“Remoted” – Day 539 (Monday)

Even with going to bed earlier than usual on Sunday night, I managed to sleep until 8:00 this morning. As usual, when I sleep late, it is weird dreams that often wake me up. In this morning’s dream, I was working at Kohl’s again. The store was different, and mostly I stood near customer service directing customers through a Disney-esque queue and chatting. Lunch took place in another building which involved crossing a wide expanse of asphalt parking lot and dodging heavy pedestrian traffic in the rain. At lunch, I realized it was my second day and I had never clocked in or out and didn’t know my employee number or where the time clock was.

Once awake, no surprise, Kohl’s was on the brain. A check of the website revealed that the denim sale was still on, Kohl’s cash was being doled out, and there was an active coupon for $10 off $25. After a quick call with Mom, the day shaped up to a visit to Kohl’s in Leominster and then continuing to Mom’s, just a few more miles down Route 2.

Magic happened. Kohl’s was not packed like I feared it might be. The store was neat and easy to navigate. The mission was clear – jeans. Seven or eight pairs of jeans were tried on. All of them fit, but there were varying degrees of flattering. Two pairs were chosen. A quick trip to the shoe department yielded a pair of booties on clearance at 85% off, which made the cost practically free. On the way to the checkout a quick detour was made to a rack of blouses and one was selected. The blouse, in a dusky teal with a small floral print, is part of an effort to diversify the closet, which contains a shockingly large collection of plaid and camo pattern tops. Even with the brief checkout line, the entire Kohl’s experience took 45 minutes and earned $15 in Kohl's cash. Truly miraculous. A dream, really.

After lunch and a visit with Mom, a quick stop was made at Ocean State Lob Lot for pantry items. Chopped garlic, pitted black olives, tea, maple crème cookies, and the bonus items of nail polish and a 2022 padded journal book in the style I’ve been using for about five or six years were found. The year 2020 was rough, 2021 has been even rougher, but maybe, just maybe, 2022, with a new cherry red padded daily journal book, will be better. I can hope.

As if that wasn’t enough shopping for one day, a stop was made at Family Dollar for sour cream for the Swedish meatball craving currently developing, and more little kid size 3 diapers for Winnie’s potty belt which will allow me to leave the house 34 times. The idea of regularly leaving the house is top of mind with the return to the office next Monday. Oy. The final countdown.

The shopping, the planning, and the nerves all feel oddly reminiscent of the lead up to the first day of school. The most notable difference is, I always looked forward to returning to school, but the looming return to the office under the new hybrid office-remote plan is feeling less exciting and more stressful.