Keep your lemons fresh.

Well...it has been exactly one month "since we last spoke" (thank you RJD2 for that line). What a month it has been. Growth, learning, happiness and definitely fear. In the past month I have begun to settle into my new job, I have had a parent in the hospital for a potentially serious condition, I have moved into a new place, and have seen the country's population scramble as citizens attempt to secure their employment. That is a mouthful at least (that's what she said).

The job is going well. I would be withholding the truth if I neglected to state that the position has not left me stressed and much more drawn to drink when I get home. It has given me the motivation to burn off stress and tension in the gym, so I am very proud of the way I'm looking. However, I am tired all the time, so I have an appreciation for weekends like that which I have never known. Even working 40 hour weeks at an oil plant driving a forklift and doing repeated heavy lifting was not as exhausting. Mental exhaustion exceeds any physical exhaustion (you are more than welcome to pick a bone with me regarding this).

So, the parent thing. Yes, I had a bit of a scare with my mother. She was in the hospital for a few days. Apparently she may have had a string of mini-strokes. They gave her some numbness. Fortunately a few days later they let her return home and all was well.

The unfortunate aspect of this event was the fact that I was actually out of state at the time I received the news of her hospitalization. A brief call from my brother saying "dad called, mom is numb on her side, they are going in the hospital."

How is one supposed to process such a bit of news. Truthfully, I regularly think to myself how I would react or cope with the loss of a close family member. The thought of losing either one of my parents leaves me emotionally troubled. I can not imagine myself without the support system that is my parents. They are the reference books to my life. I try to take what life gives me in stride. However, I turn to my father and mother for suggestion as to how I should fight back when rolling with the punches that are part of being.

Some may say when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Some now are saying "paint that shit gold," after a now semi-popular hip-hop album. My take, when life gives you lemons, hoard them. Study them. Find out what they've been through so your life doesn't become lemonade. Find a way to keep your lemons fresh.