Just Saying

This past Sunday I had a special event, I got baptized.  I found out that I had only been sprinkled.  I called to tell a very important couple the night before.  They don’t attend my church anymore and wished me well.   Sunday came and I was getting prepared and making sure my mom and sister had good seats when I found out that the information had been leaked and people had shown up for me.  WHAT?  People, that had stopped attending the church for various reasons, had shown up just to support me.  Three couples, including that special in their 80’s couple, and others came for the occasion.  It was emotional.  It was overwhelming.  It was wonderful! 

I can’t describe quite how I felt but I cried when I saw the people that came to celebrate with me.  It touched my heart so.  I say all of this to say that if you get the opportunity to support someone, do it!   Showing up matters!!!  You never know what being there can do for someone.  Keep showing up for others!!!

This time of year, people are busy and many are trying to purchase gifts for others, food and drink for celebrations, and making donations to different causes.  It’s an expensive time of year!  Sometimes, I find myself in situations where people try to put pressure on me to spend money.  I’m not talking about the kid next door selling fruit or wrapping paper as a school fundraiser.  I’m talking about being in the store looking for a particular item and a well meaning friend trying to get you to spend money on something else.  I was looking for a dress for a special event and a friend steered me to look at designer purses when I couldn’t find a dress I liked.  WHAT?  I don’t need or want a purse.  I need a dress.  When I stated that, I was given pushback about what a great price the purses were and how it was too good to leave in the store.  Despite ALL the things (and there were a lot) that were said to me to try to get me to purchase a bag, I left without one.

I am the only one that knows my thoughts on spending my money.  I don’t need to hear anyone else’s thoughts on how I should spend my money or how I “deserve” to buy something for myself.  As a working adult I and I alone, get to decide what I spend my money on.  I choose not to just compulsively shop all the time filling my house with things that I have no room for, and can’t possibly use them all just to say I have them.  OOPS, I’ve said too much.  Don’t judge me and I won’t judge you.

This past weekend marked the end of DST – Daylight Saving Time.  Yet again, we turned our clocks back one hour and naively rejoiced over the extra hour of sleep we would receive Saturday night.  What a joke, and not a funny one.  Every one I spoke with today was EXHAUSTED.  Somehow that extra hour wreaked havoc on our lives.  Some people (Can you see me raising my hand high?) weren’t able to fall asleep right away.  I continued to do laundry and chores to prepare for today.  Co-workers also did chores or whiled away the time watching TV or playing video games until they realized they had to get up in 4-5 hours.  NOT FUN!   The commute in was full of people driving like they were 15 and just learning to drive for the first time  Their decision making left a LOT to be desired.  Most of us sleepwalked through the day looking forward to the time we could escape and go home.  The setting sun made the commute home just a little bit worse than this morning as we all adjusted to trying to see in the early darkness.

More darkness=More depression.  Listen up legislators!  Let’s stop the madness of the twice a year clock change.  Let’s keep Daylight Saving Time permanently!!!

A friend invited me to go see MJ the Musical yesterday evening.  I didn’t know much about the show but decided to go.  Show turned out to be wonderful!!!  It was a reminder of old Jackson 5 songs, like “ABC” and “I Want You Back”, a lot of Michael’s personal hits like “Human Nature” and “She’s Out of My Life”, as well as some other popular songs.  The musical follows Jackson’s life up to his 1992 Dangerous Tour, mainly as a performer and hints at (but doesn’t dive into) some of the issues that came up during his life as “The King of Pop”.  I remember loving his music but becoming distracted by all the stories and allegations that came up against him.  I found myself not paying attention to his music as much and instead focusing on the negative press.  I realized last night that I miss his music and how some of his songs touched my life.  I know that we will never know the absolute truth behind all the “mysteries” of Michael Jackson this side of heaven, and we don’t need or have to.  Not knowing doesn’t affect our lives in any way and shouldn’t stop us from enjoying the music he left behind.  I can’t wait to listen to “Thriller” for Halloween tomorrow!!!

When I used to ask my dad how he was feeling, he usually told me he was “pushing”.  He also encouraged me to “push” when I would call him about something difficult or a current struggle.  “Just keep pushing” he’d say.  I believe his meaning was to keep getting back up and not give up/give in.  Now when I feel I’ve been knocked down or suffer a blow, I hear his voice and I “push”.   Difference is that not only am I continuing to get back up and fight, I’m also Praying Until Something Happens – P.U.S.H.

It’s rough out here!   Keep PUSHing!!!!

A simple saying that my mom has said over the years.  Simply put it means that she wants to be celebrated while she is still on this side of the dirt and can celebrate with us.  It’s true!   Why do we put off doing things with people?  Then when they’ve passed on, we bring flowers, cry, and wish we had more time to do the things we wanted to with them.

Taking this into consideration, I’ve taken two trips in the past month to celebrate some people.  First up was Panama City Beach in late September.  This was to attend a surprise 50^th wedding anniversary party for a good friend of mine.  Although the surprise had been ruined by some well-meaning friends that couldn’t attend, my friend and her husband were overwhelmed by all the people that did show up.  It was moving to see the husband tear up seeing his family that had traveled from TX for the occasion.  My friend told me she was surprised by the amount of people that showed up for them.  I told her that they had made a great impression on lots of people’s lives, so people showed up for them.

Second trip was an extended weekend in Charleston, SC during the first week of October.  I met up with my cousins to celebrate one cousin’s husband’s 70^th birthday.  It was a surprise trip, and he didn’t discover until arriving at the hotel just how many people (14) had traveled to mark this occasion with him.  At his special dinner, he thanked us for taking the time to be there for him.  Once again, I thought about the impact that he has had on my life and the lives of so many others.

My point is that I didn’t have to go on either trip, but I would have missed out on so much by not going.  The last time I saw some of my cousins was at my dad’s funeral.  By going, I created good memories by hanging out, laughing, and enjoying their company for a while.   Yes, I’m going to continue to give out some flowers now, while I still can.  Who knows?  I might even receive some.

Recently the subject of things we have to pay for has come up several times in my circle of friends.  It seems that as time passes, more and more things that were free have become things we have to pay for.  Remember when water was free?  Now the average cost of a bottle of water ranges from one to four dollars.  It seems new television streaming services pop up daily and I still remember when tv was free.  We’re paying thirty-five extra dollars on top of flight fares for the privilege of sitting in the exit row.  Airline ticket prices used to include any seat selection except for first class.   What about picking up your concert or theatre tickets at the venue?  Now, especially since the pandemic, tickets are purchased online (or through an app) and you’re charged a convenience and an administrative charge although it was not convenient for you at all!!!

As our lives continue to get busier, we are allowing conveniences to become necessities.  When we do this, we are pushing the line further and further back for what we’ll pay for.  Seems to me, the more we go along with the program, the more we will be charged for simple things.  You may feel it doesn’t seem like such a big deal now.  What happens when you have to pay to enter a public restroom or have to pay for toilet paper in that restroom?  Perspective changes – just something to think about.

Each day is a gift.  We say it, but do we realize just how true it really is? 

I was reminded recently that we are supposed to live in the present.  That means today.  We’re not supposed to be consumed with worries about tomorrow, or upset about things from the past.  We are to enjoy right now!!!  That’s not to say we don’t ever think about these things, but we’re not to let them take over our thoughts and distract us from what’s happening right now.  Live each day fully.  Do and see all the things.  Jesus said in Matthew 6:34, “…do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will worry about itself.”

Again I say each day is a gift.  Enjoy the gift of the present!

Recently, I’ve been feeling reflective and a little bit melancholy.  I’ve been moving through the days and nights a bit slower than before. A co-worker mentioned that soon we would be turning the clocks back, and it CLICKED!!!  My nemesis has returned and is again trying it’s best to take me out.  SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) is back!!!

SAD has plagued me for years.  I suffer from the most common version which saps your energy and leaves you more depressed and moody during fall and winter months.  I’ve noticed it has intensified as I’ve gotten older, especially after my divorce.  Daylight is my energy source; kind of like that 1960’s cartoon superhero Birdman.  As soon as nightfall approaches, I want to get on my bed (or sofa) and curl up in a cozy blanket.  If I don’t push myself, I can become a hermit during these seasons.  I start canceling plans with friends to veg out in front of the tv or with a good book.

The time to start making a plan to fight this is now!  I start my day off with scripture and prayer.  I’ve increased my water intake and trying to exercise to be well hydrated and keep my endorphins high.  I’m also planning trips that can’t be canceled to get me out of the house.  I’ve told people in my yoga community to question me if I start dropping out of classes too often.  Time alone can be used to enjoy some hobbies that have been overlooked: crochet, working on jigsaw puzzles, and sewing.  Being creative usually brings me a lot of joy.  Having these things in place should keep me going to the Winter Solstice when we will start gaining more daylight, because March is a long way off!

Today commemorates 22 years since the horrible al-Qaeda attacks were made against the United States.  I remember, I had just come back from a wonderful trip to Playa del Carmen, Mexico.  When the first plane hit the World Trade Center, I was at work and we thought it was a terrible accident.  When the second plane hit, we knew it was much more.  There was sheer chaos at work.  Everyone was running around discussing and watching on their computers.  I, on the other hand, was on the phone trying to find out about my family members.  At the time, I had a lot of family that worked in the city and those that had worked in the World Trade Center had retired and were (Thank God) safely at home.  It was several hours before I knew the whereabouts of everyone, and that they were all safe.

September 11, 2001 was a terrible and dark day.  Watching New Yorkers pitch in and help one another during the days and weeks that followed was something that made me feel so proud.  As a transplanted “Yankee” in the South, I hear so many negative comments about New Yorkers being rude, always being in a hurry and looking out for number one.  It was great to see my fellow Northerners come together and present a united front to the world.  That’s what I choose to remember about this day.  Especially now when the United States don’t seem very united at all, I remember the Patriotism that came from such a vile act.  Good will always have victory over evil!