Quite a hectic couple of months since my last post.
I started back at Macy's as a signer for the Men's Department just about a week after my last post. I wasn't all too thrilled about getting back into the retail race, especially just in time for the holidays. But I needed a job, and it was the quickest way back to work, and pretty much the only one is who called me for an interview. Instead of being at Brea, this time I'm closer to home at the Stonewood Mall in Downey. Surprisingly, it's the highest volume store in its L.A. district which includes Cerritos, Lakewood, Montebello and West Covina. The staff are great, the product is a little less broad in variety than I was used to at Brea, and the shopper demographic are a little more annoying (haha). There's also no Starbucks close enough to have enough time for a break. But overall, it's not so bad. Management is more organized here, and the bottom line right now is the close proximity. I guess I just got a little spoiled working up in the hills of North Orange County ;-)
I also ended up enrolling in online classes at Ashford University. I got quickly discouraged about Cerritos when I couldn't even get enrolled into ONE class. Everything was closed, even wait lists. I know what it is--returning students were just filling up their schedules with anything and everything, and once school started they figured out what classes were gonna work for them and simply dropped everything else they didn't need after all. So annoying. And inconsiderate. Maybe I jumped the gun, I suppose I could've waited until mid-semester to see if anythng opened up. Or at the very least, just wait until spring. But Ashford seemed more convenient since I'll be going at my own pace on my free time. Given my work schedule, Austin's and Louis's school schedules, it made sense for me to just stay home and study. I know it's gonna be another debt, but hopefully this time around I can actually make something of my degree. So far everything is going pretty good. The classes are a bit intense because they're all done five weeks at a time instead of taking 3 or 4 per semester. But I'm gonna do my best to keep truckin through. There's a possibility I can get the degree within 3 years, and I fully intend to look into internships once the time is right.
I'm on my second course now, English Comp II, as I got credit for completing English Comp I at Cerritos. It's a little tough because a research paper is required for about 25% of the grade, and we're working on pieces at a time each week. Normally I wouldn't have a problem with research papers. But I'm pretty much on my own for the most part looking after Austin right now, so my free time is limited. A couple of weeks ago, we got word that my father-in-law fell and broke his hip. He needed surgery, but until the decision was made for that, things were touch and go due to his delicate condition with Parkinson's Disease. Eventually the surgery was done and successful. During recovery, he seemed to be doing well. So Louis was struggling with the decision on whether or not to leave for Iowa, and if so for how long. But then the next thing we knew, his dad took a turn for the worse. He was unable to swallow any food, and up until that point was only getting by on an IV. The Parkinson's locked up all of his muscles, including the ones in his throat which caused the inability to swallow. So he was placed in a hospice last Monday, October 1. Louis flew out the following Wednesday night, made it to Mason City by 10am Thursday. At about 1pm our time here, he called to tell me that his father had passed away.
I was speechless, much like I had been the previous week in hearing all of the updates. I suppose I was holding out hope that he'd pull through again. Like early last summer when he had a heart attack. The doctors, and even he himself, didn't think he was gonna make it. That's why we started trying to make plans to visit him, even if it meant a last minute flight arrangement at a high cost. Dee and Butch (Louis's dad) were willing to pay for the trip. But then he recovered, and said he wanted us to delay the trip so that he could get through the multiple follow up appointments. And that's how we ended up going last September, the week of Louis's 34th birthday. It was a nice visit, we had a great time relaxing, and even wound up visiting Clear Lake to see the Surf Ballroom and airplane crash site where Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper died. Austin really bonded with his grandparents, and even got to meet and spend time with his stepcousins, Dee's grandson's Brandon and Jayden. So this time around, as bad as the situation sounded, I held out a little hope that is dad would pull through. Unfortunately, it wasn't so. Louis thinks his dad just gave up and was tired. I can see that. I also see that his dad hung on until Louis got there. He had Jeremy there, but was asking for Louis naturally. And I'm so glad he made it to see his father, even if only for a few hours. It was Thursday, October 4. He was placed at rest with full military honors on Saturday, October 6.
Now it's Friday, a week later. Louis comes home on Monday, and everything should be back to normal. Austin hasn't had a rough time without his dad here. If and when he has asked, we've simply told him that daddy is working. He's doing just fine, and if anything, we're having some nice mommy and son time. I had to request half day schedules at work and for extensions on my second week assignments in class, but everything has worked out smoothly. We'll all have some family time next week, as I know Louis will need it.
I'm going to do my best to make this a little more interesting as time allots and moves forward. In the meantime, I hope everyone is enjoying the start of this wonderful season. {{hugs}}
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