesterday, but didn’t.” I then continue, “I figured I can at least cook those up and then use them later this week.”
“Oh goo eyedeeah,” he says.
When dinner is ready, we all sit down to talk and discuss.
Toshiko goes first and says, “Areesha, you mayku serufu beezee. Sahmu tihmu ok. Batsu, sahmu tihmu need to reesen to God.” Hmmm, much like the verse I had today at the gym.
He then continues, “Daybee, you cantsu waytu too rongu too maku deesheezun. Need to harree atsu begeeningu, nahtsu endu.”
Yeah, he hit it on the nose with both of us. He wasn’t trying to say that he’s not proud of what we’ve accomplished so far. But, how we should live our lives now.
After we eat, we take a walk to the Sink Hole.
Here, I tell My Husband that I’m really proud of him that he’s willing to work two jobs and help keep the house clean. So, he can put in 2 scoops.
I also tell him that I’m really proud that he’s taken the initiative to look into library schools and actually reach out to them. For that, he can put in another scoops.
My Husband then tells me that he’s proud that I went to the gym and have tried to keep the weight that I’ve lost off and have continued to keep up with the weight loss. For that, I can put in 2 scoops.
He then points out that I don’t just sit in front of the tv and vegetate. He’s noticed that I am crocheting little projects and working on a sweater. So, I can put in 2 scoops.
After putting in our 8 scoops, that we try to make as big as possible, we look down. The Hole is starting to fill up a bit. The long ladder may not have to be used again.
Toshiko tells me that I can stay in my bed one more night. In the morning, he may not be available. Therefore, the ladder will not be available. He sees that both of us are going to ask what’s going on. He then says, “Imu going to stahtu Tai Chi and itsu atu seekusu inu mohningu.”
“Oh, Chinese exercise, huh?” I point out.
“Oh, dontsu be so nehrow mihndu,” He points out.
My Husband just looks at us and shakes his head. He doesn’t know if he should stop us both or to laugh.
“Ok, well, I’m going back home to make a list of the goals I want to accomplish for June and this week,” I point out.
“I’m going back home to sleep,” My Husband says.
“Ok, Imu goingu homu to watchee moobee,” Toshiko says.
And, that’s how we bidded each other good night, tonight.