Hi my friend,
These days I hold my breath after asking how you are. My hunch is that you are as frightened, stressed and as quasi-fatalistic as me. There is so much horror and division; it feels like decent conversation has gone by the wayside. We see the direction this beautiful experiment is going and shake our heads, shudder, and manifest peace only to hear the universe respond with ‘leave a message at the tone’.
I promise to turn this musing around – watch this…
I have been a domestic diva of late, reminding myself that my name is not ‘Hazel’ and Andy is not ‘Mr. B’ (yes, I’m dating myself and grinning because I hated that show when I was a kid). Doing laundry, cooking, food shopping – I’m finding these day-to-day activities comforting in a way. These are all repetitive actions that give me moments of calm. After all these years, there is a mindlessness to doing the mundane, while also needing to be a little bit present. In the haze of that limited awareness, I’m pretty calm. (Note to Andy – do not in any way read this as a paean to domesticity. Definitely not the intent).
There is something about bookstores that I gravitate to, as an oasis in a desert. A cup of coffee and the time to look at every aisle, breathing the smell of book and coffee is irresistible. It’s my happy place. I never leave empty handed, which to me is reflective of a positive outlook. Between my kindle and the growing pile of books on my desk, night table, ottoman and any other flat surface, it will take a really, really long time to get through them all. Let’s keep in mind, that every time I go to a bookstore, I leave with some written work, and the piles grow. If that’s not optimistic, I don’t know what is. I have every intention of reading them all and will likely continue to increase the books in the stacks. Kind of like Sisyphus, but I enjoy the trek.
I don’t have to say this, but I’m neurotic enough to do so. These are times of incalculable tension. It is true that I have not seen anything this fraught ever. There air reeks of acrimony that isn’t handled as reasonable people would prefer (on both sides of this huge divide). And it’s scary and it’s isolating and elicits feelings of generational trauma. I only inhale deeply when I’m in my cocoon of home, hearth, dogs and books (and Andy too). This isn’t the way I thought about getting older. Naive, I suppose. But I’m holding on to hope – desperately, perhaps. Jean Kerr defined hope as “the feeling you have that the feeling you have isn’t permanent”. I think I’ll go read.
Have a good day – sending love,
Mimi
Waiting for the Karma Truck 
Take one breath, take one step, take one hour at a time. Enjoy the heady aroma of old books and coffee and dog hair on the furniture. We will survive. Hugs from SC. 💐
Thank you Ray.sometimes just a moment at a time, but deep breaths are good too…I appreciate you…
When it gets to be too much for me, I bury my head in cat fur, take a walk and turn off the news. I was hopeful my older years would be more peaceful. Still hopeful.
Totally get it – grabbing one’s furry animal is the most soothing thing in the world…and I’m trying to be hopeful too
Oh my pea, I am right there with you, doing my best to distract myself with trips to art galleries, long walks in nature, a similarly growing pile of books, my pups, my friends, in short ANYTHING that is not moored to current affairs. I do not recognize our world in so many respects, so I cling to the quotidian in search of solace and try to believe that saner minds will prevail. Sending you big love….
I know you’re there too, honey – all the hand wringing and short intakes of breath can leave one exhausted. Far better to grab the pups and take a walk…big love back at ya..
I know you’re there too, honey – all the hand wringing and short intakes of breath can leave one exhausted. Far better to grab the pups and take a walk…big love back at ya..
I know you’re there too, honey – all the hand wringing and short intakes of breath can leave one exhausted. Far better to grab the pups and take a walk…big love back at ya..
In this world of decisiveness, I appreciate your acknowledgment of the barn fire that is blazing in our country, but what I really admire is that you didn’t feel the need to stoke the fire(s). Too many people spew vitriol, which further divides our country, our families and our friendships. We need to find common ground so that we can begin to rebuild relationships, community, and our country. Thank you Hazel, I appreciate all you do, but importantly, who you are.
Andy
Thank you Mr. B – I stop at ironing,
Thank you Mr. B – I stop at ironing,
So beautiful. So captures how I feel. Thank you Mimi.
Sending hugs and bucketfuls of appreciation
Hello my friend – as ever – you give voice to what swims in my mind – and how I wish I could trail along behind you at the bookstore…I too have immersed myself in reading, more voraciously than ever, diving into creative endeavors and checking the pulse of things when absolutely necessary. When asked how I am these days (why does anyone even still ask, I now find myself wondering…hmmm) – all I can muster is ‘fine’ even though nothing is fine at the moment. This made me grin> I promise to turn this musing around – watch this…Thanks for the smile this morning. And, Andy – love this > but what I really admire is that you didn’t feel the need to stoke the fire(s).Thank you friend, for your words and spirt in my inbox this morning. ♥
You must know how delighted I am to hear from you – as I always am. We are traveling parallel paths – yet again – and I love that we continue to do so 💕
Well-said, as always. And yes, it is optimistic. Like getting your bananas green. And we are going to be around to read all those books — yes!!
Green bananas – brilliant!! That’s the plan – we will be here to read them all!!
Green bananas – brilliant!! That’s the plan – we will be here to read them all!!
my dear Sis. Domesticity is not in my vocabulary and whenever it sneaks in, calm is not what I feel! Bu I do continue to hope and hope and hope!
as always your words make me feel like I’m sitting by your side and we are doing our musing!
Laughing a domestic diva you may not be – and I don’t encourage it! But I know we share similar perspectives on the temperature of the moment. Finding hope is a must. And we can commiserate this weekend..
Mimi
My favorite place is a book store too. I have piles of books physically and tons uploaded to Kindle not to mention they I have 424 titles on my want to read list on Goodreads. Not sure how I will find time to read all on that growing list but this is where I find my solace lately during these trying times.
Hugs and love to you
Amy
Thank you, Amy- I completely understand! Xox
Thank you, Amy- I completely understand! Xox
I am right there with you, dear Mimi… Holding onto Hope, reading many books, and trying to stay away from the news headlines! Blessings to you – Paul.
It’s great when in these isolating times, you know that there are friends who ride along. I’m appreciative Paul – truly.
💕