No Strings Attached

Posted By Kathleen David on December 7, 2020

I got all the things I needed to get done for our reading of Christmas Carol and it went over very well. More on that tomorrow.

Work has been busy as people come shop for décor and presents. I have been answering questions and giving people other ways of doing what they want to do. I like the mental work I have to do along with stretching my organizational skills.

I am feeling good about life in general.

Caroline’s Birthday dinner was a hit. She had a lovely time with her friends. The staff loved her birthday cake. 

(For the VI: This is Caroline’s cake it is round white icing cake with the words Happy Birthday then in smaller letters you still can’t drink)

(for the VI: This is Caroline blowing out the candles on the cake)

It is nice to not feel like I am in a crouch with my fight or flight response in overdrive. When things do go south, I am not falling into my pit of despair.

So I would say right now my mental state is healthy.

I am grateful for all that has gone right this week.

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Posted By Kathleen David on December 5, 2020

Today is Caroline’s eighteenth birthday. 

It feels like I just brough her home from the hospital in her car seat.

She is a smart, clever, creative young lady and I am very proud of her and all her accomplishments.

Dear Caroline,

You are now eighteen. It is a random number that legally says you are an adult. That’s all it is.

On the plus side, you don’t need a parent with you when you see your Doctor unless you want us there. You can register to vote and then vote in the next election. There are all kinds of jobs you can apply for that yesterday you could not. You can go to the gym on your schedule rather than having to go with your father or me. Eighteen does open a lot of door.

Even though you are legally an adult, I want to remind you that does not mean you have to give up your childhood. Your parents are shining examples of being an adult but keeping our childlike sense of wonder and imagination along with our fandoms and hobbies. We make it work and so can you.

You have gone from the length of my arm to five foot six. I have enjoyed watching you grow each inch. 

I enjoyed watching you grow from that confused baby to the young woman you have become.

I love your creativity and passion. You work very hard on your artwork. I have watched you over the years sell your drawings at conventions. You are a good salesman. I know a number of people who have your art hanging in their house.

Heck, you work hard at everything. I am proud that you take initiative on things. You do your homework without having to be prodded. You get a jump on long term projects and break them down into easier chunks. 

You are kind to both people and animals. You worry about others and how they are doing. You are there for your friends. You are very empathetic. 

I enjoy the walks we have made part of our daily routine. I have gotten to know you better as we walk and talk. We have created a number of in jokes for us. “Fat Frog!” is one of them. 

When you were younger, we had a language that worked for us but no one else understood. Now you are a very articulate young lady with an extensive vocabulary. I remember talking to one of your teachers back in elementary school about how sometimes when she was talking to you, she forgot she was talking to a child since you held conversations on an adult level.

Your love of cosplay is amazing. You have learned how to do all kinds of different skills to make costumes based on your favorite characters. I am proud to pass on the knowledge I have gained over the years to you.

I am very proud to be your mother.

I love you to the moon and back.

Love

Mamamamamamamamamama

I am grateful that I have Caroline as a daughter.

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Posted By Kathleen David on December 4, 2020

I awoke at 4 AM and got up because I was really awake. Which is the polar opposite of the days of my youth when I was a night owl.

I am writing this and then I spend the day in puppet-land. More on that on Tuesday.

Getting up this early is nice because right now the world is quiet like it is in a pause. This allows my brain to work through things.

Yesterday I thought I was short on cloth for a costume. I could not work out how to fit the pattern so I had all the pieces I need. This morning I came downstairs and looked at the fabric and immediately figured out what I needed to do.

I also sorted out some problems with my puppet design. I have to sit down and do the math, but it is looking good.

Creative brain is up and running. I am going to take advantage of it and get things done.

I am grateful that I do wake up this early.

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Posted By Kathleen David on December 3, 2020

It’s been a while since I had the time to sit down and write an entry.

Nothing is wrong. Just a lot going on around the household and a lot of very early morning shifts at work along with projects that need to be done.

I have adjusted to getting up before the sun rises and going to work. It is an easy commute because no one is on the road at that point, so I am only dealing with the traffic lights.

Caroline turns eighteen this Saturday. We are having a small party for her at our local Local Burger.  It is both hard and easy to believe that eighteen years have passed. More on that on Saturday.

Today I am working on some projects I need to get done before Sunday and the Plague of Players performance of A Christmas Carol. I have cleared the decks to get this done.

Then it is onto my Phd(s) (Projects Half Done). 

I need to make a punch list and just go through and get it done then move onto the ideas swirling through my head including a mouse idea.

Yesterday was productive and I hope today will be as well.

Please everyone stay safe. We are hitting a tipping point we don’t want to be at. I am using more hand sanitizer than I ever had in my life for my safety and the safety of my customers.

I am starting to memorize the store. Give me another month and I will have it cold except those items we are moving around.

I am worried about the next couple of months before the vaccine is wildly available.  I worry about my family as my parents are in their eighties, my sister is an essential worker, and my husband has a compromised immune system. I worry about my friends and their families. I worry that I am going to get another notification that someone I know has passed due to COVID.

This past week we lost Joe Hunt aka Photo Gnome not to COVID but heart failure. If you have been to various conventions in Atlanta, you have seen Joe. He was under five feet with a red beard, shaved head, kilt, and camera in his hand. He took amazing photos and had quite an eye for it. He loved a good pint of Guinness and the ladies. He was one of the people I would use as back-up to make sure that women were okay and not in an uncomfortable position. He was a firm believer in the motto safe, sane, and consensual. He was a gentleman in all senses of the word. I always found it funny that it blew his mind that I married one of his favorite writers. I will miss the conversations, the positivity, and all that made Joe the Photo Gnome we all knew and loved.

Then there is a COVID death that has shook Star Wars fandom. I got to know David Prowse over the years because of conventions and the number of them we both attended over the years. He was a sweet guy who was so nice to the fans and went out of his way for them. We talked about of all kinds of things not Star Wars related. He found it amusing that I was working in Star Wars publishing. His presence will be missed by all.

Caroline’s school is sorting out how things are going to be for the rest of the year. A lot of it is depended on so many variables that seem to change every day. She knows what is happening now but we haven’t a clue of what will be true in a week or so.

I am off to get things done in a timely fashion.

I am grateful for a good workplace situation.

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Posted By Kathleen David on November 27, 2020

Considering what is going on, this will be a very different shopping day.

Rather than crowds rushing through the doors, we have organized lines that allows only so many in the story at one time

I honestly would not mind if that became the norm.

I have a work shift this afternoon. I have no idea if I am on the floor helping customers, helping with the line, or cashier. I will do what is needed to be done.

I have some things to do before I go to work.

The next five days are early ones as we try to keep the store restocked.

My family is adjusting to my working again. Considering that I have been basically around her whole life, it is the biggest change for Caroline. We still get in our daily walk and work on projects together. It is different for her.

I have no idea what I am walking into today. I know Wednesday we were very busy as we had a lot of the sales starting on Wednesday.

Everyone please be safe and careful. This is a tipping point that we have walked back from before but I have a bad feeling that there will be no walking back this time.

I am grateful for people who are being sensible in the time of COVID.

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