This morning started like a lot of our mornings do lately not only in my home but your home as well I’m sure —busy before we even had time to think, and not a drop of coffee in sight. Or the dogs who was hiding un the cover.
David headed out early to pick up Joseph, Lisa Marie Bird’s son, so they could go mow a yard. That’s real life for us right now working where the work is, doing what needs to be done to supplement David’s checks. While he was out, I was already thinking about everything we had to get done today, and by the time he came back to grab me, we were already behind and just rolling with the flow.
We ran over to Lowe’s to grab lawnmower blades for David’s Honey-Do’s company then headed to Walmart so I could pick up office supplies to start building my Bloom folder. That part matters to me more than people probably realize. It’s not just paper and clips—it’s me trying to build something, one piece at a time.
Of course, we didn’t just run in and out. We noticed all the remodeling going on, so wandered through health and beauty, and saw the new Old Spice Mario line David is already excited about. That’s how it goes—you go in for one thing and end up walking the whole store.
Of course, we didn’t just run in and out. We noticed all the remodeling going on, so David and I wandered through the health and beauty aisles and saw the new Old Spice Mario line David is already excited about. That’s how it goes—you go in for one thing and end up walking the whole store.
After that we made our rounds—Ace Hardware looking for duct tape that didn’t quite hit the mark for what I wanted. Dollar Tree where I hoped to find a few things but came up empty, and then Ollie’s Bargain Outlet where I found a pink coffee pot I wanted but didn’t need… especially since we had already bought one earlier for the coffee bar we’re putting together. That’s real life too learning when to walk away.
Somewhere in all that, I got my steps in—over an hour of walking when my goal is only thirty minutes a day. So I did good there. But I’ll be honest… I didn’t drink water all day. Not one glass. Instead, I had Sweet Iced Tea, a Dr Pepper, and now a Coke. I know better. I just didn’t do better today. But it’s okay because that is life and tomorrow is a new day.
While we were out, my knee started hurting bad enough that I had to stop and take some Advil, and we decided we needed to eat. We stopped at Charlie’s Philly Steak and Sub inside Walmart and purchased 2 orders of bacon cheese fries and a dr pepper. We ate lunch for $10 or less, and honestly, if I hadn’t given David my other half, we could have stretched that into three meals. That’s the kind of math we do now.
While we were sitting there, I called Charlie. I just wanted to invite him to lunch, hear his voice, check in. Later this afternoon I called him again to see what he needed because, like most kids, he didn’t exactly pack everything he should have. Although reminding me he needed his Social Security card and Birth Certificate wasn’t to important Charlie was more worried about his game system and a WWE game he wants me to send or bring up more than anything else. Kids… what can you say.
I told him to come home. More than once. And yeah… the tears came. That part doesn’t get easier just because they get older. No, he didn’t say he would come home he just said have dad bring me my phone to. No, offer of help with gas or food we’re just supposed to have the money to drive that far.
In the middle of all of that, my Aunt Sue texted me. We ended up talking about Suzzie, her upcoming birthday, the cousins, and just life. She’s 85 now, and something about hearing that out loud will stop you for a minute. It makes you think about time in a way you don’t always want to… and yes, it made me feel a little old too. I had to laugh at that.
Before we ever left the house this morning, we put on a pot of red beans, knowing it would stretch into several meals. While we were running errands Geral peeled the potatoes while we were gone and filled the dishwasher and tonight’s dinner is simple but full—red beans, leftover ham, steak and onions, and Jiffy cornbread we haven’t made in years. Nothing fancy, but it feeds us and it stretches.
While we were out early this morning, we even stopped by 7-Eleven so I could grab a drink for a dollar—using my sister’s phone number for their rewards program because right now, that matters too.
Now we’re home. David’s downstairs cooking, washing clothes, and even mopping for me while watching TV. I’m up here working, building this business one piece at a time, putting together my folder, figuring out what comes next.
And if you’re wondering… yes, I dated my husband today. Running errands, sharing fries, figuring things out side by side—that counts.
I also dated myself. I walked. I worked. I kept going.
It wasn’t perfect. It wasn’t polished. But it was real.
And right now, real is what we’ve got—and what we’re building from.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
