So, apparently my Vermont writer residency is not a done deal after all. I thought work had approved it but now I'm told it's become a corporate tug-of-war between the head of my department and the head of HR. I'm blogging right now because I'm so nervous I can't stand it. K used to call this, "buggin' out."
How I miss him. In moments of uncertainty, his presence always calmed me. He would distract me by making jokes, tease me about being too neurotic and "thinking too much." All true, which is why I would always laugh.
I used to find it absolutely amazing - almost inconceivable - that he was always so chill and upbeat, so level-headed, able to see the positive in almost any situation, able to make me laugh about almost any situation. I used to feel reassured just by sitting beside him on the couch, watching TV, him bouncing my right hand in his left, ocasionally lifting it to his lips to kiss. There could have been zombies roaming the streets outside. I was safe.
Now I have the puppy, who distracts me in a different way. With her, I feel like the adult and laugh at her childish ways. With K, I used to feel like the child and he was the mature one. I looked up to him. I yearned for his approval (possibly too much) and would get terribly disappointed when I didn't get it.
I still yearn for his approval. I want to feel like I'm doing what he would have advised me to do, like I'm making him proud. But I'm not sure. He was so pragmatic. I am stubborn and willful. He was good with money. I seem incapable of saving, not spending. He was naturally diplomatic. I am naturally spacey. He was like an anchor. I am like a kite!
One thing is for sure. He would tell me to relax and not freak out. What will be, will be, and there's nothing I can do about it right now. I'll know soon enough what the verdict is. He would tell me to focus on the puppy tonight. She's recovering from getting spayed and has been couped up inside most of the day while she mends. She'll be very happy to see me when I get home. We'll go for a nice stroll in the neighborhood and both get some fresh air. Maybe the skies will clear and we'll be able to see the moon.
"Everything will be okay. Stop buggin' out!" He said to me umpteen times, always with a smile.
So, that's it. No more buggin' out.