Tonight's picture was taken in July of 2008. Literally weeks before Mattie was diagnosed. That day we took him to Roosevelt Island, a place we all loved to walk and explore together. Mattie loved climbing the rocks and picking up sticks. We had quite a stick collection for many years. Naturally whenever I pass these rocks on the Island now, I think of this moment in time.
Quote of the day: Today's coronavirus update from Johns Hopkins.
- Number of people diagnosed with the virus: 33,804,620
- Number of people who died from the virus: 606,722
It was back to back conference calls today. First I had our weekly research call to work on the big grant we are applying for, and then following that I had my monthly licensure board conference call. It was at today's meeting that I had to explain to the Board staff that I will be moving from the District in August to Northern Virginia. Therefore, that means that I can no longer serve as licensure board chair. Not my rules, it is just the way licensure boards work, you serve in the jurisdiction you live in. Do you know I have served on this Board since 2003, 18 years! I practically grew up on this Board.
It is an awful time to transition from this Board, as our Board attorney died in February of 2020, our Vice Chair just resigned, and now I am being forced to resign because of my relocation. It saddens me because the Board is another baby of mine. I am basically its institutional history. I don't claim to be irreplaceable, but I will miss the staff and the great work we have done together for the District and its residents. In fact, board staff called me later today and they are devastated about my news. They said some very touching things, that will last with me forever.
But since Mattie died, there isn't much from my former life that I really liked doing anymore. Other than my work on the licensure board. Saying good-bye today, felt like a real loss to me. I am not sure why, but this serves as a final reminder that nothing from my previous (pre-cancer) life is a part of me anymore. There is a great finality to my life as a counseling professional and how I thought my life was going to turn out. I am sure in time, I will be able to rationalize this, but for now, all I feel is sadness. I don't like change at all, and having to move, manage a home, leave behind a space I shared with Mattie, and now say good-bye to the licensure board, is all too much to absorb.
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