errands & goals

Taking the train to visit my parents after work, just like old times. This is my first Amtrak trip since the start of the pandemic. I was wondering if things would be different due to covid (reduced service, increased security) but everything was as I left it. Same trains running at the same times, even departing from the same platform. I got an orange smoothie at the station. Old times, good times.

The ostensible purpose of my trip is so Mom and Dad can help me with my passport renewal application. Really, it’s not that complex, but it makes me stop procrastinating on it, and it’s a good excuse to spend time together. I came down Wednesday evening, am staying Thursday through Friday, and then going back up on Saturday morning in time for raid.

After a long stretch of not especially wanting to do anything, I suddenly have so many things I want to do at once, which is nice but also kind of conflicting. I want to be here spending time with my parents (a luxury I won’t always have). But I also want to be home watching HGR stream his Elden Ring adventures and playing more Hollow Knight. I’m even coming out of my work slump and was sad to leave off work Wednesday afternoon. The days are just packed.

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Thursday was a day for chilling in the garden house and playing Pokemon Go with Dad. Friday was ALL ERRANDS ALL DAY. Post office to mail the application. Shoe store. (Mom and Dad were of the opinion that I needed new shoes. I didn’t think so, but didn’t feel like arguing. The guy at the shoe store pointed out the outer edges of my shoes were ground down from walking, potentially affecting my gait, so I suppose they were right.) Clothes store for jeans and socks. (Dad pointed out my jeans have holes in them. Both parents pointed out my socks have giant holes in them. Ok fine.) Verizon for a new phone. (This one was necessary so I don’t get in any more trouble for missing work calls.) Grocery store for fruits, another grocery store for chocolate, asian mart for fish tofu and bao and dumplings.

F L O P S

Mom’s supermom powers never fail to impress. She leaves the house before I wake up, works full-time (a busy schedule with meetings and drama around every corner), and, upon coming home, immediately starts making a fancy dinner. (Curry with lil potatoes; garlic bread; stir-fried cabbage with tung hoon.) No taking a nap, no microwaving a pack of ramen and telling everyone “aight you know where the fridge is.” Not even any time spent to herself chilling out/spacing out. She gets right to cooking, and then after dinner she goes to check email and attend to more work matters.

Past me failed to notice any of this. It was just Mom. A more cognizant version of past me would have viewed it as goals. As I am now, I can say it’s not a goal; I genuinely have no desire to be that hardworking. I enjoy having a chill life. But it’s still impressive to watch.