Pink Dogwood, Wisteria and Rain

Sometimes it is the little things that give you the biggest thrill.  I was driving home from work one evening and noticed the wisteria climbing all over everything and blooming like crazy.  Then a couple of days later a dogwood jumped out at me, well, not literally, it just caught my eye (the one on the right, the good one) and I smiled to myself.  Spring really is here.  Actually it has been here in NC for a couple of weeks, cherry and crabapple trees have been blooming, light to dark pinks, and the forsythia in brilliant, bright yellow.  Most of all, over the past few days, the neon, snot-green pollen has started floating through the air.  Complaints of headaches, stuffed noses and sneezes are everywhere, coming from everyone.  Hopefully the rain today and tomorrow will help it abate for a few days; I heard the other day that this is supposed to be the worst pollen season in a long time, so it won't be over, unfortunately, for me.  I did learn an important lesson last year; keep the doors and windows closed and don't breath as long as you're outside.  The really sad part of this spring for me is the fact that I haven't been able to capture any of it with the camera.  My eye has made it impossible, even with the digital camera.  Too much of vision deficit to work with, simply said, blurry is the word.

It has been crazy, busy at the SRC for the past two weeks.  Chaos and confusion reigned.  Lots of men and women (mostly men this time) in digitalized greens and browns.  Lots of immunizations given.  My co-worker Sonja was sitting at the desk closest to the thermostat and I asked her Thursday to turn on the air.  The blank look on her face was priceless, "Air?", she asked.  It zoomed right over her head, as it swished by, she finally caught on to what I was asking for, but at that moment it was as though I had asked her in German or French, or some alien language..."what is this air you are asking about".  We got a much needed laugh out of it, but it is sad that you can reach that level of tired.  We have given pretty close to 2500 immunizations in the past couple of weeks.  That is really an unbelievable number when you divide it by the three people giving them.  Stupid tired is what I call it!!!

I had lunch with a friend today.  I have considered her a friend since late last summer.  We have talked alot and shared much. She is a strong believer in AA and is a recovered alcoholic.  There are things in her life she was a bit allusive about; a long distance relationship and a partner that treated her like a doormat.  Her sister and I had both encouraged her to end it and walk away before she got burned.  I know how hard that is and how long it can take sometimes.  But she finally did it and she looks and sounds so much better.  But, I found out the biggest allusion of all today...her partner was a female and she is a lesbian, well, bisexual, well, confused.  She had always referred to her as her "partner, friend or lover", never alluding to the fact that she was a she!  I was a little shocked and wide eyed, hopefully my jaw didn't drop too far down on my chest.  I can't really say I was too surprised.  I've always wondered.  She has been dating a guy for the past month or so, hence the confusion.  She says he knows about her involvement with females and doesn't mind and would like to watch sometime...duh!!!  What does one say to all this?  It is hard to think and form cohesive sentences when you are more than a little surprised, not shocked, just surprised.  I told her I wasn't shocked and had really wondered, but that I did not and would not base our friendship on her sexual proclivity, unless she had designs on me that didn't fit, lol!!  I guess the real zinger for me is that at the age of 52 she is still "wondering" where her life will take her.  Maybe that is a good thing, maybe not.  It doesn't change the fact that I consider her a friend and hope she will continue to confide in me when she needs an ear.

I'm glad I know who I am and where I belong.