I know I complain about being too busy, but... Sometimes I need more....

On Monday, July 7,2014, my cousin Macomo flew in from Japan.  She was in route to go to Puerto Rico for a salsa dance convention, because she is a salsa dance teacher in Japan.  So, she decided to take a couple of days ahead of time to come here to Wisconsin to visit just for a couple of days before she went to her conference.

Monday, my mom took her down to the marina, to show her around there.  They to a couple of other places, and we all ended up at my mom's for a nice all American meal.  Home made sloppy Joes, potato salad, pickles, carrot sticks, and a few other goodies.  It was nice.

Tuesday morning, it seemed as if everyone had someplace to go, I worked, my mom had a funeral, stepdad had a church event, my son was at his volunteer program until about 3 pm.  After I got done at around 11:15, I stopped home quick, and I picked up Macomo, who was resting at my mom's...  Due to the jet lag, she probably needed it.  So, I took her out to lunch at Kewpees, and then walked over to the Racine Heritage Museum.  We drove back to my house, picked up my husband Mike, and then my son from church...  Then headed off to the zoo.  After the zoo, we all ended up at my house for my home made taco dinner with guacamole on the side.  :)  It was good!

My cousin and I at the zoo

Wednesday evening, after taking my son to the Family Power Grass Roots Open Mic, we went back to my mom's again for dinner.  Because I knew that I was on limited time, I brought over 2 home baked blueberry pies to leave with the rest of the group, because I wasn't going to be able to be a part of that show.  But, my Chad went up there, and told his jokes.  :)

Chad at Open Mic with his comedy routine

Chad with his Family Power tshirt at the front door of Racine Arts Council, the location of grass roots open mic.

And, surprise!  My cousin Macomo made an intricate Japanese meal for us!  Tempura and rice balls...  The rice balls had tempura battered shrimp in the middle, and it was seasoned so perfect...  And then of course the tempura veggies included green string beans, green onion tops, slivered onion, shredded carrot, sweet potato, and kohlrabi...  The food was so delicious I think we all ate way too much.  The miso soup was especially good, also!

Macomo cooking tempura

Taking a short break from cooking

Us at the table

The group who broke bread together

My cousin's plane was leaving early Thursday morning, and my mom was also going to Oregon to visit my sister...  So, of course I neglected a lot at home to make time for Macomo's visit.  I didn't have time yet to catch up on everything, but, the last time I got to see my cousin was about 10 years ago, and I didn't get a lot of time then, and before that was another 6 years before that.  I just figured this is too important to let busy work get in the way, since none of us can guaranty when we are going to be able to see each other again.  It was worth making time for everything with my cousin, and I wish that we could have had more time together...

In my line of work as a home care worker, and I seem to get along really well with most of the clients I get.  While it's a labor of love for sure, because us home care aids don't really get paid a whole lot, we often get people who are paired up with us for a LONG time.  It's hard not to care about these people because sometimes we are there almost daily.  We get attached to some, more than others, and while respecting the line of professionalism, it happens sometimes that we end up being more like a family member rather than a caretaker because of the fact that we are, for the most part, the one they see most often, talk to about daily life, etc...  Being that I've been doing this for 11 years, I've had many come through my schedule.  Some of them I could let go, whether to another facility or to death.  Others I accepted that it was their time to go.  Then there are the very special few, that we mourn the loss of a person who became close to us.  Even though there was nothing I could do to prevent any of these, it makes one realize that life is precious, and you'll never know when we will lose someone that means something to us.

Sure, I am young enough not to have to worry about certain issues (yet), I also realize that when these times come up that are rare to be able to connect with them, it is worth putting aside everything, to make that time to spend with these people.  This way, if anything happens, I have the satisfaction of knowing that spending the time has meaning.  Hope that all is well with everyone!

p.s.  I finally received my certificate from the National Association of Health Unit Coordinators.  Now that I am certified, I am hoping that some day, I will have a career position that will allow me to take my husband and my son to Japan, because seriously, I can barely plan for next week on my current pay, much less save for a trip of a lifetime...  Wish me luck, people!