Is this what happens when you get old?

I feel old today. Not just because I'm tired. No, that's not it.

It's a slap of reality that has hit me the last few days.

I found out yesterday that an old friend had his kidney removed in emergency surgery. I kept seeing some posts on his wife's facebook page about him being so strong, superman, etc. I posted something asking her what was going on, but no response (which has to do with the "former friend part". Let me explain. Best firends in HS, tried to date, didn't work, best friends at the start of college. I started dating, upset him, he never dated, I dated some more - apparently breaking the "we're supposed to get married" code. Yes, I am the "girl that broke his heart" the girl who "let their son fall in love" etc. Really?) Anyhow. The wife isn't a fan of mine, and if he was heartbroken, she has every right to defend him. I get it. But, we have a lot of fantastic friendship memories. A lot of great times. A lot of good stuff. And it's all gone. My biggest regret is not inviting them to my wedding. We weren't speaking. They never thanked me for their beautiful wedding gift (actually they denied ever getting it, even though I had delivered it to his mom). But. I should have been bigger and sent the stupid invitation. I hate that about great friendships that die in the "heat" of a moment. Stupid, stupid, stupid. We were going to try to meet up while on mutual vacations in Savannah this year. I felt so great about it. But, we got the cancellation text. Sigh.

Anyhow. He went to hospital. Had lost 40% of blood internally due to a mass on his kidney. The operated, removed the 4x larger than normal mass. Then hours later went back in to remove the kidney. He is 28. I konw this isn't the worst of the worst, but it just makes me sad for him, for his wife and son to know the recovery they will endure. It makes me sad I can't call him or talk to him as a friend and say how freaking scared and sad I've been.

Sad.

Another acquaintance posted last night that her new husband passed out at work, hit his head and was in the hospital with a skull fracture and an air pocket behind it.

Another Facebook posting uncovered that the son of a family I used to house sit for had a serious bicycling accident and broke his neck and back. He is not paralyzed but is enduring surgery after surgery.

Why??

Why all this serious pain and tragedy?

I thought I'd be better

Well, I really thought I'd be better at posting. But...in true fashion, it's over one month later and I'm just now catching up.

I promise not to bore you with every detail. Is that possible? Sure. Because, mostly I feel like it's been partly hazed by alcohol! Not right now, the past month!

So, I survived the Sorority Conference. The highlight was definitely getting to know three college ladies who traveled with me. They were so fun. They definitely made me realize I'm not 65 years old; and that 27 can still be young and sassy. They also made me realize I can't drink two boxes of wine, extra glasses of sangria and then shots out in the sun by a pool, all day. No, I can't. I'm sorry. However, rebounding with pizza and a movie in bed was classic. Just my style!

Here are the cuties:


9 days was a long time. The conference was only about 4...We had another advisor who had no reason to be home. I was glad to be able to have the work time to take off. And even more glad to have some pool time with some girlie books. And sunshine. And a pool.

I returned home and we went to a family engagement party and then to the lake to camp with my family. How quickly we can leave a resort and go to the camper. I had a mental lapse when I asked if we had to take our own towels to the "shower house." Wrong crowd. Here was the view heading to the 4th of July Fireworks on the water.



I returned from FL on July 2nd. I left on July 19th to go to Minneapolis for a work conference. It nearly killed me. The drinking that is. Another thing the young girls taught me; drinking every week is Fun. Until your body shuts down. I'm really to old for this...



That's my boss. We've been working together for almost 5 years. Luckily, she and I were together and out until 3:30 a.m. one morning. Luckily she understood when I vomited all morning and missed the opening session; she did too. Thank you non-profit gods. What is with our conferences? I mean, I guess we all know the stresses we endure over the year so a chance to totally let lose is just on the agenda. I love that our conferences reunite us with work friends from all over the US. Reignites ideas, passion and love for what we do. The free drinks help too. A lot of what went on there, will stay there. We didn't do Mall of America, or MOA as it's called to the locals. We did do a Twins game which was cool (even though I am not a sports fan). The Target Field was AMAZING. HOly cow. I almost bought by nephew a $40 hat but I opted for a cocktail instead and found my senses. It was that moving though. I ate the 2 story Target store UP! Oh my. HEAVEN. We had great food. All the things a good work trip are made of!

We got back and went right into a new year. Our offices were adopted by Day of Caring and Valspar sent a crew over with our paint color of choice. We're liking the new duds and trying not to junk it up!