The Whole Wide World

The frigid temps continue. This morning it was -47F with the wind chill coming in over -70F. Still sooo cold. With inventory and the move to the new dorm last week, I broke my workout routine streak and jumped back into that today. I am so all or nothing. Yesterday in my restlessness, I knew that walking on the treadmill would help, but when I get into a funk like that, I don’t want to do the things that I know will help. I got up today though and did my yoga and then after the store closed I went and walked at an incline on the treadmill. I went to Pepper’s yoga this evening, too.

Someone reached out to me to keep an eye out for something they lost at the bar (possibly) over the weekend and it reminded me why I think losing things eats at me to such a ridiculous level. When I drank I lost things constantly. I used to call it my snail trail. I lost rings, money, watches, IDs, wallets. All the things. As a result of being out of it drunk and not paying attention because Annemarie wasn’t home. I think when I lose things now, I subconsciously associate the loss with my drinking days and it makes me extra obsessive compulsive about it. Also, knowing that I dropped the cup and the little magnet slider HAD to be there, but I just couldn’t find it…it’s been making me crazy…crazier.

My pager went off in the afternoon today and it was a number I didn’t recognize. When I called the number I found it was Pepper calling to have a catch up. We started chatting and she asked how my weekend was. Naturally, I started to tell her about yesterday’s events and how I lost slider to my Yeti. She said she was the most excellent finder of the things, to give her ten minutes and she would be over. When I got downstairs and outside, she had just arrived and was already under the staircase looking. As I explained where the cup and lid were found, we both scrambled around on our hands and knees in the bitter cold, searching. I don’t even think two minutes passed by and she called out, ‘FOUND IT!” I was pretty much speechless and so so so very happy.

She came up to my new room to have a cup of tea and a catch up and to thaw out. I sent her a message not too long after she left letting her know that I’ve had the cup for almost nine years now and that every time I slide the thing to take a sip I am forever going to think of her. That makes me so happy. Pepper is also the lead for our winter search and rescue team and let her know that this took her search and rescue skills to a whole new level.

After dinner, I went to her final yoga class. She is scheduled to leave this week. The flights keep getting delayed, but eventually she will get on one and that will be bittersweet. This is part of the traveler’s life. Making great new friends and parting ways, but I am so very lucky to have these people scattered across the world and like so many wonderful people I’ve met in the past, I know our paths will cross again.