That Was a Balk

So, I came off a 10 day road trip on the 28th of January and immediately began packing because 3 days after returning home, movers came and moved me into my new place.  That's the thing about moving, you have to put all your stuff in boxes, move the boxes, take all your stuff out of the boxes and put it away.  Then it's time to clean.

Since returning to Seattle almost 10 days ago, I've been so busy I haven't had time to do much of anything but settle into the new house and it's been a relief to be this busy because I've been struggling with feeling more and more separated from Mom. 

I wrote last week how surprised I was about my missing her more than usual because things were happening in my life that she didn't know about and I realized that I'd been laboring under an illusion of sorts.  She and I talked so much about my plans that I felt like she was involved in them and when my plans began to evolve in ways I couldn't anticipate, taking me into directions I never told her about, I felt really separate from her.  And that ain't good.

In the process of moving, I've kept her little shrine in tact, always knowing right where all my Mom Stuff is, and that's helped me feel a bit more stable in this most unstable time.

Today, unpacking boxes of office stuff, I went through an old Supersonics folder and I found a copy of a thank you card I sent to my Sonics ticket rep, Zack, who'd learned quite a bit about Mom through me and who took me to a Rays game om 2006 when the team was in town to play the Mariners. 

Although Zack never met Mom, he loved her because of that fan-to-fan connection that's so strong among all sports fans, regardless of the sport, regardless of the team.  Zack was also connected to the Rays because his good buddy is BJ Upton.  Zack pitched in college and the minors but never got called up and he loved Mom even though he never met her. Zack had the Rays send Mom a goodie bag back in 2005 after she had one of those designer strokes she used to have every once in a while.  Anyway, read this.

 

Here's the ticket from the game Zack took me to.

Do you remember that non-balk call?  Boy, was Mom mad. 

When I'm unpacked and settled, Mom will still be gone, I'll still be behind and more things will be happening to me that take me further into my life and further from hers but I am reminded, through this note to Zack, that she's here, right here, and her passion, her loves, her joys are mine.  And yours.

Love and Prayers From Here to There