Why I Hate Tax Season…

This is just step one in the multi-step torture *ahem* process that is tax time at Full Circle.  This is my life until April 15th.  Yay me.

Climbing Companion

My first impulse is to apologize for the lack of posts these last few months.  But I will refrain because that’s  too trite even for me.  I will, however, give you an update on the happenings since my last post:

Ramses was laid off from his job.  This sent us into a brief tailspin of sorts.  I think I spent an entire week bursting into tears at random and often inappropriate times.  The fear and uncertainty of our situation came crashing down… hard.  We have spent the last month taking steps to assure we will make it financially until Ramses gets the chance to pursue a new career.

That brings me to the next update.  After the lay off Ramses spent all of a day and a half feeling lost and unsure of his next step.  He was laid off on a Friday and by Sunday afternoon he made an appointment for the following Wednesday to take the Riverside Sheriff’s written test.  Since then he has tested with two other agencies and sent in applications to about five more.

I thought I knew everything about my husband.  I never knew that he wanted to be a cop… in fact, I don’t think anyone knew.  After a long and heartfelt conversation I learned shortly after he turned 21 that he was seriously thinking of a career in law enforcement.  Then I got sick and our lives were turned upside down.  Instead, he took a job at my company that allowed him the freedom to be with me for every doctor’s appointment, hospital stay, and radiation treatment while working nights.  That job led him on a different career path in construction.  Which he was very happy with until the housing market tanked.  I truly believe that being laid off may be the best thing to ever happen to him and I cannot convey how incredibly proud I am of him.

The cancer changed both of us.  Having to face  a life-threatening condition at such a young age we started thinking about today because tomorrow was not guaranteed.  Living one day at a time became  a coping mechanism.  We have both become more concerned with being comfortable and safe than being ambitious and taking risks to plan for the future.  Which is all fine and dandy until the rug gets pulled out from under you.  Then all of the sudden the safe and comfortable bubble we lived in burst and there we stood still unhealthy and overweight despite a year of trying and wondering how we could afford our mortgage without a second income.

I love that Ramses is chasing his dream and he has all my support.  Becoming a police officer will absolutely change our life as we know it.   Two months ago I am not sure if I would have welcomed that kind of change but I now know that sacrifice is necessary to find true, lasting happiness.  Ramses is no longer just my “sherpa” on this climb.  He’s my companion, he’s climbing his own Mt. Everest right beside me.  We can and will reach the top together.