City of Richard 2

It’s already past midnight and I’m finally settled in my bed at this so-called 5-star hotel that stinks cigarettes. I need to check in at the conference at 7:30am so I only have 6 hours to sleep. Jeez.

I still went to work and taught the first period of class, then I rushed to Little N’s school to observe him in the classroom. After that I went to pick up Little O from his school and dropped him home. Then I had a quick call with a potential personal trainer who’s licensed to give swimming therapy to autistic children. After that I took Little O with me to pick up Little N from school so that we could have lunch together before I left for the airport. After lunch I took them home because Little O has an art class at 1:30pm. After they were settled I left home and drove myself to the airport.

At the airport I had a free call with my talk therapist for about 30 mins. Got some food and kept thinking about things. There were some pent up feelings but they’re not very clear to me. Finally after the plane took off I could see those images. The City of Richard is a heavy place for me because it was where I met Richard and my BFF Jane. I was only 20 and I had so much hope in life. The last time I came here was 2011, with my two brothers, and now I’m not talking to my brothers anymore. Another thing is that Ken used to tell me how much he hated the City of Richard and yet he married a woman from here and they relocated here during COVID. All those years I kept wondering how much he must have loved her so that he would choose to follow her and live in this city that he hates.

I wanted to write an email to David’s mom about my memories of him these days, but I was too tired at the airport to do this. I was too occupied by too many thoughts in my head.