THERE IS NO I IN TEAM!

"Did you hear?  You did, didn't you. You heard the news?" were the exclamations from Grant as I entered the office, Friday last, after seeing my daughter off the premises.  "You're pregnant!" I responded, which strangely stumped him, and unfortunately took the 'wind from his sails', but he recovered after the initial, "Huh?  Oh.  Yeah....so you heard". He went from fifth gear straight to first again, and almost (almost) screeched with excitement.  "We got the meet and greet on Monday!"  I had not forgotten the contest, as I had entered daily, but had not really taken note of the date of the performance.  The enthusiasm that exuded from Grant was as good as winning the contest!

Sunday afternoon was not as exciting as last week, and it was much cooler.  As we were going to meet Edward and Samantha for dinner, my day was shortened, accordingly.  

"She said I could come", said Samantha when I told her of the prize winning.  The lovely lady at the reception desk had said that Samantha should come, with the baby, and she would take him if he cried during the performance!  She seemed genuine in her wish to see little Teddy, and we decided that we would take her at her word!

Monday was warm, but cloudy.  We arrived at the radio station at the given time, and there was a queue outside.  One of the DJs was standing on the steps explaining what was going to happen.  "Hey Tracie", she said as I approached, to listen more clearly.  I was quite taken aback that she knew me by name.  The receptionist always waves us through, but she recognises our faces, or so I thought.  She explained the rules, and we went to 'check in'.  "It's okay, I know y'all" said the receptionist, whose name (ashamedly) 

I do not recall. It appeared that they had a full house for Lauren Daigle, the all-winning music artist. She has won four American Music Awards, six Billboard music awards, eleven GMA Dove Awards, and two Grammy Awards.  I just know a few of her songs!  Apparently, her reputation precedes her and everyone who won turned up, which is not always the case. Everyone plus one (or two if you count an infant) as we technically (well actually) only had two tickets.  However, Samantha had been personally invited to the 'next event'!  

The baby was an instant hit!  Of course he was!  After lunch, which was catered by Valencia, a Tex-Mex restaurant, which although not as (perhaps) creative and different as the last event, was delicious, we headed upstairs to the studio.  "Can I take him in?" asked Samantha. "Why not!" said another DJ.  She sat by the door, while Grant and I headed to the interior of the room.  It suddenly occurred to me that there was nothing wrong in bringing a baby with you to a 'performance'.  Other than the noise, (and Ms Daigle's sounds are quite melodic,) this was the 'new age' and why should a mum not bring their child with them.  To the DJ, it was the most natural thing in the world.  To me, the old fogey, it was outlandish!  Obviously, if the artist (or artists) had been of a more alternative sound, Samantha would have probably had lunch and sat outside.  

As was expected, Lauren Daigle was an absolute delight.  She told stories, sang and was altogether lovely.  All the 'winners' (those who received the emails letting them know they could attend and bring a plus one) had provided their details, for the sweepstakes.  I somehow knew who was going to win, and was not at all surprised when she called Grant's name.  He received a hug from the lovely Lauren and the members of the audience cheered, none more vocally than I!  I sent Samantha a picture, as she had already left the performance, as the baby had woken and needed to be fed.  Apparently, everyone had crowded her when she exited, to make sure she was sitting comfortably, and did not need anything.  As we left the studio, the DJ who called me by name, was standing by the door, and when Grant exited, he said, "Do I show this to you?" She seemed ecstatic that Grant had won and told him, "It's okay, I have your email.  I'll send you the tickets as soon as I have them!"  No need for names, again!  We are truly part of the family!

Stuffed to the brim with fantastic food, we headed back to the office, and Samantha went on her way. I said cheerio to my little star, who at the tender age of not quite five months, has travelled internationally, attended baseball games, a football (soccer) game and now a concert! Our outing had proved to be wonderful in so many ways.  I sent an email to the DJ who had called me by name, and thanked her.  It also seemed relevant to note how kind everyone had been, and how we perceived her to be part of an amazing team.  Team being the operative word!  I had watched as another DJ (the lady who said, "Why not") had asked the security guards and receptionist (whose name, ashamedly, I cannot remember) if they had partaken of the scrumptious lunch, and when they replied in the negative, she told them to go and get some, and she would watch the door, and screens! I did not mention in my email, but we are aware, that some of the other stations we have frequented, in the past, have a definite 'pecking order'.  The DJs are definitely at the head, and the rest of the staff are their underlings.  I signed off the email, Tracie and Grant.

Grant received a reply the following day.  "Grant", it started, and she went on to thank him.  She was quite touched by the kind words he had sent, and told him that she appreciated his positivity and how he and others were what made the station tick.  It was a lovely reply. 

As we left the office on Thursday, Dana commented on whether Grant had turned off the fan in his office.  "I don't have a fan", said Grant.  I disagreed!  "Yes you do!  I wrote the email from both of us, but did I get a mention.  Oh no.  Ohhh Grant.  You ARE what makes the station tick!  You are amazing!  Perhaps she thinks your last name is Grant and your first name is Tracie-and.  I was laughing so hard, Grant replied that he had no idea that he was so eloquent, and could put such an amazing email together. Dana was confused as to our banter!  "He has a fan?  Who?" said my husband.  I was, nonetheless, delighted that she was delighted.

Rain had been forecast for most of the week, and whilst we had received some overnight, Friday was glorious and we found it hard to believe that there would be horrendous weather before 'lights out'.  However, this is Texas!  At four thirty, the skies were clear and beautiful.  At four thirty five, clouds rolled in and by four forty five, the sky was like night!  I walked outside to see if it had cooled down, and stood looking at the sky.  "What happened?" asked one of our office neighbours, as he left for the weekend.  "Someone turned the lights out!" I was about to comment, but he ran off to his truck. I could not determine which way the clouds were headed as they seemed to be going in different directions.  Suddenly, the wind blew and I was knocked from one handrail to the other.  It was time I was inside.

We did not appear to get hail.  Samantha sent me a picture of the golf ball size piece she had collected from her patio.  The rain came down hard and fast, and the wind raged.  We waited for about fifteen minutes before leaving the office, and by the time we got home, it was all but over.  I walked around the complex, and cleared up the debris.  Large twigs had fallen and whilst it appeared that no huge limbs had been disjointed, the small branches that I cleared away could have done some damage to the underneath of cars, if they had been driven over.  As I made my way around the front, I saw our board secretary, who said she was on her way to her son, but had checked to see if there was much damage.  She had not seen much.  I told her that I had already been around and cleared it away, but assured her that there did not seem to be any major loss of foliage.  As I arrived back at our unit I told Dana that I had been longer than usual as I had chatted to our secretary. "I think I have spoken to her more in the last week than in the nineteen years I have been here!" I commented.  After allowing me to use the pool, as and when I liked, I think I owed her something!  I saw another couple of residents walking around.  "We are just checking on the damage", they said.  "After all, we are all responsible for our land", they added, half tongue in cheek, but half realistically.  My plan worked.  I have the neighbours on board.  It is not just the board who make choices and decisions.  All of us have a say!  We are a team!  Perhaps I should send the rest of our residents to the radio station for a 'team building' exercise!  I felt quite happy that my 'suggestion' had been taken on board!  Most dictators do not hail from the country they take over!  No!  I am not running for Chairman, and have no passion for leadership!  I am happy to remain in the wings.  After all, most dictators are infamous rather than delightfully famous!

The pool was rather the worse for wear on Saturday.  I had cleaned out the skimmers in the morning and they had been full.  The pump seemed to be working overtime but I had not idea how to clear that.  It went on my list of things to do.  Ask!  Maybe I will take care of it.  They know I will and the 'maybe' is just a word.  I spent a good deal of the afternoon with the extended broom and net, cleaning the leaves from the filters in the 'deep end'.  Eventually, I swam and filled up the skimmers which I cleaned a third time.  

The leaves that had been blown into my sunroom covered the new tiling I have laid.  It was a lot easier to sweep off the rubber than the stones that the tiles cover.  The rain had swamped some of my plants, but they had revived in the sunshine.  The wind had died down on Friday but had come back on Saturday afternoon for a while.  It was a pleasant enough evening.  I noticed a missed call from my neighbour later on, and called her back.  Apparently, she had found a cat, and wondered if I had the numbers of another couple of neighbours, as she thought it might be theirs.  I did not.  However, by the time I called her back they had found the owner of the cat, and managed to get the phone numbers.  She would forward them to me.  So it begins.  No, I am not going to be 'in charge!'

Sunday started, and I was surprised to seem the skimmers empty at an early hour.  Perhaps someone had beaten me to it.  I took the net out of the shed, and proceeded to clear the bottom filters of leaves that had made their way back into the pool, despite my firm instructions for them to stay out!  Not everyone (or thing) listens to me, obviously! Disaster struck when the extension fell off!  I was left wondering how to reconnect the net pole to the extension.  I did manage to manoeuvre it back, but perhaps it is a sign that I am not quite ready for leadership!  Oh good!

A beautiful sky is beckoning me outside at the moment, and I am very tempted.  The temperature is quite perfect and I cannot think of a better way to end April than to sit quietly and contemplate my week. I have had a good week, I think, and despite my joking about 'getting it done', I like the fact that my neighbours are thinking 'community'. I feel a part of something good!  Next week, I may change my mind. It is my prerogative is it not?  I shall no doubt have another theme, and way forward in ........... another story!