The oldest accompanied us to our year-end dinner and the restaurant sat us like sardines in a can.

But it reminded me that he and I share the tattoo my dad designed and had on his neck.


I don’t know. I just think it’s nifty that we’ve continued a little piece of him. (Just ignore the awful tan line on my wrist.)


But the dinner was…it was fitting for what the season was. The boss is in Florida very much soaking in her time away from that place, and after spending an hour and a half in eye range of the one worker who frayed my nerves the most, the oldest declared that he would’ve caught a charge if he were in my place this year.

The air was thick and unpleasant as I wore my mask one more time to be sociable.

There were hugs though because I do love most of these people and we all shared the battle that was this unprecedented year of absolute hell together, but man…am I glad to breathe fresh air again away from them and the responsibilities so many of them put on me because I allowed them to.


My bonus was double what it was last year and the note attached reminded me why I earned it even though it was hard to accept. I’m trying not to use it towards bills, but I know that’s what I’ll end up doing because it’s just who I am.

However, tomorrow I will treat myself to my iced coffee and a bouquet of flowers that are not on clearance simply because I know I’ve earned both prizes that make my heart soar for completely different reasons. And the air will be even sweeter as I don’t keep a watchful eye on my watch counting down the precious minutes I have left before a long Friday shift that I’d desperately want to call out for but knew I couldn’t because of the workload it would put on others.

My weekends are mine again and my gosh…I just don’t have any words for that kind of awesomeness 🥹