Memories, something beautiful and yet, whats too painful to remember, we simply choose to forget - and, I am remembering everything. May not be in sequence chronologically - but Im remembering. How do you feel? As for me, repressed, suppressed, and oppressed emotions are surfacing - perhaps its time I confront them. Remember, I never followed through nor pursued by telephoning you although thoughts of you were on the back burners of my mind - every day. One time while at work at the airport in Arlington, VA, on a cold day when it wasnt very busy. I sat in a minivan with the heat on for warmth and closed my eyes a bit. My thoughts drifted to you walking up to the rental counter and inquiring why havent you called me Farah? As I was being transported to another space and time by my thoughts, there was a knock at the window. When I turned to look, My Boss, the Manager on duty at the time, David Gill, threatened to write me up for sleeping on the job - seriously. I then indicated that I wasnt asleep, just had my eyes closed. At the time, I worked the graveyard shift, 4:30 PM to closing at 1:00 AM the following day. You can imagine how exhausted I was from working those hours. Im barely awake after 7:30 PM. In addition to working at Reagan National, I worked a second job on my days off at the supermarket. There were weeks when my hours from the two jobs combined totaled more than 90 hours a week. My Boss Evelyn, Evelyn Perez, called me in to inquire why so many hours. Because, I said, I obliged when I was called to come in when someone called out sick or staying past the end of my shift when they were short staffed and needed coverage, and of course working through lunch. I hope you understand why I lingered at my fathers at his insistence. When I was at home, I attempted saving to purchase my co-op or condo along the Boulevard in Queens. At the time the market was favorable to buyers and Real Estate in those areas were a real steal. When I relocated into the townhouse here in Hagerstown, there were so many additional fees attached that I believed that I was being defrauded - hence, the second job. I really was running myself ragged commuting 3 hours to and from work, at times, in blizzard weather conditions and working two jobs. One day driving to work on Interstate 70 East in snowy conditions, President George W. Bushs motorcade delayed traffic when one of the vehicles veered into a ditch on 70 West. They must have been driving to Camp David which is up the way from here in Thurmont. I was stuck in traffic directly opposite this incident in the lane across. I watched the entire thing from the drivers seat of the vehicle and later saw it reported on the evening news. Hey, I just realize you were already in DC at your post when this occurred. You assumed your position in 2006 and I relocated to Hagerstown, MD in 2007. Therefore, you must remember when this occurred. You do remember this incident dont you? This definitely occurred during the winter of 2007. I tell you. I just sat there, vehicles were unable to move forward because traffic was backed up for about 25 miles due to a tractor trailer mangled with a car up ahead. And, the entertainment was - one of the Presidents motorcade vehicle stuck in a ditch. I just sat there and laughed, and laughed as I watched the flurry of activity with local police and Secret Service from the opposite lane. You know, Bongino, President Bushs limo driver, ran for Congress for a seat that was being vacated was not elected. He lost out to John Delaney. Bongino also attended Queens College in NYC where I began my Business Program. At election time they come into the apartment building complex where I am currently residing to solicit votes and meet with constituents. On election day, they convert the lobby into voting polls and they stroll in for last minute campaigning and to solicit votes. I tell you, these politicians are something else. Incidents such as this one occurred more and more often and I left for work earlier and earlier to not arrive late for work. Interstates 70 and 81 are some of the heavily traveled routes for trucks in the country. They even post Heavy Truck Traffic signs. I rarely traveled to NYC during that time as I was always at one of my jobs and was never off from the two jobs simultaneously. Finally, my Brother and Mother said to me that I should take a break from running myself ragged. Shortly thereafter I submitted a request for a Leave of Absence, enrolled in the Business Program at Queens College, the only place that offered a program as I envisioned which I hope to complete soon. Boy, as Im typing this, my craving for corn is developing again. I have been very, very much craving corn. A rental car company at BWIA Airport in Baltimore, Md was willing to extend an offer of employment to me, but when I think about the 3 hour commute, I may as well return to my previous employer. One advertised in order to assume a position at their Airport facility in Virginia, relocation to the area is a requirement. You know I havent given thought to relocating - again. One of the attendees, Stephanie, at the RFK Human Rights Award inquired if I was considering relocating to DC, where she lives, I said that I sincerely do not have plans to relocate - not at this time anyway. I cant allow these interruptions and transitions to become the pattern - Diplomats live that lifestyle - never knowing when youre going to get recalled from one location and shipped to another - Life in Foreign Service! You are always on my mind and I think about you every day. Are we still friends? You betcha. We are still friends. Friends. Always and Forever. Now More Than Ever! You know the movie The Way We Were with Barbara Streisand and Robert Redford was filmed at Union College in Schenectady, NY up the way from Saratoga Springs, NY where I attended college!
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 14:27:07 +0000
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