13 days in September to 880 Minutes in November

 Good day readers, 

Here we are at the end of November.  Here in my fair city we have a full moon called a Beaver moon that is lighting the night sky. The last three months have gone in warp speed, a blur.  August ended with a prison escape of a pint sized double murderer who was in a county jail instead of a prison.  November is ending with me recovering from over-challenging myself, which I freely admit.  My primary job is in an industry where the fourth quarter of the year is by far the busiest of the year too.  So much happened in between and still I cannot believe we are closer to Christmas than any other holiday.  

Back in the heat of August life was progressing as a normal passage of Summer.  Then a series of events occurred that would be unbelievable.  The week of my long awaited vacation, my Dad decided to schedule himself for old fashioned open heart surgery at nearly 85 years old and not consulting family to make proper arrangements.  I went on my four day vacation and arranged for his rehab while away.  Upon my return I made the transfer in person.

While rehabbing the soccer season began.  Quick note, Answerman is a soccer official (referee).  There is a severe shortage of referees.  Along with family we had to look after my Mom and Dad who were about 40 miles apart with Mom at home.  Even with navigation my Mom is directionally challenged.    Mom got lost a couple times raising additional concerns.  I was spending time with Mom (50 miles from me) and Dad (rehab 25 miles away).  In between I had my career and side hustle as a soccer ref.

On August 31st a 5 foot tall, 120 lb inmate awaiting final sentencing for murdering his girlfriend escaped the county jail...news reports called it a prison- my law enforcement friends said it is a jail due to the lax security.  The unspeakable details of his former girlfriend's murder was to protect himself from her telling authorities about the murder he committed in his native of Brazil.  Danilo Cavalcante was on the run on the far side of the county where my parents live. 

 Then things changed on September 9th.  Cavalcante escaped a police perimeter and stole a service van that someone had ridiculously left unlocked and with the keys inside.  He was spotted, with a totally changed look, stolen clothes, clean shaven and 25 miles away, closer to my parents house.  24 hours later, that van was found abandon outside a church where I once crashed my car as a 17 year old, a mere 4 driving miles from my parents.  2 miles as the "crow flies."  My Dad was now rehabbing at my brother's house.  Mom was at home by herself days from her 81st birthday.

Meanwhile, at work we had a second person go out on maternity leave and another who resigned without returning.  A third person had already taken a job in another department.  I can't make this up. I packed up my two small dogs, my two guns, my work and went to Mom and Dad's.  Planes and helicopters circled all day and night.  It was bizarre, intriguing and admittedly somewhat frightening.  There were reported sightings ever closer.  Cavalcante managed to steal a loaded rifle out of workshop on September 11th.  I walked my parents 80 lb dog armed and with one hand on the weapon at all times, I had my pups in the yard, but I was always armed and looking at the wooded edge of the property.

Finally on the eve of September 12 as the temperature dropped there was a "heat sensor " located from law enforcement aircraft in a wooded area a little further away from my parents, on the other side of a major road.  It was in an area completely surrounded by law enforcement- with State Troopers everywhere on both sides of the road.  I went home and told my Mom, they will have him soon.  I was right.  Before I got to start my work day on 9/13 he was in cuffs.  Oh, and a fourth person resigned at work. 

The stress of the workload, my Dad's recovery, an escaped convict kept mounting.  We got deeper into soccer season.  As an official I have to clear my mind of anything else and concentrate on the game.  Each week, when my assignments were over, the stress all came rushing back.  October fourth came with the birth of a new granddaughter and the following weekend it was Columbus day weekend  One of the busiest soccer weekends all year.  I worked late on Friday night for an international client.  On Saturday I officiated 6 tournament games, worked some more, went to bed...and got to my assigned field then next day to find out we were short one man on our crew, so I ran 7 games with no breaks.  The last game going through overtime to penalty kicks.  When I got home, I worked four more hours for my client.

Then came Monday.  Already short staffed , someone else resigned, but we had somebody new start too.  As each weekend came around I started officiating more games because it meant I wouldn't be working.  It also meant more holiday money to spend on family.  We hired another person...and another resigned.  The legion of referees is ever shrinking, like the consulting practice at my regular job, so there is always another game to cover.  The weekend of  11/9 I worked nine, eight were college showcase games.  The weekend of 11/16-11/18 I worked 11 games, officiating 880 minutes of soccer all at a college showcase.  

The week of Thanksgiving there was a tournament but I passed as every joint in my body hurt.  I sat here this past weekend wondering where the last three months went.  I have wondered, how is it possible that all of these events have happened in just three months?  While most of my blog posts end with "The Answerman says, "  instead, I ask first; What is more insane, to continue to challenge oneself physically, pushing limits to the edge so that work does not take completely over life? Or for others to expect that both should be done?  The Answerman says, "Both are equally insane.  One is a challenge to oneself because others' behaviors cause a shortage of officials.  The other is the expectation that those that remain, will somehow just dedicate themselves to a profession, thus eschewing any work-life balance."