abandoned...

abandoned...

and broken...Why do I find it all so beautiful?
...
I can't help but take pictures of "weird things" (according to JJ). About three weeks ago, we were on the freeway and I saw an abandoned shoe on the side. It looked so sad and beautiful with its laces undone and so alone. I saw the image in my head: the solitary shoe, painted yellow line, and a center divider. It was perfect. We were stuck in traffic, so I hurriedly grabbed for my camera and told JJ to go slowly. Of course he speeds up and I miss the shot. I can still visualize the image in my head and I guess that's where it'll remain.

I wonder what happened to the other shoe.

My Death Tree

We had a conversation about death today.

Me: I want to donate my body, and hopefully they can use the rest for an environmental burial.
Nick (my new very flamboyant student worker): Does that even exist Ms. Liu?
Me: Yes, I've looked into it.
(Nick wants to be cremated, then put in a coffin and buried. I told him that made no sense and it would be a waste of space. After some argumentative banter...)
Nick: You know what?! Your tree's just going to get cut down and turned into paper!

I'm sad.

These are a few of my favorite words:

.hope.
.wonder.
.imagine.
.light.
.peace.
.beauty.
.joy.
.bliss.
.love.
.patience.
.sincerity.
.clarity.
.belief.
.found.
.grateful.
.reprieve.
.safe.
.forgiven.
.free.

Heated Hair

In my inbox:

You are confirmed to attend the Grief Recovery Training scheduled for July 14th - 17th at Marina Village.

My first reaction: a sound that made Kristin ask, "Did someone punch you in the gut?"

How this all came to be...

Our boss, the DA thought some of the employees at the office should attend grief recovery training to learn more about how to interact with people dealing with grief (e.g. victims of crimes, victim's family members, etc.). So, many of the Victim Advocates have attended the training. She also sent some of her executive staff, which includes JJ (my boss) and Michelle (the CEO and my mentor at work). I enjoyed making fun of them having to go because they dreaded it so much. Besides learning about how to work with other people's grief, the attendees had to talk/write about their own grief issues. I knew this killed JJ. Their sweet revenge: making me go.

What's worse? I happen to be in the same group as the boss. The big boss, the DA.
Awkweird.