Losing a part of me

A 500kg weight was lifted off my chest yesterday morning. The interview that I have been stressing over was for my U.S. Green Card. When the Consular Officer told me that she was approving my visa I remained calm. I thanked her and I asked the list of questions I needed to ask, and then without showing any outward emotion I walked out, collected my smart phone and watch from the locker (they make you stow any electronics before entering) and I walked out into the snowy Montreal streets.

Considering my lack of sleep I was feeling pretty awake. I sat in my car for twenty minutes calling first my wife (she was always going to be my first call whether I was approved or not), and then one Lodge brother who I have been sharing my struggles and anxieties with. I then texted a local friend who I was hoping to have a coffee with while I was in town. I picked up bagels and then drove to his office. By noon I was driving back to where I was staying, stopping along the way to pick up a Montreal smoked meat sandwich for lunch. Yes, I ate poorly yesterday, and there is a good chance that I will not do a lot better today. Tomorrow is Wednesday and my program resumes in earnest.

I wrote most of what is above in the morning before I hit the road, but I was not able to concentrate and so I packed up and hit the road. It was a long drive with a lot of stops, but I am now home. As I expected (and predicted in the previous paragraph) I did not eat very well today. Driving days are never good for my program. I stopped for lunch, but I then stopped for an early dinner with a friend just north of Toronto. I then made another stop to have coffee with a close friend who has been very supportive of my immigration struggles, and I wanted to tell him in person before just about anyone else.

I do not know if it was related to the stress and anxiety of it all, but I had not had a proper bowel movement in several days. This morning that changed… and how! I was relieved (both literally and figuratively). When I arrived back home, I had another extremely successful movement, so while I know my weight will still be up tomorrow morning, it is possible that it will not be as bad as I expected it might be. I was expecting to see a five-pound jump. What will it be? Who knows. We will see in the morning.

Speaking of tomorrow: I will be right back into the thick of it. Tomorrow and Friday I am teaching once again from 8:30am until 10:30pm, and Thursday from 8:30pm until 5:30pm. No rest for the wicked, as they say. As such, I am going to go collect my doggie, and then I am going to try to get some sleep.

Have a great evening folks!