Ugh

I have some checking up to do. Saturday before graduation I picked up Danny and our team mate Francisco from the airport and off we went for oatmeal and practice for our presentation for Schrager the Brilliant! Francisco was the first to the airport beating even me there. He called me as I was trying to sneak out of Jeff's house without waking anyone. I'm standing in the foyer struggling with the bags and my cell phone blares "On Wisconsin". I'm pretty sure I woke the whole house.

When I got to O'hare and Francisco got in the car we talked for a few while waiting for Danny to make it to Chitown. Francisco said, "you know Tammy, we have come full circle. You were the first one I met in our first class and this is our last and you picked me up at the airport." It was sweet and made me teary because it wasn't something I had thought about specifically.

Our presentation went better than I thought it would. I was incredibly nervous because it was Schrager the Brilliant, but the dream team pulled it off.

We went to PJ Clarke's after class for a few drinks. When we arrived Francisco said, "Tammy, did you get my voice mail?" My phone was on silent but looked at it and sure enough it was there. I didn't however check to see how many. (That was a mistake.) After a drink, lots of hugs and smiles, it was time to get Danny back to O'hare. I said good byes and stepped out of the bar while Danny finished saying good bye. That was when I realized there were three voice mails, two from my Dad. On the corner of Columbus and Illinois I found out my mom was back in the hospital. I cried and tried to walk as fast as I could away from the worried Dan. When I let go and tried to tell him I really lost it, I cried, Danny hugged and we walked back to my Jeep. I couldn't imagine where I would find the energy to do this again. I was thinking I was pretty well wore out just from being so close to done with school. And worst yet, this was supposed to be this great week of graduation and partying, and I knew in that moment that my parents would not be at graduation. It sounds selfish, but I didn't want to let that week slip away.

Needless to say I ended up in Omaha. Truly not my favorite place on the planet. But while I was there I have to say thanks to my friends who were there for me even down to the tear filled call from the hospital stairwell.

Things between Dad and I got too strained when I found out what he was blaming on me to defend his actions and I couldn't do anything but sit around in waiting areas and the doctor had cleared me to go to graduation. So I left Omaha and headed to work at not feeling guilty for going to have fun in Chicago.