Yes, I'm still sick

 Dammit

I am, frankly, a pretty hardy and healthy soul.  Always have been.  

My doctor commented on that fact when I visited last week by saying how unusual it is to see me between my regularly scheduled Wellness Visits.

That said - when I do get sick I feel like the world is ending.  I know, i know - a little dramatic, right? (I got that drama gene from my mom).

I am, in a quiet way, trying to fight the broader doom facing our country under this administration in my own small way which includes reading fewer of my substack columns which I've unsubscribed to for now - only temporarily; I am not "a head in the  sand kind of person." But I DO (strongly) believe in self care.  One again, queue my song -

1. I Won't Back Down

   Song by

   Tom Petty

   Well, I won't back down
   No I won't back down
   You could stand me up at the gates of Hell
   But I won't back down
   

   No I'll stand my ground
   Won't be turned around
   And I'll keep this world from draggin' me down
   Gonna stand my ground
   And I won't back down
   

   (I won't back down) Hey baby
   There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
   Hey I will stand my ground
   And I won't back down
   

   Well, I know what's right
   I got just one life
   In a world that keeps on pushin' me around
   But I'll stand my ground
   And I won't back down
   

   (I won't back down) Hey baby
   There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
   Hey I will stand my ground (I won't back down)
   And I won't back down
   

   (I won't back down) Hey baby
   There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
   Hey I won't back down
   

   (I won't back down) Hey baby
   There ain't no easy way out (I won't back down)
   Hey I will stand my ground (I won't back down)
   And I won't back down (I won't back down)
   No I won't back down
   

   Songwriters: Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne. For non-commercial use only.

I have been known to belt out this song on more than a few occasions.  A lot of those occasions were in the car, Donald driving, windows down - Me, Mr. Petty and Donald - singing.  Loudly.  Oh, yeah.

Since I can barely squeak out a few words in a normal conversation without having a coughing fit, no singing right now.

But a lot of reading, and thanks to NetGalley along with a few favorite oldies from my own library, some very good reading.  More on that in a later post.

While going through my email this morning, I couldn't resist Scott Dworkin's column entitled  "Joy Reid Shares Great News." I love Joy Reid. Respect her. Miss her! I believe we are in very serious need of journalists like Joy Reid who refuse to back down.  They are the spine of this country.

This resonated with me - you can read the entire column here

" . . . And on the tyranny we face right now, Reid offered some inspirational words: “Autocracy is exhausting and it’s designed to exhaust you … the worst enemy of autocracy is joy.” She urged everyone to take action, no matter how small: “Do something that you can do ... and be joyful. Have some joy.”

Y'all.  Yes!  It IS exhausting!  But we have to take action.  We also have to take breaks.  Rest our weary selves.  And find our joy.

Little things can be important.

Donald and I have a couple of candles in our windows.  Flameless LED cordless  candles on timers.  They come on automatically, then turn off automatically.  If we've been out and arrive home during the evening, seeing those candles flickering "Welcome Home" makes us happy.  Even getting up in the night for a midnight snack or potty trip, I find myself looking over towards a window to check on a candle, and it will make me smile.  Little things. Much needed things.  Our own small joys as acts of resistance.  

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world: indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
— Margaret Mead

Y'all, we are ALL in this together.  Grab your joy!  Stay well.