We all wear several hats in our lives, I even have mine listed here, someplace… mother, wife, daughter, sister, etc. But the one I don the most is a crown, for being Cleopatra, Queen of Denial. I actually do that thing, you know the one, practicing something over and over while expecting a different result. I do this, often. And repeatedly. To me it’s not the definition of insanity at all, it’s the hope of change. Because ya know, it COULD turn out different the next time I do it. (Shut up, it absolutely still could.)
I put on my Cleopatra tiara mostly when it comes to addressing the fact that I have a child who lives in another city (hell, another STATE entirely). In my crazed and royal mind, she’s just visiting there, but still lives here. (For over five freaking years? Yep, any day now, she’ll be back. Hey, it COULD happen!) So when she is here, I wallow in her presence. Of course, I also continually send her off to see her siblings, uncle, cousins, and grandparents… but I know she’ll be back, sleeping upstairs, come nightfall. (Yes, I AM that screwed up. Just ask her.)
But look, she brought me a present from her recent worldly travels.
Because not only am the Queen of Crazy but I am also a bag lady. (That crescent moon and palmetto tree call to me like you can’t believe. I could look at this all damn day. And it is SO going to the library with me next time.)
Here is something else. My fabulous and generous witchlings combined their resources and purchased a wee bit of my childhood for me, as a thoughtful and amazing gift.
It is a metal lunchbox. I had one, just like this, in kindergarten. It was the only lunchbox I ever owned. It was mine. And I used it, treasured it lovingly, for many years, until we moved here to Oregon, around the time I turned 9. Then it vanished. (I blame my mother, she of the clean house and always made beds.)
Here is a side view, with the little lid opened. Deargawd, the memories this brought back to me when I held it in my hands today. We have been on a semi-serious search for one of these ever since I disclosed this bit of my history to the kids. They finally found one. And I am beyond happy with it. As I am with my children. They are offspring to be proud of, in a way I could never even begin to describe. (Next they are going to look for the one their father had, his was Gomer Pyle.)
In foreign license plate news today I had a banner run of spotting things, it began with New Hampshire. Twice! And then South Dakota, followed by Oklahoma and Tennessee. Lastly, there was this one.
Isn’t that pretty? You can see it from a long way off too, very distinctive as well. I drove around the parking lot, in reverse, to get this shot. We are going out for Indian food tomorrow night but I had forgotten to see if the restaurant would be open (ya never know, it IS a holiday weekend and all). J.D. has been petitioning for this place for months now, and he asked if I knew when they closed. (We eat so late that the shut down time is vital information.) I didn’t have a clue, so I drove by to check. We’re good.
As I sit here now, the four of them have gone to a local bar for Fight Night (it’s on pay-per-view, not in the building). My brother will be there, so that will ramp the entertainment factor right off the charts. They will all have a blast. Most likely they’ll be making fun of me, in between rounds, which is perfectly fine, as long as everyone has fun, and I get to sit here with my Flipper lunchbox.
We tend to be a very boisterous and jubilant group, especially when we are all contained in one place. So our card today was perfect.
“Laughter ~
Every cloud not only has a silver lining, but it also has a humorous side. Try to objectively stand back from your situations and find a humorous twist. Laughter will help you see your life from a new perspective so that you can receive creative insights and solutions.
You are much too serious about life, according to the fairies. They aren’t asking you to neglect your responsibilities, let go of the sacred reverence for life, or defend your emotions with jokes. Instead, you are asked to see the humor that runs through the thread of life. Like a brilliant comedy, our lives become more enjoyable when we can see them through the eyes of a humorist.
Laughter helps us to stand back and see ourselves and our situations more objectively. When we laugh, we relax. And when we relax, creative solutions and renewed energy course through us more easily. So, take time today to laugh. For instance, go see the new funny movie or play, buy a book by your favorite comedy writer, or exchange silly jokes with a friend.
Affirmation: I find the humor in life, and I laugh easily.”
Again, I don’t feel as though her examples are all that helpful, and I already laugh constantly (ya know, when I’m not crying or sleeping). We DO find humor in so many things, and it’s something I am really grateful for. This message is more of a validation than a reminder, in my case anyway. But please, do take the fairie’s advice, laugh some, laugh plenty. It really does help. Doesn’t necessarily make anyone (and by that I obviously mean me!) more sane, or less Royal, but it does feel great. And joyful laughter definitely has healing properties.
Bizarre health update: around this time last night I started to develop a strange rash on my face. We don’t have any idea what is causing it or why it’s happening. I’ll keep you posted.
(And no, I did not use any new products, eat anything different, wear any new clothes, take any medications, nor sleep anyplace other than my own bed with my own sheets and pillow. It’s an oddity with no definition. But it is raised, and hot, and red, and itchy. All over my face.)
Late night update: over at Skye’s place she’s done a run-down of our latest adventure day. Lol, me, in my natural environment. Go see!
