Missed opportunities
The gods decided to play a very large joke on me today. Yes, Stephanie! they boomed, You *shall* go to the ball! (But the ball will be over by the time you get there.Psych!)
For many weeks now I've been looking forward to a 30th birthday celebration for my former minion D, who's moved on to have a far better career than I ever did, got married, and is now expecting. Most years we manage to catch up at a Christmas BBQ but there wasn't one last year, so this birthday event was special in all sorts of ways. There were two parts - a Friday night restaurant dinner in a far-flung location (chances approaching nil), and a Saturday picnic at least partially designed with me in mind. So with all this going on it became what I classify a non-negotiable event. Screw the cost, do whatever it takes to get there.
Doing whatever it took meant I was running far closer to a 2pm arrival time than the 11am start time, but I got a message they were running late so I was in luck. Unfortunately I both over-estimated how long the thing would go for and failed to send a text to say I was on my way. (In my defence there were plans for multiple ball games so I thought it might go on a bit, and when I got there the BBQs were all still in use.) Once I'd spent a few minutes in the park peering at strangers' picnics I broke out my phone to ask for directions. There I read a 10 minute-old message saying that the party had quit for nap time. A few exchanged texts later and I had a reciprocal regret that they hadn't let me know they were about to pack up, but I would have been on the road by then anyway. Ships that pass in the night. We've arranged a minimal spoon visit for tomorrow at my place so fingers crossed that works.
So I found myself alone, out in the sunshine, nicely dressed, hair washed, and slightly buzzing from medicinal caffeine. I'd driven myself, I had the freedom of the city, I could go anywhere!
Well, no, spoon accounting doesn't quite work out like that.
This was a major spoon assignment exercise, and at least part of the calculations included the rest and stimulation of the conversation to lift me enough to get home. Sitting in that park I felt very tired indeed, and more than a little annoyed with myself that I couldn't conjure up a plan B to see other people in the area, but my brain was very firm on the instruction to Go Home Immediately. I did manage to do a bit of food shopping on the way home, and thanks to the caffeine I'm writing this rather than sleeping, but oh boy I really need to be asleep very soon.
Today I get points because I *did* get out there, and I drove myself to an unfamiliar spot (albeit very close to familiar places, but I'll take navigational and parking credit whenever I can get it). I washed my hair. I'm wearing pants. I scored some prawns, although they were pretty ordinary imports, but there's squid salad in the fridge for later so that makes up for it. The Catmobile really enjoyed the run along the freeway, and the traffic was kind. I hadn't had to sacrifice another event to get to this one, so I've only missed one, not two (you'd be surprised how often this happens).
The shoulders are a quite sore after driving, but I'm not getting the searing pain in my arms and hips I once got. I do believe that the hydrotherapy has gifted me with enough core strength to drive a little easier, and since that was one of my exact goals I'm more than happy with that. If I can regain more freedom to leave the house that will go a long way to picking me up on several fronts. I'll be able to see Mum's new cat Ashley far more often for one thing, and visit my sister who's off her feet after surgery.
But for now I take painkillers and have a little lie down. Husband is playing again tonight, so it looks like I've a hot date with Midsomer Murders.