Live, Love, Laugh!

Back to work again today after a four day break.  It's great having to use up personal holidays, something twenty three years of self-employment did not provide.  As I arrived this morning, greeted by my Cast Members' screams of delight, "Diane is back, we missed you, where have you been?" All this and more without taking a breathe!  Got to love them, they know too well the reasons for my days off, helping the Egg-Nazi settle into the acceptance of a very scary disease.  Mr. Bill for the most part has been great, understandably, moments of uncertainty creep in.  I have encouraged him to talk about his fears and the unanswered questions that invade his peacefulness, something we will face together, much like our years of working, side by side twenty-four seven.

At Fred's News, personal holidays were just that, a time to take a much needed break, equivalent to a mental health day.  Self-employment does allow for spur of the moment decisions, personal holidays require at least a weeks notice.  It is however, amazing how both my current position and self-employment parallel each other.  As I returned, I listened intently as each explained how another member of management didn't do things the same as I did.  Remembering conversations of former Fred's News customers, "they don't do it the same as you and Bill!"  Of course not, they aren't Bill and I.  Had we followed that complaint, we would of NEVER taken a day off.  We used to think of it in terms of "they will appreciated us more when we return!"  Mostly that was true, many times upon our return one of our children would adamantly vow, "I will NEVER do that again!"  I learned over the years, the true meaning of the statement. "Thank God you are back, I don't know how you do this everyday!"  A few weeks later, after their short term memory retreated into the depths of their sub-consciousness, they'd ask..."You guys, planning on taking anytime soon?"  This also meant a few different things:  someone was broke and needed money; one hell of  a party was being planned or both.  As previously mentioned, the party thing, for years, flew under the radar.  I am sure that the most intimate details of after hours goings on at Fred's News have long since been buried to protect the innocent.  There are a few photos that remain as testament to the "fun".  I am still in awe of the number of people that fit into our shower stall..OMG. Youngest son Mark's statement" "Good thing Fred the Dog couldn't speak!" is probably the only thing we are sure of, but then I am absolutely, without a doubt positive...personal holidays, soothe, rejuvenate and invigorate!!!!