Friday, February 20, 2026

Another Friday Comes And Goes


Would you look at that mess? It's going to be 81 degrees F tomorrow and by Tuesday, the temperature is dropping to 27. 
Make up your mind, Mother Nature!
Now this may or may not be a direct result of climate change but I know that forty years ago or more this exact same thing happened. Sunny, warm enough for the kids to play outside barefoot and in shorts, go to bed, wake up, and find icicles hanging from the eaves. I remember this distinctly because we had friends visiting and we all had young children. This was when my first husband and I were living in Lloyd in a little house we'd had moved from Monticello to a small piece of property we owned, basically in the woods. I loved that house which was a small cracker house. 
But we heated it with a wood stove and because some people are not really cut out to be back-to-the-land hippies but are more comfortable with playing guitar, we ended up buying our firewood which shamed me to death and probably him too but you do what must be done. 
The point of all that though, is it was so late in the spring we were sure we would not need any more wood until the next fall and so we did not have a scrap. 
There was even talk of busting up and burning an old oak table I had. 
This did not happen.
I don't remember what the solution was but I know we did not die. 

Of course now, Mr. Moon and I are privileged enough to have a little box on the wall we can adjust with one finger so that either heat or air conditioning comes in through the registers on the floors. 
And right now the air conditioning is on. 
By Sunday and Monday, it will be the heat. 
It really isn't hot out but I was not in a mood to tolerate discomfort. I was discomforted enough in my head that I didn't want to be experiencing it in my body too. Also, Mr. Moon was fixing my washing machine and had worked up a sweat. 
We are such spoiled humans. 

I woke up rather angry this morning and I do not know why. Most likely I was angry at myself which is pretty much a constant emotion in my life. Not for anything in particular but simply that stupid voice which demands I pay attention to it so that it can tell me again and again about what a failure I am at so many things. What a despicable human being who has frittered away her life and who continues to do so. I am selfish. I am self-obsessed. I can talk the talk but I cannot walk the walk. I am of an age where I should be at least partially content with who I am and where I am in life. And sometimes I am. 
But mostly, I feel I am not. 
And today I felt it on HiDef. I did not want to get out of bed. Maurice was fine with that. She did a quick assessment of me when she knew I was awake and even KISSED ME ON THE LIPS. SEVERAL TIMES, which she does once in a blue moon and when I went to pet her she gave me a claw to the forearm.
Jesus Christ, I can't even get my pets right. Or, pet, to be more specific.

Glen got home around one and I decided to go to town, just to get away from...myself? That never works, does it? 
So I tried that. I took some library books back and then I went to Oak Tree Treasures, the resale shop at Moon Plaza. I have got to get some new clothes for summer. I just don't have much of anything that will work. Of course I found nothing there I wanted although there was a rather sweet experience wherein a woman was shopping with her daughters, or a daughter and her friend, and the daughter's newish baby and suddenly, there were things being said with great enthusiasm like, "It's perfect!" "You look beautiful in that!" "It's so pretty!" by both the other young woman and the mother. Finally, when the mother said, "It's MAGNIFICENT!" I piped up and said, "And now you KNOW we are all dying out here to see this." There were at least three other shoppers in the vicinity. They all chimed in too.
And the young mother, with no hesitation at all, stepped out of the dressing room, raised her arms in a Ta-Da! move and we all agreed quite enthusiastically that yes, this was a great garment and she did indeed look magnificent in it. It was a black, flowy sort of tunic top with sleeves that were open at the shoulders and gathered midway down the arm by a pearl button, to then swirl like butterfly wings down her arm. 
It was a moment and I loved it. Women supporting women. Women cheering women on. 

Here's another New Yorker cartoon which expresses the way I feel about how I might have to handle my wardrobe dilemma. 


In reality though, that would be far more like Boud than me. And no one would knit a wardrobe for Florida wear. Still, it tickled me.

I stopped by Lily's Publix and gave her some shorts I'd ordered for Mr. Moon which didn't work for him, thinking that Owen might be able to use them. Of course we had a sweet little chat and then I did a small grocery shopping, buying mostly produce but other things too. 
I came home, I made up the bed with the sheets I'd washed. I have been able to use the washer but only under certain settings. The leak was literally a drip. It is fixed now. 
Mr. Moon is a wonder. 

I am not exactly crackling with excitement tonight, am I? 
No. No I am not. 
Perhaps tomorrow will be different. Well, of course it will be, one way or another. 
But you know what I mean. 

Clean sheets on the bed, martinis being enjoyed. 
Yes indeed. It is Friday.

Hope it's a good one for you.

Love...Ms. Moon



27 comments:

  1. You must have been looking at my house, the way I felt yesterday. Somewhat better here today. Plans fell apart for this weekend, so I'm trying different things. Baked 2 little loaves of banana nut bread...rather than a big one. They cook faster this way...my mother said. Glad to hear about the women cheering each other on in the dressing room. A good story to take with me.

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    1. Yes! Small loaves bake faster than large!
      I loved that moment in the shop. The way we all gathered around to cheer this young woman.

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  2. You are normal. I don’t know anyone worth knowing who doesn’t feel like they want to get away from themselves sometimes and I don’t believe that we are “supposed “ to be a certain way by a certain point, unless they are an asshole and should get slapped silly, which you are clearly not. But that’s just me and I am probably not the best person to comment on that. Just know what you said is absolutely relatable to me! :-D

    As for Maurice, she’s so perfect and she does what her half-wild self wants, whenever she wants, clearly. How cute! Cats are the best, as are most all animals. They are real. No pretending.

    I liked the store story!

    -Nicol

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    1. I think a good way to describe what I need to tell myself on those days is to get my head out of my ass.
      Maurice is so nutso. I don't know why we love her so damn much.

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  3. I had to look up "Cracker House". Just my cup of tea! I have lived in such but didn't know they had a name- we just called them shacks.Wood heat, cold water, out door toilet...but wonderful gardens! Peggy Lee comes to me on days when I think I have wasted my life not doing enough- I am so far over the hill there will be no remedying that. So lets keep dancing!

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    1. Yes. I think that song as sung by Peggy Lee is absolutely eternal in its message. We ALL have days like that.
      Many cracker houses were built as homes for caretakers of plantations and so forth. I feel so at home in a cracker house.

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  4. St first I read that as martinis deployed. Well, that could work too.

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  5. Going places to get away from yourself never works, everywhere YOU go, there YOU are... Clean sheets are the best!

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    1. It is the truth. We cannot escape ourselves no matter how hard we try and oh my, how we so often try.
      Clean sheets are a blessing and a gift that we can give ourselves.

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  6. Sometimes I think you and I share a brain! On my bad days, I’m just not enough. Of anything. For anyone. And oh the wonderful things you’ve done and do and shared and share in your life. (Same for me, I guess.) Ain’t we a pair?!? I have run away from myself more than 20 times in my adult life. Guess who I always immediately find. That asshole! All that being said, the cartoon immediately reminded me of Boud!

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    1. Of course same for you! You have done amazing and extremely difficult things in your life. Why do we feel so useless sometimes?
      I wish we didn't. We really have no need to, no matter what that demon says.
      Do you think the many moves you've made with SG are partly the result of wanting to get away from yourself or just the idea that in a different place, happiness will be easier found? The geographic cure, you know. But sometimes, and I do know this for certain, it works.
      And you are not an asshole. You are a kind and thoughtful person and you cannot convince me otherwise.

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    2. I have powerful historical voices in my head that I sometimes can’t shut up or ignore. And YOU are a kind and thoughtful and loving and generous person! And, yes, often the moves were just an attempt to run away from myself, thinking I could create or become someone else in a new place. Of course, it never worked. I’m not feeling like an asshole at the moment!

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    3. I am not feeling like an asshole at the moment either! We are somehow synched. But yes, those voices are part of our very marrow.

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  7. Well, looking back at yesterday's post - you were so busy and productive so, of course today you were tired out and needed a break. We don't have to be busy and productive every minute and thoughts can bring us down. Just yesterday I realized that in 15 years I will be 90! That did not sound good to me. :(

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    1. I don't think I was tired so much yesterday as just sort of flaming mad at myself. Or something.
      I hate thinking of how much time I may or may not have left. I am so amazed I've made it this long.

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  8. Maybe you need to do Stuart Smalley type affirmations. (that's a joke). Although...there was a time in my life I felt inadequate and I did combat it by telling myself over and over that I was indeed a good person.

    I need new summer clothes too. The ones I have I bought when I weighed 120 - 124. Now I weigh 130+ and what used to hang nicely now just shows off those extra 6+ pounds that have settled on my belly.

    Same yo yo weather here but not going to drop below freezing thank all the gods that be.

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    1. Ah, Stuart Smiley. We all need to be reminded of the fact that darn it, people like us!
      I think the only time I ever weighed 120 in my life was when I almost died from mono. That was a diet I do not recommend. You and I should both buy some new clothes. I know how old most of mine are and I imagine yours are about the same.

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    2. I weighed 120 for most of my adult life until I retired, that's when I sat around watching TV etc and the pounds just piled on until I got to 182. I'm losing it again now.

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  9. As your weather goes warm to cool/cold, we are getting ready for another 12 inches of snow to arrive on Sunday and continue Monday. If anything, it is a good distraction. The blanket of white snow is a winter wonderland.
    For summer clothes, consider finding a good small women's dress shop. You might pay a bit more, but you might find clothing that you really love and never tire of. With your fantastic weight loss, having some new great fitting outfits will do wonders. You and Jessie must know of a small shop.

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    1. I can only imagine that winter wonderlands may lose their charm by this time of the year. Or, would that just be me?
      I can't think of but one small women's dress shop and the clothes there are stupid expensive and I don't like them enough to pay that sort of money.

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  10. Women unabashedly supporting women. That was a lovely moment indeed. I wish I could sit with you on your porch and just watch the trees on the days when we feel we are too much with ourselves. I know the sense of it so well. Seeing Lily must have helped. You will find cute summer clothes. You probably don’t truly know your new size yet. Hugs dear friend.

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    1. It was SO great. And you would have loved the mother- she was wearing outrageously colorful clothes and she just looked like someone who is delightfully positive and exuberant as she goes through life. What a woman to have as a mother!
      Seeing Lily always helps.
      I really don't know my new size yet and as every woman knows- even within the same brands, sizes can vary in actual size to a ridiculous degree.
      Hugs to you, my sweet.

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  11. Replies
    1. I am not nearly as angry as I used to be but it took a lot of therapy and knowing I had to express that anger to get to this point. Still, sometimes it's hard.

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  12. That was a great moment in the thrift store. I love how everyone was listening and everyone wanted to be supportive and be a part of it.

    I am an angrier person now than I used to be, and I don't understand why or where it came from. I suppose it's just part of getting older and becoming grouchy. But I don't like it.

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    1. Steve, I think of grouchy and angry as two different emotions entirely. You’ve got me ruminating now of the difference.

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