A Saturday Morning Meandering

If you've been following Meanderings and Muses for awhile, you know two things.

One.  You know we've had a lot of snow in Boone this winter.  You'll know that 'cause I've whined and grumped about it.  But I've also taken some lovely pictures of it; even mentioned the magic of it.  And I've gotten some fun pictures too, I think.  Harley in the snow is funny, and a thing of joy.

Trying to offset bad with good when I can  -  that seems to be my way of handling most things.   Lord knows I do get grumpy.  But I don't think it's my natural state.  But, a Pollyanna?  I don't think so.  Most of us are a mix of the two, aren't we?  I don't want to be a Pollyanna - I find them to be annoying and mostly insincere.  But I don't want to find myself permanently living at the other end of the spectrum either.  I dearly hope I never become one of those wretched souls.  Bless their hearts; they are pitiful.  And I find pitiful people boring.  Too boring to live.

And that's the second thing you know if you've been hanging out here for awhile - that I have a problem with negativity and consistently negative people, i.e., the "pitiful people."  I've written about my feelings on negativity a couple of times - here at "What Makes You Crazy?" and here again at "It's my blog and I'll rant if I want to . . ."

Herein lies the problem.  I have been a grumpy person this week.  I don't "think" I've become quite as bad as one of the "pitiful people," but I've gotten on my own nerves, I must say.  It hasn't been my best week.  Usually, when I'm grumpy I'm able to find something in the situation to make me at least smile.  I'm able to see a little bit of beauty, a little bit of sweetness, or maybe a lovely little speck of humor.  I'm easily able to spot something absurd in almost anything, and that's usually enough to make me laugh out loud.  One good belly laugh can pretty much help me over the grumpiness hurdle.

This week started off with a toothache, followed by too many painkillers which made me pretty sick, a root canal that didn't really go all that well, antibiotics that weren't settling so well, and then a snow storm that kept us home from work.  Toss all this together and put a big dollop of guilt on top and there's my week.  Pain and Guilt.  WHAT a combination! deadly.

I sent a note to my faculty and co-workers yesterday apologizing for not being there much this week and asked that they bear with me.  The responses I received made me realize how very self-absorbed I had become.  They were sweet, kind, funny, supportive and understanding.  Sometimes we forget just how supportive many of our friends, family and co-workers actually are.  We sometimes just take it for granted.   And a response from my boss made an impact in a big way.  I had mentioned to him in a private note that a girlfriend clued me in that there are some antibiotics that can bring on "the blues."  Maybe I was suffering from a case of the blues.  He wrote back and said he remembered reading somewhere that when someone is suffering from the blues, that they were supposed to buy themselves something red . . .  like a red dress, or red shoes or something.   A direct reference to the piece I wrote which was included in CLOTHES LINES; "Needing a Little Red in My Life."  That he would remember this, and spoon feed it to me at the perfect time was a gift.  A gift of support and friendship and loveliness and was it appreciated more than he'll ever know.

My boss is a man who has been blessed with great bounty in his life.  He's a devoted husband and dad and he dwells within a family to be much admired.  They're an extraordinarily closely knit three-some and there's never a doubt in anyone's mind where their priorities lie - although never to the exclusion of others in their lives.  Their number one priority lies within themselves.  Within their unit.  And because of the sureness of their love and trust in this unit, it has, I think, given them a generosity of spirit that is quite lovely to find yourself a part of.  They're always there for others when needed.  Always.  Not in ways to bring themselves into the forefront, but to give support and solace in the quietness of sincerity. 

In the meantime, I must admit - even when I've tried really really hard to hold on to my grumpiness and not respond to the antics of my own crazy little family; Donald and Harley, darn if I haven't lost that battle every time.  They are clowns.  Both of them.  Silly as hell.  Crazy as loons, funny as all get-out and I am luckier than I deserve to be to have them.  They have both managed to make me laugh this week.  A lot.  Loudly.  And I thank them.

So, what's my point with all this?

I have no idea.

I'm just rambling.  Sometimes it feels good to just ramble on about thoughts and feelings going nowhere in particular until a point of clarity pops up.

My point of clarity, I think, is that although I use this particular trite little saying often, it is, at base, my truth  -

Life is good.


Happy Saturday, y'all!


p.s. - Yep, expecting more snow today.  So I've made us a big pot of vegetable, beef and barley soup.  yum.  And about that root canal?  Feeling MUCH better - Yay!!!

another p.s. - Anyone want to share what magic they use to fight the blues??  Read, write, sleep, paint, make music, run, retail therapy, throw pots . . .