The Day After

Today started off well enough.  I called the car dealers to make an appointment to have my car serviced this afternoon and worked on office work.  

 

At noon, I took daughter to the airport; she went back to Berkeley today (but she'll be back Thursday night to accompany me on Friday morning when I go for the port to be inserted).  

 

On the way home, I visited my mother's grave (since I didn't have time to go yesterday) and put gas to the car; I like to start the week with a full tank of gas. 

Came home, had the last piece of the chocolate babka from yesterday, and did more work until it was time to go for my 2:00 p.m. car service appointment.  The service consultant said it would take about 1 1/2 hours.  I said no problem, I'll be in the waiting lounge; he said he'll come and call me when the car was ready.  I sat in the lounge and waited.  And waited.  And waited, some more.  Finally, after more than 3 1/2 hours of waiting, I walked over to the service department to see what was taking so much time - to see that the car was ready!  The service guy had called and left a message on my home phone and no one had come to look for me in the waiting lounge.  Aaarrgh!  So frustrating!  

Daughter had called me when she landed at the Oakland airport; I had received her call when I was in the waiting lounge.  But, apparently, she had called again when she reached her apartment, and I didn't receive that call or her subsequent calls.  So, she had called home twice and left messages, as well.  She was worried and upset, when I finally got her call.

By the time I got home, it was past 6:00 p.m. I was hungry, thirsty, tired, and in a thoroughly bad mood.  And upset that I had caused my daughter to be worried on my behalf (she said she was going to wait until 7:00 p.m. and if she hadn't heard from me by then, she was going to call my cousin or one of our neighbors and have them go to the car dealers' in search of me!)

 

Anyway, I took the trash cans to the curb, collected the mail (received the pre-op instructions for this Friday's surgical procedure), went on video chat with daughter, and had a late lunch/early dinner.  At least there was enough leftovers, so I didn't have to cook on top of everything.  And slowly, we both relaxed and calmed down. 

I called my friend who spent the weekend helping me to check on her and thank her; called my catering friend, too, since she never told me how much I owe her for the fish curry.  Called the temple, too, to update the monks about this week's medical appointments.  My mother and I taught them English when they first came to this country and over the years, we've developed a close friendship with them. 

One of my cousins called to say she was sorry she couldn't stay behind to help me after the lunch, yesterday.  I told her it was OK, as two friends stayed and helped.   We talked for a long time about this and that and I told her I'll call her later, maybe tomorrow, to help me put away the washed dishes.  I had planned to do that this afternoon, but the whole afternoon was spent waiting for my car! 

I was feeling frustrated, this afternoon, but, nevertheless, today, I am grateful for:

- Daughter had a safe flight back to Berkeley

- The car service was completed without requiring additional repairs

- Service was covered under the warranty, so no charge

- I sat in a comfortable, air conditioned lounge while I waited for the car

- I was able to vent my frustrations over the long wait to my cousin and my friends 

- Dinner was already in the fridge, waiting for me

All in all, it really was a good day.  :)

How was your day?