Cassie says “Chillax!”

So much has happened in the past week.

It was very exciting last Sunday when my book became available. Thank you to all my friends and family members for placing your orders! And thank you to all my new online friends, who, without even knowing me, bought the book and expressed their congratulations. How cool is that?

All the joy and  love I was feeling for mankind was abruptly darkened when I heard the news early Monday morning of the horrific tragedy in Las Vegas. I can’t even imagine how frightening that must have been. I pray that the survivors and families of the victims are healing, though I’m sure the damage is irreparable. I can’t wrap my head around what makes people want to hurt each other.

The week took another strange turn on Tuesday when my husband learned that his company is planning to move all of their Los Angeles employees to their headquarters in Chicago. What??!! Don has been with them since they opened their LA office 17+ years ago. Will we relocate to Chicago? Do we want to uproot our lives and start anew in the Windy City? Brrrr, I say.

I was thinking that the one good thing about this scenario is that my dear brother John lives near Chicago, in Highland Park, with his amazing wife and kids, so we’d get to see them more. But my mom told me he is considering selling their house and moving to Minnesota to be closer to his wife’s family. So, there goes that idea. Schmegegge! If I end up living in a city where I have no friends and no community, I will inevitably fall headlong into a deep depression.

Don tells me, “Don’t worry, honey. I have no interest in going.” Whew! So, I guess he’ll retire a few years early and we’ll make do. His work is very specialized, so it’s not like he can just look for another job. I’m not a big help since being sick has made me unable to work, and I’m realistic enough to know that my writing will never generate any income. I just have to trust that we’ll be fine. Poor, but fine.

The end of the week brought another kind of grief. This weekend all of my Juilliard classmates are in New York at our reunion, and I can’t be there because I’m not strong enough to travel. Oh, boo hoo, poor me, you say. I know. It just makes me sad that I can no longer effortlessly jump on a jet and go across the country to celebrate four of the best years of my life. I’ll get over it. When we were studying at Juilliard, a few years ago, we were so young and full of energy. We attended classes all day, rehearsed all evening, went  home to catch a few winks, then got up and did it all again the next day. We did that for four years!

My life is so different now.  I get tired and have to rest after writing for a couple of hours. But I know I’m blessed. I have a loving husband, a home in sunny California, lots of animals to love, wonderful friends, and I get to write every day. My life is good and  I know every day is precious.