The Week That Was

Had a nice trip with The Missus Herself yesterday, up to a General Dynamics facility for various and sundry reasons, none of which are critical to the story. Three choices of route, two were mostly on interstate highways, one was through the Massachusetts countryside. What one might call the scenic route. What recommended it was that it was the shortest, though not necessarily the fastest, route to our destination. Well, it was scenic, that was a factor as well.

As I've mentioned on more than one occasion, I work a 9/80 schedule. We cram 80 hours of work into 9 days, weekdays that is. So every other Friday I get the day off, giving me a three day weekend every other week. What's nice about where I work is that the work schedule is somewhat flexible.

Given certain factors you can swap hours and days around, as long as in a two week period one puts in 80 hours. Yes, they expect those to be productive hours, my work is such that it would be rather noticeable if it wasn't getting done. As the work is interesting, I don't mind putting in the hours.

I was supposed to be off Friday next, but I decided to take Friday last (yesterday) off as we had stuff to do and home projects to kick off. Spring is here, time to shake off the sloth of winter and hop to it. (So sayeth the love of my life and I cannot disobey, 'tis devoted to her I am.)

We made our trip, got some necessary documentation accomplished, and I still had time to get a haircut. (As I was already there, I had them all cut. Sigh, I knew you were thinking it, so I had to write it.) It was a good day.

Now it was a pretty good week for me and mine, all things being equal. Not so for some of my acquaintance.

While I was up at the American Heritage Museum last Saturday, thoroughly enjoying myself, a friend of mine died. Not someone locally, a distant friend, one of the Internet variety. We weren't close but we knew each other. She was a Marine spouse, an advocate for Marines, and for all veterans. What I knew of her I found impressive, she was a good person.

Now she is gone.

What's worse, I didn't realize it until late last Saturday night. There were blog posts to write, movies to watch, games to be played, you know the drill. By the time I got around to what I consider the town square (virtual in nature) to see what was going on in my other world, it was rather late in the evening. Now Facebook is my "town square," and it functions well in that respect. For all its perceived evils, Facebook allows me to stay in touch with friends and family. I also belong to a group dedicated to the memory of Neptunus Lex. It's how we keep that flame alive.

Carrie was a fellow Lexican, a very funny, very dedicated lady. Equal parts snark, humor, and compassion. I know some of you who stop by here knew her as well. I am still stunned. She was only 55.

When I got the news of her passing, it was a punch in the gut. I spent Sunday somewhat adrift, I hate losing friends. In the quiet of last night, it hit me again. Her funeral is today.

As Spring awakens and new life springs forth, there are those who are mourning the passing of a loved one. Time marches on, sometimes in a good way, sometimes not.

Farewell Carrie, I'll miss your humor, and your wisdom.

Godspeed.