Today is my friend Jimi’s birthday. As a kid, he would remind everyone that it was his birthday, and it was easy to remember because it was the day Lincoln (Abraham, just in case you were wondering) got shot, the Titanic hit the iceberg, and the day before taxes are due. Sadly and unpredictably, it would also become the day his father will tragically die from falling multiple stories while on the job. Today is also my surgery day. Jimi hardly ever tells me he loves me, but last weekend he indirectly told me by saying enough bad stuff has happened on his birthday and I shouldn’t add to it.
While the ex and I haven’t buried the hatchet, things have cooled down. She will sometimes ask me to help drive the kids to and/or from practice if there’s a conflict, and has sat next to me the last couple of games. We don’t talk about much (there’s a lot I want to talk to her about, trust me) but at least the kids don’t have to look for their parents in two different areas.
I’ve forgiven her for a lot of things, but not sure how I can do so for her breaking up our family or alienating the kids from me.
The ex and I have coordinated a little bit regarding the transportation of our kids and my surgery and recovery.
I’ll be honest, I’ve become more scared as the surgery date approached. I’m sad I’ll wake up from surgery without any family there and scared of going through the recovery alone. Sure, I was able to handle things after my neck surgery just fine, but it’s easier to get around and do things with a bad neck than a bad back. At least it’s an opportunity to build on courage or something like that.
When I was a kid growing up in Mineral Wells (shout-out to the police officer from there who’s a regular reader) I didn’t take the bus to school, but would ride it a lot for sporting events. I have a lot of good memories of riding in school buses, and it was a unique way to bond with friends. That came to mind as my son went on a field trip yesterday. Due to logistics and how their charter school manages things, the only time they ride a school bus is for field trips. So, once or twice a year. A part of me thinks my kids are missing out. I’m also trying to imagine how uncomfortable a two-hour ride in one of those things would be for me nowadays.
I’ve been trying to find another book to read. It will be a good tool to use to pass the time as I recover. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to stick to history and biographies, sports or politics related, switch to something motivational, or find something spiritual. I finally landed on Phil Jackson’s book, Eleven Rings: The Soul of Success. Yup, the Zen master of basketball. It hits all the marks except for politics, but I could tap the brakes on that for a bit. I forgot he’s the son of a preacher. It will be interesting to learn how and why he moved from Christianity to the Zen life, as well as to get some nice Jordan, Shaq, and Kobe stories.
