Staycation 2020

 Vacation week has come to an end. I did a lot and at the same did nothing. I guess this is the definition of a staycation. 

I learnt how to make perogies, bananas foster, egg drop soup. I was surprised at the simplicity and complexity of them all. We did some housework (it is not our strengths). We went car shopping and hopefully by the end of October have new wheels. 

I donated blood for the 33rd time. The new reality is no walk in appointments, mask requirements. They do not take your blood pressure. Temperature is taken upon entry and social distancing at its finest. Once the screening period is over from the time they stick the needle in to finish the pint of blood 6 minutes. 

They check your hemoglobin and the threshold for males is 130. I rocked it with a cool 139. The sad reality is I have been under this threshold and have to endure the walk of shame on several occasions. Every time this leads to a certain amount of anxiety. Will I or not make the threshold. When I do it is a major success. I started donating blood on a whim. Shelley is a regular donor over 75 times. She asked me to come with her November 10th, 2012. It had snowed overnight and roads were treacherous. I agreed reluctantly. However, I wanted to support her. It was important to her. I thought misguided that I wouldn’t qualify because of Type 2 diabetes. I was amazed at how seamless it all was. When the donor assistant said after my pint that I have saved up to 3 lives that sealed it for me. For the next several years until 2018 we made this a every 56 day morning date event. The staff got to know us and welcomed our visit. 

What changed in 2018 was the parameters. The hemoglobin threshold changed and man could now donate every 56 days and women every 80 days. Unfortunately we have to donate separately. Our favourite donor assistant referenced this yesterday commenting that I was solo. 

Thank you Shelley for encouraging me to donate and to overcome my fear of the experience.  Thank you for showing me a few foods to make and some I had never heard of. Some days I truly think that I was raised by wolves. I was not taught showed basic skills liking cooking, cleaning and others that show up in our relationship periodically. Sometimes I think I am the stupidest person on earth and am the idiot little brother. I was raised to live in fear and be scared of the boogeymen.  

The reality is there is no boogeymen and again thank you Shelley for leading me out of the dark and into the light. This week was Canadian Thanksgiving and I am blessed and grateful to have her as my soulmate, my partner the love of my life. Her family has embraced me and I have the most amazing grandson in the world. I am blessed and grateful to have an amazing group of friends support network around me. We check in with each other on a regular basis. I love you all. I am blessed and grateful for my career and the excellent team I work with. The amount of opportunities, interests keeps me inspired and grounded. 

2020 has been a trying year for many many reasons, however, it has also given us all an opportunity to appreciate the little things. To recognize how important family is and family is whoever you make it out to be. Family is support, love, admiration for one another. This week has also been a tough one personally. I lost my uncle, a good friend and a friends father. F..k cancer. I attended my first virtual funeral. 

Everyone has a story to tell and a story we may know nothing about. At all times be respectful and kind. Karma works in mysterious ways allow it. Peace and love to all.