Things have changed so much in 3 weeks, I kind of don’t even know what’s what here. I had a job, got “laid off” from that job, then found a “temporary” job and a few days later lost my regular job permanently. I started the temporary job, now I hope it can become a permanent job, but I just have to work through it and see what happens. The important thing is that I do not have to rely on unemployment to try to carry through, and once all of this clears, I can get a new job, if needed, as I have had several people reach out and say if I need a gig, they may need me. It just stinks not knowing where things will be a month from now, but you all get that, I am sure.

I am not the best at this quarantine thing. I am out every day so far. Working, as it has been made clear that people like me are essential. I just stick to the work then home thing, but I don’t feel like it is as tough for me as it is for so many others that are doing it, staying home. I live alone, with Zelda the Whack Job Dog, so I am not potentially contaminating anyone when I do return home, and Zelda is not about to start socially distancing herself from me, thank goodness! But even on days off, I have gone grocery shopping, to the bank (drive through only, that’s all they have now) and even though that is about it, I am still not quite hunkered down.

I miss the gym, terribly. That has been the worst thing. I miss my people there, I miss the structure and routine of it. And even though the new job is active, physical and beats me up, it is not the same as the designed workouts. I have done a few of the online camps my FIRE is doing every day, but Zelda is pretty sure I am in danger during them, and she will save me. So they are not as effective as I would hope. So while I haven’t exactly gained weight back, things aren’t as firm as they were, so I need to get back. This is the thing that scares me the most.

On that note, I am not eating as great as I should, or had been. I have quarantine snacks. I may well be the main purchaser of Dot’s Pretzels in the Midwest. The Heroin of pretzels, as it were. Highly addictive, and delicious. I have not eaten all of them, but they are here. Also, I have been eating my own cooking for 3 weeks now. I pack a lunch for the new job every day. I can cook, but I don’t like to do it all the time. And we know what that leads to: Dishes. Lots and lots of dishes. I don’t have a dishwasher, I am the dishwasher. Even if I use the grill, paper plates and drink out of a can or bottle, I end up with 40 dishes for the day. What the hell? I miss working in a restaurant, where I could eat something someone else cooked for me, and I could drop my dishes off by Roberto, who always smiled and thanked me. It’s not fair.

I miss people. I am lucky that everyone in town apparently shops at Costco. I have seen people I know every day. But it isn’t the same. I want to be around people, for more than a 3 minute transaction. (I don’t seem to know any of the people that overload their carts with every grocery item we have.) But I think everyone feels this way. We miss the little interactions we didn’t even notice prior to all of this. The gas station guy, the drive through bank people, the crossing guard at the grade school I waved to every day on my way home from the gym. I miss hugs. I worked with Hispanic people for 10 years. We hugged everybody everyday multiple times. It’s a whole thing. I am worried about them, and me, we are huggers. And proud of it.

As we don’t know how long this will go on, bouts of depression and despair are bound to happen. This little rant is a part of working through that for me, but I know a lot of you are going through it too. I guess I just miss knowing what my life was. It wasn’t this glorious thing, but it was mine. I knew what each day was likely to bring. I have none of that now except knowing that Zelda is nuts. And I have that, which is great. I hope you have something that is being the constant for you, getting you from yesterday to today, and that today will get you to tomorrow. Hang in there. Please. When all of this is over, I welcome you to come help me with dishes.

I always say, there’s no fool like an April Fool. Well, we are all getting set up this year, and it really takes a lot of fun out of what is usually a fun day. I am feeling bad for my friends that take full advantage of April Fool’s Day. Hunkered down at home, if they have kids, the kiddos are probably April Fooling them to the point where looking up adoption agencies or buyers looking for kids on the internet isn’t that big of a joke.

What are you doing to get through? I am thinking about burning the March page of the calendar, but then I would lose the cool April picture. I have a calendar this year that has all of the moon phases on it, with a cool moon picture for each month. That joke’s on me too, without the restaurant job, I don’t need to be as aware of the full moon’s monthly arrival. It’s the 7th this month, by the way. Today is the first quarter. Besides, I could always tell anyway, people give plenty of signals.

April is usually a month of hope, and the weather improving. I think with the Covid-19 regulations and the target date getting moved to April 30th, a lot of us kind of are giving up hope on this month too. Sure, ruin March. Other than basketball tournaments, baseball, St. Patrick’s Day, the First Day of Spring, and my nephew Will’s birthday, what is there in March? But April? That’s off the table too? Easter is kind of wrecked, still no baseball, and spring breaks aren’t going to happen. But it won’t be a total bust if you don’t let it.

The weather will get better, gradually as we move along. You can enjoy time outside, just be aware and distant from other people. Easter will still come. Plan something within your circle, eat some more food. What’s one more ridiculous meal with candy at this point? Making the best out of this situation will get you through it. April is a 30 day month. Shorter than March, right? It’s a day, but that little distinction can be a bright side, if you choose to look at it that way.

The things you are doing, and the way you do them, will get you through this. Be aware of the news, but please don’t obsess about it. Wash your hands, keep your six feet zone about you if you have to go out. And be kind. After about 2 weeks working at the new job, I can tell you the majority of the people I come across are awesome. There are a couple of Grouchy Gus and Crabby Karens out there, but most people are aware of what this whole situation is doing to people. Patience and kindness will serve you well, just like it always should.

One more thing, if you are doing carryout, curbside, delivery or anything to support the local restaurants, please consider the workers. A lot are working limited hours, if their bosses are able to keep them working. Please consider a little extra gratuity. Particularly if they are coming to your home. Even with all of the “touchless” options they are coming up with, they are still serving YOU. They left their safe at home place, their families or loved ones, to take care of you. A couple of extra dollars will mean the world to them, believe me. It doesn’t have to be a lot of money, just a little something, please. I am not working a restaurant job at the moment, but that is my heart and soul, and they are my brothers and sisters in the industry, I have to look out for them and boost them up in any way I can. Thank you.

I wish you all a good April ahead. No Fooling. I want it to get better for all of us. We get through it together, there is no better way through. It will mean more on the other side if we can say we held it together. Take care of yourself, and wash those hands!!

I figure I had better check in with everyone. See how quarantines and homeschooling and all of it is going. I myself am doing well, feeling healthy and aware of how lucky I am to be here at all. It’s been a wild 2 weeks since our mandates in Wisconsin closed my restaurant and other businesses. I am fortunate that through this I only have to worry about myself and Miss Zelda, I know a lot of people dealing with kids that want to see their friends, partners that are getting under their skin, etc.

The job situation, well, it’s changed. For 10 years I worked at my job, and I loved it. It was a good overall experience, and I made a lot of friends and people I consider an extension of family. March 17th we were ordered to close by the state, and I very sadly left that day not knowing when I would be with my Solea Family again. It turns out I won’t be there again. The owner had to make a decision, based mostly on the fact that his lease in that building was up, and he decided that he would permanently close that location, effectively putting me permanently out of work. While I am devastated by this, I completely understand this is only a business decision. At the end of the day a restaurant needs to make a profit to stay open. A increase in the rent there was going to make it very difficult for us to turn a profit. When I talked to Lalo, I could see how difficult that was for him, and I told him to hang on to my number, if he ever needs me for a new place or just to help in a pinch, I would love to be the person he calls. One chapter closes, and I will miss everyone there for always.

When I posted that I was out of work (before he decided to close it up for good there) I got a message from a friend that Costco was looking for seasonal help. I applied and got an interview and was hired on the spot. It happened very quickly, like wait, what? I have a job to get me through this time? Thank you Sweet Baby Jesus!! Now, it has been around 30 years since I worked in retail, and the retail I worked was nothing like this!! But it’s a good job, very decent starting wage, and there may be an opportunity for me to be hired on permanently. We will see. I can’t worry about that in this moment of uncertainty that we all face right now. I am just extremely grateful I do not have to depend solely on unemployment benefits right now. I understand the increased risk of being what is considered and “essential employee” right now. It is overwhelming how many people come through there each day who thank us for working, for being there. EFWB, for sure. So stay tuned for continuing coverage of Coco’s Costco adventure. So far, so good.

I am following along on Facebook, mostly, how everyone is faring through our state’s “Safer at Home” mandate. The stories of homeschool activities are a hoot. People are funny. That is good because I believe that a sense of humor is necessary to get through this whole situation. If you can’t laugh, at least a little, each day you will make yourself cry instead, which won’t help you or your family. I am not going to lie, I would be of no help to some poor kid trying to get through math. I believe all of these kids will learn a lot more than just their lessons through this period of time, so be a good teacher, at the life stuff.

So how are you feeling these days? I hope you are finding ways to keep occupied, yet taking the time to relax too. It is good to slow down the machine once in a while. Don’t just binge watch that “Tiger King” thing everyone is talking about. Myself, I have no interest in that. I have watched a few movies here and there, but the new job has kept me occupied. But no matter what you are doing, take care of your mental health too. Reach out to friends, message them, video chat with them. My siblings got together on a Zoom meeting the other evening, and that was a pretty cool thing. It was almost like being with them, as we were all talking over each other, and Paul did everything he could to attention seek. Totally normal. Haha! But the point is, there are tools available if you want some interaction while staying safer at home.

We do not know what is coming next. That is scary, but it can be ok too. If it all gets overwhelming, reach out. There are many people going through this. As I have said many times, the only way through this is if we get through it together. You do not have to do this alone. Your friends or your family, and many times both, want to get you through the tough spots. I have heard from a lot of people checking in on me. My neighbor dropped ice cream off for me the other day. My other neighbor mailed me the sweetest note. If you pay attention, this is bringing out the good in people. Look for the good, and be a part of the good. Take good care of yourself, and wash those hands!!

Remember when we all thought January was the longest month in the history of ever? Welcome to The Week We Just Lived. Wow, I can’t believe all that has happened in just a few days. Things have changed so much for all of us there is no place to begin.

I think back to Monday, which for me was still normal-ish. The kids went to school by my house, but that was it. I had the morning off, did my Monday morning stuff, including going to FIRE. I go to work at 4 on Mondays, and when I left, the kiddos were carrying their stuff home from school. It made me sad. I went to work, which was slower than my normal Monday night shift, but it was OK. And that was the end of normal. The state shut us down on Tuesday.

Tuesday, I went to the gym for what was the last time for I do not know how long. I miss it, and my 7am people, a lot. This is hard. But I started that day like all of my Tuesdays, but I knew it was coming, I just hoped they would let us get most of the week in. The state closed us by 5. I got my shift in, but it was not a regular day, it was very quiet. We got our liquor order, food trucks, and the news came. I sat in the parking lot and cried, because leaving there for an undetermined amount of time was overwhelming. That is my family, my home for the past 10 years. How do you leave, not knowing when you can return? I spent the rest of Tuesday just kind of numb.

Wednesday at home with Zelda. She liked that, even though I could tell she knew the schedule was off. My gym decided they would close, and while some of the other locations still had camps, the numbers were limited, and I did not want to take a spot that someone could use if it was their home gym. But that was the last day for those locations too. I got a message that day from a friend that Costco was looking for people, so I applied online. I got a call, went for an interview and got hired on the spot to start on Friday. That was fast, and I am thankful. The idea of not working, and having to survive on unemployment scared me.

Thursday was quiet. It was rainy, and with nobody really out and about it was unsettling. I ran a few necessary errands, and sat in front of the TV.

I started at Costco on Friday. Since they hired because of the chaos they have had since all of this started, I got thrown right into it. I will tell you, it is fast paced, hard work. Much more physical than what I am used to, and I bartend and serve!! The people are very nice, and helpful to get you in the groove of things. And the members that I have encountered have been very nice, and so many thank us for being there for them. What I will say is that people need to have better manners when it comes to carts! Part of the job entails going out and collecting carts. Most everyone gets them to the cart corrals, but they just put them in there all willy nilly! I survived it, but rest assured I will be better behaved with carts for the rest of my life, and I was always one to put them in the corrals as nicely as I could!

Saturday was more of Friday. I worked, unloading and loading carts, retrieving carts and straightening up the store after close. I haven’t worked retail in more than 25 years. I forgot how much work it really is!

So now it is Sunday morning, and everything is turned upside down, and flipped around and strange. I have followed how it is all going for other people, and everyone is out of their routine. We are learning as we are going. We can all keep going, if we keep going together at a safe distance. I hope the use of social media is helping people feel connected to each other. Isolation is tough on people, and even if you love your family more than anything, being with them all the time can be tough. Keep yourself occupied as much as you can, or relax a little. There is no right or wrong, since we are all doing the best we can.

Let’s see what this week brings, I know for me it will bring more Costco and more ibuprofen. I am grateful to have a job, so I won’t complain (much) about a few aches and pains. Hopefully we all get in a groove, and there aren’t any big surprises lurking around the corner. Stay safe, stay healthy, and support and love each other. Six feet people, ok?

Everyone is just about on lockdown. My work was mandated to shut down on St Patrick’s Day, of all things. I never thought I would see the day that bars in Wisconsin were made to lock it up. We get a lot of comments, looks, judgement for being a drunkier state than the others. But that is our jam, bars are places to gather, to socialize, watch the Pack, Brewers, Bucks, even bowling when the other sports have lulls in action. Now we have no sports, no bars, and a lot of people are feeling no hope.

How is everyone doing? I ask that for real, because I am worried about everyone. Isolation isn’t for everyone. We are really not that far into it, and I have had friends posting their fears about homeschooling, depression, lack of contact and a lot more. Some people are trying to hold everyone up with humor, myself included. Keep at it, we all need a giggle to get through the day. But are you doing ok? I hope so, please please please reach out if you need to. To me, to your neighbor, your family, your dog. Without knowing how long this will go on, people will get disheartened. Not everyone has their home set up for long term isolation, and even I am finding there are only so many Friends episodes a person can watch for days on end.

I have been out a little, but I felt like I was doing something wrong when I left my house yesterday. I had a haircut, so I got some human interaction, yay!! Then I went for a little drive, just to see. It was weird seeing the mall parking lot so empty. I drove from one end of town to Kimberly, and while there was some traffic, it wasn’t what you usually see in the middle of the day in the middle of the week. Downtown was sad to me, no hustle, not a lot of cars. Katsu Ya had a sign in the window, Stay Healthy Appleton! Indeed, stay healthy.

As a restaurant person I do want to say if you are able to afford it, and able to get out, support some of your local and favorite places during this time. Many are doing curbside pickup, you won’t have to leave your car. Every dollar you spend is helping keep someone employed for another day. And please, if you can, leave a tip. You have no idea how much a buck or two means when you don’t know where the next dollar might come from.

Although they haven’t yet, I won’t be surprised if they close hair salons, and massage places. ( the real ones, not the rub and tugs, they close those whenever they can!) If you have an appointment, and can keep it, remember to help out your stylist or masseuse with a couple of extra dollars if you can. They have had a lot of cancellations, and may be made to close as well.

A lot of retail places, particularly the groceries, will stay open. Someone has to work. Be as kind as you possibly can be to these people, and the folks inside shopping. It costs you nothing to smile, be friendly and polite. That is free all the time, virus or not. Kindness and being aware are going to go a long way to getting to the other side of all of this. Now is the time to remember we all are affected by what is happening.

There is a way through this, and it is together even if we are quarantined. We only get better as we help each other. Support each other, emotionally especially. There are a lot of lonely people right now. Isolation is always scary, but especially when there is no end date on the horizon. Send a text, make a phone call, video chat, drive by, honk and wave. And you always have me. I want to try to keep everyone happy, or at least give them a smile, whenever I can. I may not be able to serve you a margarita right now, but I can make you feel a little less lonely if you need it.

Hang in there. I promise, the light at the end of the tunnel will turn on eventually, and we can all head towards it together.

Love, Coco.

So, how about that Coronavirus? This is some pretty fun stuff we are dealing with, isn’t it? I wish I had an ability to stay off Facebook for a while. Most of the memes are funny and stuff, but people sure are all about telling others how to live and conduct themselves. I am lucky, I had a couple of days off from Coronavirus Panic, as I was doing the Colonoscopy Shuffle for the Newly 50. Good times, I’ll tell you!

First, the TP hoarding that is going on is mind boggling. As my sister-in-law has mentioned many times, superfluous pooping and diarrhea are not symptoms of the Covid-19, so what’s up? I prepped for my colonoscopy, which provides a good 12 hours of poop and colon cleansing fun, and I didn’t use even a whole roll of TP. People are posting that others are selling it on Marketplace or Craigslist at obnoxious prices. First off, they are douchebags, if it is true. 2nd, if you are desperate enough to consider it, stop over. I have a roll or 2 to spare while you consider your next bowel movement.

Schools here in Wisconsin have been ordered to close by Wednesday. The people I know with kids are in kind of a panic about what to do, as they all have jobs. Not everyone who works can do it from home. I have seen people make some very kind offers regarding help with making sure they can eat, or even watching the kids while parents work. This is the good in people coming out, and it is awesome to see. Then the “you better not take those kids to the mall or trampoline park” memes started popping up. The “I know more than you do” crowd goes into full effect. The funny thing I noted is the few of those I saw were posted by people that do not have school age kids anymore. My idea is instead of criticizing right away, how about offering some plans and ideas of how to keep the kiddos busy? They will have school work to do, this isn’t summer vacation, there is still a curriculum. But how do you plan on filling the “recess time?” Or the other many hours of a day that need to be filled? Help each other out with this stuff instead of cruising the trampoline park’s parking lot judging anyone there.

There are a lot of jobs you don’t think about that are getting affected. I think it’s cool some of the NBA players, including Giannis (not even going to attempt that last name) are offering to help pay for staff at their arenas while this suspended sports stuff goes on. The lost revenue of just the NCAA tournament is staggering. A friend who works for places like the PAC said he is done for a month, no gigs. That means no money. I will be curious to see how this affects my work. I have been off the two days since States of Emergency have been declared. I imagine if it is slower that extra staff gets cut. I know our carryout business has been steady, and will probably increase as this goes on. I wish everyone in my industry luck, because this could get ugly. My service industry group page has a feast/famine vibe about it, the people that work in cities that normally have conventions and big sports teams are hurting, while dive bar business seems to be up and even busier than normal. Time will tell.

Ok, my friends. Let’s all take a moment for a deep breath. I am not a panic person. This whole thing is certainly cause for concern. I think people that are in certain situations are in for a tough time: the elderly, those with underlying health issues, and young kids. People with suppressed immune systems need these closings and cautious patterns. Those of us with healthier profiles and low risk factors need to be conscious of that, and be willing to help them out. If you know your neighbor needs some help, check on them. If they need help with their kids, offer assistance, not judgement. If you have hoarded TP, for whatever reason, give up a roll or two for the less fortunate TP shoppers. Lean on Me. Great song, and great advice for the stretch here. We have an opportunity here to be better citizens and better neighbors. I hope you see that opportunity and take advantage of it. Please do not panic, it is not time for that. I got you, I promise.

You know how old you are, as long as someone was paying attention the day you came into the world, there is someone keeping track with you. And I have written plenty about the turning 50 thing. I say often I don’t feel like I am getting any older really, but things happen that remind me that not only am I getting older, but the things that mark that aging thing will happen all around me while I am trying to stay young at heart.

My high school classmates took a big hit yesterday. One of our own passed away, following a long term illness. Gidget was only 49, but she had been dealing with the effects of a brain tumor/surgery for 9 years. That’s a long time. Her husband and kids cared for her through the majority of this time. Rick, her husband, went to high school with us too, they dated in school, got married and had the family, then things changed after she had surgery to remove her tumor. I can’t speak with much knowledge about all of it, but her brain function and short term memory were drastically affected.

They were a great couple back then, and I hadn’t seen a lot of them over the years, but they fit like puzzle pieces. It was the right thing that they ended up together, and they had a ton of personality and love for friends and family between them. My heart aches for Rick right now, because they truly spent 3/4 of their lives together. And as it turns out, when they said “For better or worse, in sickness and in health” they truly meant it, because they lived it. I am sure Gidget could not have picked a better caregiver, friend and love than Rick.

I am transitioning into that part of life when you attend more funerals than weddings. You know more people that leave this earth than are bringing new babies into it. It happens without fanfare, there is no benchmark, it just becomes the way it is. Having lost my parents at a young age, you forget that your friends will start losing theirs, until the phone calls come. Your older aunts and uncles will go too, and hopefully they lived long and full lives. But yesterday, when I saw the news about Gidget on Facebook, it literally knocked the wind out of me. She was only 49. I knew of her condition, I knew she had been in hospice care, but to see it, for it to be real, it hit hard. She just lost a 9 year fight that wasn’t fair, it wasn’t fair to her, her husband or her kids. The deck got stacked against all of them, and the reality came to its ultimate conclusion on Sunday. I understand they were all together at the end, which fits because they were all there the whole way through it. God bless you, Gidget, you got to leave this place surrounded by Love.

It had been many years since I had seen her, but she is not a person you would soon forget. Her personality, smile and laugh were contagious. She was a friend to anyone, she just loved being around people. We were the kind of casual friends you have in high school. We had classes together, and were in some clubs together. She was a hoot, truly. She had a huge heart, that is part of why she and Rick were a perfect fit, because he does too. I can say all of us that knew her are better people for that experience.

Keep living your life. Get through it and love fiercely. You just don’t know what will come along and knock the wind out of you. 49 years is not so long when you add up the numbers. A short life, but she made quite an impression in that short time. Even if you don’t know Gidget or Rick, I hope you will include them in your thought or prayers if you are of that nature. She has no more pain, thankfully, but the ones she loved and had to leave need some love sent to them to help them adjust to their new normal.

My best friend and I both turned 50 in December. We both work in service related fields, so December is no time to take off on a trip, too much money to be made that month! So we delayed it a little and went on our 50 Celebration Tour in February. Last week, as a matter of fact.

We had talked about going out of the country, or even Hawaii, but decided to travel to Florida, as Amy’s sister and her husband were going there and we chose to join them. Their mom and dad have a place in Sebastian, Florida so we went to visit them, and we hit the Keys for a couple of days too. Now, l like my family very much, but getting to be included in this family is just a dream come true in ways I can’t even explain! They have welcomed me as one of their own for many years now, to their cottage up north and to family holidays and events. I am a lucky girl, indeed. Florida was no exception!

We had lots of fun, a few little adventures and we might have even learned some stuff. One thing I learned is that Amy’s dad, Tim, is quite the social butterfly. Our first day there was kind of crummy weather, cold and windy, so we decided to go to a museum and run around town. He wanted to gas up his truck, so we headed to a gas station, but he decided as we pulled into one that he actually wanted to go to a different one just across the way. We stop, he gets out to fill up, and within seconds, he has 3 different guys coming up to him to talk to him, buddies from a volunteer job he does and one other Tim Goss Groupie. (We are all Tim Groupies, when it comes right down to it!) We just laughed, and teased him about that for our whole trip. He very graciously let us take his truck down to the Keys, and we stopped on the way back to fill it with gas, but debated if we shouldn’t just give him money for gas so we didn’t deny him the social opportunity of filling up his tank. He really is the Belle of the Ball in his little town down there!

We had lots of fun little adventures, and fantastic service everywhere we went. Neither Amy nor I had ever been to the Keys before, and that is just fantastic down there! We did an airboat ride in the Everglades, we went to a drag show, and we went parasailing. The weather was gorgeous, and there is so much to do and see that I wish we could have spent more time in Key West, but that just means another trip will have to happen. We stayed at a Bed and Breakfast that was so charming, and the people that owned it and worked there felt like old friends within minutes of our arrival. Morreros Guest Mansion, and if you ever find yourself going to Key West, consider looking them up and staying there. Fantastic from start to finish.

Our week went fast, but it was so much fun, and we met so many fantastic people. Between the bars and restaurants we went to, and Happy Hour on the porch at Tim and Sandy’s and the fish fry party they hosted for us, I could not have dreamed of a better place or better people to celebrate turning 50. Life really is better when you surround yourself with wonderful people instead of worrying about what material things you can accumulate. We maybe ate and drank too much, but we laughed and experienced things that gave us memories that will make me smile for years to come. I could go on and on about every little thing, and it wouldn’t scratch the surface of how much I enjoyed all of it!

Thank you Amy, for being my BFF. And thank you for sharing your family with me. I love being a small part of your clan, and their generosity and love means more to me than I can ever put into words. We have had many adventures over the years, but flying high above the ocean with you probably just about tops the list for me. You are a gift to me, and I hope we can continue to do more things together for many years to come. I love you lot and lots!!

I am going on vacation in a day, and I am pretty excited, as I am going with my dear friend Amy. We are celebrating turning 50, which we both did in December. Off to Florida for us tomorrow!! Leaving Wisconsin with a below zero wind hill will not be a chore, for sure.

This all falls under the category of having fun. But that falls into a sub-category of self care. Something I have embraced more of lately, and I think that is a thing that needs to come with a little age and increased wisdom. You just plain old need a little time away from your “life” from time to time. When you’re young and working hard at having a life, you go out and party and take little weekends away, and that is your “me time.” But after some time, you long for the bigger things. I have always wanted to travel far and wide, but the money part of it has always hindered me. I am getting better at not sweating that so much, although I don’t want to go broke just to see a palm tree.

I have devised my own little way to save for vacations and such. And with a job that is very cash heavy, that is easy to set aside money. Just a little at a time. So I save my change, I tuck away a little each day after a shift. It makes is manageable to save it. Without touching my actual bank account, I have enough money to have some serious shenanigans with Amy this week coming up. She is the same way, she squirrels away some cash here and there. We joked yesterday about how we are going to hit Florida and be mostly off the grid with our cash. The Man doesn’t need to know what we’re up to, we’re bringing unmarked bills and we are having a good time.

So self care, on vacation. Take some time, and have a little fun. Don’t kill yourself working just to sit on your porch watching the world go by. Get out there and be a part of the world, let someone else watch you go by!! You should do it while you’re young enough to do what you want, and old enough that you appreciate it a little bit more. You know how the little things accumulate and you deserve a break from it.

Amy and I will send you warm and sunny wishes from Florida, and I will see you kiddos here on the Coco Page, when I get back. Save some aloe for my back, I am a pasty white Wisco Girl headed towards sun and fun!!

I have a love/love thing with Valentine’s Day, which falls upon us in two days. I can’t hate it the way some people do, because although I have been single more of them than not, I have a soft spot for this day, thanks to my Dear Old Dad. More on that soon.

I know a lot of people that dread the Valentine’s thing, and funny enough most of them are in happy relationships. It can be a lot of pressure, if you have someone who has big expectations of the holiday. And a lot of people write it off as a Hallmark holiday, fake day, if you will. Sweetest Day is fake. I don’t buy into that one at all, but Valentine’s is an actual day if you read up on it. It is the feast day of St. Valentine. It’s a thing, I promise. It has been ramped up and commercialized, for sure, and I don’t love the people that go out on Valentine’s Day, it’s amateur date night.

How are you going to get through it if you are a hater? Sitting in a bar throwing spitballs at happy couples is one option, or you could go around doing something small but meaningful for someone else. It doesn’t have to be about grand gestures or even romantic love. Give someone a simple smile. Open a door for someone at the store. Buy a coffee for someone. Or sit around and drink beer and stay away from people, that can be a gift sometimes too, you know? The flowers are overpriced, and that big box heart of candy isn’t cheap either. But someone can benefit from your smile, so I hope you give that away freely.

Back to the one reason I cannot write off Valentine’s Day. My dad, Ed, was an old softy when it came to things like this. I remember as a little girl that he would come home on Valentine’s Day and bring a flower, a carnation or whatever, for me and my sister, and usually a little box of those conversation hearts or chocolates. It wasn’t really a big deal, but he would say he had “posies for my posies” and he really made us feel special for that moment. There is no better Valentine’s memory for me than how he made me feel special, and I have gotten flowers from special people before. But Ed wins, every time. Because Dads and little girls, you know? That is why I can see this holiday as something beyond romantic love, something bigger and better than the Hallmark and flower industry are cranking out, and why the jewelry store ads don’t bother me so much.

Don’t get me wrong, if you are planning something big for me, I will graciously accept your chocolates and stuff. I do have manners, after all. But just in case, I wish you all a very special day with special people around you. And if you know of someone who may have recently lost their love, their Valentine, reach out and give them a reason to smile. I know a few who lost theirs recently, and I would love for them to know that that big love is still out there, it’s just using a different messenger this year.

Give love, be love and receive love. It is all around you. Happy Valentine’s Day, every day.