Allie's Blog IV: Revenge of Allie's Blog

[imallie]

C'mon, Chuck, don't leave a lady waiting!

The Chuck has landed. 😘

It's quite cool.

My wife brought the mail in and at first I thought maybe it didn't come when I saw her opening something. I said "is that my license?" She nodded. "You're opening it?" She nodded and smiled.  "Ok with me," and she opened it and brought it over to me.
All I could say was "I think this is very cool" and she said "it IS very cool!"
Now it's in my wallet and on to the next thing. 😀

[Oldandcreaky]

Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stayed the Chuck from the swift completion of his appointed rounds.

Congrats, Allie!

[imallie]

You know... just when you THINK you're having a great day, out of the blue you get a FB message like this. 

From a former colleague at my college. He ran another department but we were forever together on campus-wide committees and initiatives.

Still, someone I've not spoken to in over a decade:

——

(New name)-  This probably doesn't need to be said, but you know me, I will say it anyway. I am thinking your journey has been at least a little difficult. Whatever. But I'm here to say a friend is a friend.  I offer support and friendship in any manner I can. Go for being you. Go for happiness. Best - (signed)

[Oldandcreaky]

You know... just when you THINK you're having a great day, out of the blue you get a FB message like this. 

From a former colleague at my college. He ran another department but we were forever together on campus-wide committees and initiatives.

Still, someone I've not spoken to in over a decade:

——

(New name)-  This probably doesn't need to be said, but you know me, I will say it anyway. I am thinking your journey has been at least a little difficult. Whatever. But I'm here to say a friend is a friend.  I offer support and friendship in any manner I can. Go for being you. Go for happiness. Best - (signed)

I just wish that the Chuck would deliver 100 pounds of Belgian chocolates and your omelet made with a dozen ostrich eggs to your former colleague. Don't forget the PopChips. You'll likely need two or three bags with an omelet that big.

[imallie]

I just wish that the Chuck would deliver 100 pounds of Belgian chocolates and your omelet made with a dozen ostrich eggs to your former colleague. Don't forget the PopChips. You'll likely need two or three bags with an omelet that big.

Yeah, I've been so fortunate to have been surrounded by an incredible group of people my whole life. I really and truly have.

[Lori Dee]

Yeah, I've been so fortunate to have been surrounded by an incredible group of people my whole life. I really and truly have.

The wonderful part about you, Allie is that you recognize that. Many people have great support systems and loving friends and family but remain ingrateful.

[Gina P]

Congrats on the license. Things like that really make the day!

[Oldandcreaky]

The wonderful part about you, Allie is that you recognize that. Many people have great support systems and loving friends and family but remain ingrateful.

If Joni Mitchell ever sings to Allie, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," I will say, "Uh-uh, Joni. Not Allie. She knows. She knows."

[imallie]

If Joni Mitchell ever sings to Allie, "Don't it always seem to go that you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone," I will say, "Uh-uh, Joni. Not Allie. She knows. She knows."

I know this will sound strange, but I really believe that before I got hit with all these debilitating headaches I didn't understand the true meaning of gratitude.

[Maid Marion]

Hi Allie,

Before you had migraines you thought you could get by without help from others.
Now you realize how vulnerable you are.

Marion

[Oldandcreaky]

I know this will sound strange, but I really believe that before I got hit with all these debilitating headaches I didn't understand the true meaning of gratitude.

I understand.  Not as well as you, of course, but I can glean a pinch of understanding.

[Oldandcreaky]

Hi Allie,

Before you had migraines you thought you could get by without help from others.
Now you realize how vulnerable you are.

Marion

Good guess, MM. Do you think she's right, Allie?

[imallie]

Hi Allie,

Before you had migraines you thought you could get by without help from others.
Now you realize how vulnerable you are.

Marion

Marion - I think that's a beautiful, lovely, thought.

But I think in my specific case, it was more that when you have things taken from you, you of course can become angry at what you've lost. But that way leads to bitterness. Instead, you can learn to be grateful for what you still have... and when your world becomes much smaller for a time, you really learn to appreciate little things.

And then even when it expands back to full-size, the ability to appreciate the small wonders, and to really appreciate what you have and not worry about what you don't, remains.

At least for me.

[imallie]

Definitely a bit anxious about tomorrow.

The plan is to go and get my new Social Security card. The procedure is easy enough - I've already filled out the form, and all that's required is the court order (which I have) and a photo ID (which I now have).

The issue is that the Social Security office itself is the true wildcard. My local office is a city office, and this is likely where so many folks come for so many much more complicated issues to be resolved than mine.

These offices are the kind of places where it's nothing for people to be waiting for 4-6 hours at a time. I can't do that. And I don't mean like "I simply do not DO long waits..." (I really don't, though)... I mean the office opens at 9 AM, if I'm not done by 11:30 my migraine fuse will be lit and it will be increasingly difficult for me to even drive home safely.

But I really don't have any choice - I need to do this (without this card I can't get a passport — and I need that for our trip in the spring), it needs to be in person, and there's no appointments.

So I think my best bet is to try to go early and just hope.

Like I said... anxious.

Love,
Allie

[Lori Dee]

At our local office, you can make an appointment. You will still wait for them to call you but the wait is much shorter. Maybe check if that is an option so you can get in and out.

[imallie]

At our local office, you can make an appointment. You will still wait for them to call you but the wait is much shorter. Maybe check if that is an option so you can get in and out.

Yeah, it's not, sadly. I did check.

[Lori Dee]

We probably have a smaller population here. Rapid City is about 75,000 people that live here. In the summer and fall, that goes up to over 125,000 counting tourists. But still not a grand metropolis.

[imallie]

We probably have a smaller population here. Rapid City is about 75,000 people that live here. In the summer and fall, that goes up to over 125,000 counting tourists. But still not a grand metropolis.

Worcester is not THAT much bigger -- I think last glance we were like 200k. But it is the second biggest city in all of New England.

[Lori Dee]

We are the second largest in South Dakota! But Rapid City is easier to pronounce than "What's this here?" 

[davina61]

And I bet you pronounce it warcester, I live close to the original and local its pronounced wooster!