Well, I've felt more "normal" today than any day since I fell. I even took a nice little walk down to No-Man-Lord's house and back and to the post office which is about one and a half miles and although it was like ninety degrees and who knows what the humidity was, it wasn't bad. I've been thinking about those pretty red flowers that grow on my neighbor's fence and there they were today. I'm glad I didn't miss them. Every year I look them up and every year I forget their name. I looked them up again today and that is the cypress vine. Cypress trees have needles like those of the vine and so there you go. Will I remember this next year?
Oh hell no. I won't remember it next week. I would learn so much if I went back and reread all my blogs. I would be amazed.
And then I would forget it all again.
When I got to the post office, the mail lady had already shut her window because it was after twelve. Here in Lloyd we only have clerk hours until noon but we're lucky to have that. As I opened my box, I heard her call from the office behind, "Hello!" and I answered back. I saw I had a slip for a package in the box and she said, "I'll get that for you."
This is how things go around here and I love it. Rules are rules but hey! She had to slide her window open again to hand the package over and I toted it home along with my mail. It was the puzzle that I ordered for August and Levon.
I know at least one little boy who's going to like it.
I spent the rest of the day doing things in the house. I thought about doing a closet clearing and I reached for a linen shirt that I haven't worn for a very long time and I thought, "Yes, this can go," but immediately I thought about the night I'd worn it in Cozumel with a pair of white linen pants and we'd had such a good supper and the beers were two-for-one and we couldn't finish all that beer and so we left some for the waiter who hid it for later and we were co-conspirators and then we went and played mini-golf which was right across the street from Pepita, the hotel we stayed in on our first trip to Cozumel in 1987 and how it was so magical. We were the only people at the mini-golf and the attendant played the music we asked for and there were iguanas hanging out and pretty birds in cages and we laughed and we laughed. Of course they sold drinks at the mini-golf. They sell drinks everywhere in Cozumel. The National Park has waiters wearing white who trudge through the sand barefoot taking your orders for pina coladas and nachos.
So. Did that shirt spark joy? Yes. Yes it did even though I may never wear it again. Marie Kondo's definition of sparking joy may be different than mine.
That whole entire memory and train of thought went through my head as my fingers were on the shirt and I let it stay and sighed and walked away from the closet.
I did, however, bake a loaf of bread and did some laundry which is all dried and put away now. I've got some chicken thighs cooking in a red sauce with chopped eggplant and peppers and onions and mushrooms and garlic in the crockpot and I also sat on the couch and did a little more mending on my old, old dress.
That's one of the shoulder straps. The fabric had completely worn away there. I've started on the other side where there is not yet a visible hole but the you can see right through the fabric. This is all so ridiculous. Not only is the dress threadbare, it's also so faded from its original perfect sky-blue that at this point, it's more memory of a dress than actual dress.
Ah. Back to memories again.
Perhaps I can just spend the rest of my life patching and decorating this dress and when I die, they can put me in it for my cremation.
In a related topic, I am now watching the next-to-the-last season of "The Office." Dear god, what am I going to do when I've finished watching it? Those characters have become my people, my family, my friends, my escape, my entertainment, my soothers and comforters.
I'd say I was crazy but I doubt this is the craziest thing going on right now in this strange and sometimes horrifying world.
Which brings us to Jacob Blake.
I can't even talk about it. How does this keep happening? Not only have cops paralyzed him, they've fucked up his kids for the rest of their lives.
I can't. I can't.
And then there's the RNC which I have not watched one second of because what's the point? Do I need to hate these people even more than I do now?
Give me "The Office". Give me embroidery thread. Give me a garden that needs clearing and dirt to plant seeds in and give me vegetables to chop. Give me books and give me crosswords. Give me vinegars and oils and sourdough starter and flour and give me children to read to and a husband to cherish and give me chickens.
Thank you.
Love...Ms. Moon
Your stitchwork reminds me of Japanese boro, "the practice of reworking and repairing textiles (often clothes or bedding) through piecing, patching and stitching, in order to extend their use."
ReplyDeleteYes. It is sort of like that. But so unskilled.
DeleteI've watched Grace and Frankie twice, Anne (of Green Gables), and I'm hooked on The Crown now. Escape, escape, escape.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely. And I am so grateful for this means of escape.
DeleteJust wanted to say that I like the bigger fonts better as the small ones are hard for me to read
ReplyDeleteI'll go back to those. Thanks.
DeleteJust wanted to say that I like the bigger fonts better as the small ones are hard for me to read
ReplyDeleteWhat a handsome bird. It was good to hear that you are feeling better today. Good enough at least to walk over a mile. Jacob Blake shot in the back 7 times in front of his kids. It is hard to keep on going sometimes. The usual diversions aren't working anymore. But I do look forward to hearing what is going on in Lloyd every night.
ReplyDeleteLiberace is a fine looking rooster. He keeps a sharp eye out for his ladies and all potential dangers.
DeleteI can't stop thinking about Jacob Blake. I just can't.
Well, I have been watching "Silent Witness",a British series about pathologists while you have been at "The Office". It has 21 seasons and I am up to 14. It is a wondrous escape mechanism and about all I can tolerate. The real world needs escaping at times. And like so many others,I love to hear what occurs in Lloyd!
ReplyDeleteYes. I need to find another series soon, I guess. I'm going to be so sad when I've finished "The Office." I want to get involved enough in the characters to really care. I'm sure you understand.
DeleteI'm glad you like to hear about Lloyd.
August and Levon are going to love that puzzle! I like your embroidery. It reminds of the style we did on denim shirts and everything else back in the 60s and 70s. That Liberace is one good looking rooster - those hens must swoon over him! You take care.
ReplyDeleteYep. We did a lot of embroidery back in the day, didn't we? I can remember embroidering a shirt for my boyfriend back home when I was in college, knowing that he didn't love me anymore. I listened to Joni Mitchell and cried and cried. I did give him the shirt and he pretty much gave it to his new girlfriend.
DeleteSigh.
Heartache City for sure.
A friend of mine has those pretty little red flowers and she calls them "hummingbird vine". She gave me a bunch of seeds but I haven't planted them yet.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful name for them. I like it. You should start some late this winter.
DeleteI walked up to the bird seed store on the weekend and there was a rooster looking out the window at me. It made me smile and reminded me of you. There was a rooster and two hens. Perhaps more stores need chickens.
ReplyDeleteI like the patch you made as well. As I get older I've started to appreciate what goes into making anything and everything and less willing to just rid of things because they're old or threadbare.
We watched all six seasons of Bosch on Prime Amazon and when it's over it feels like I've lost people in my life. We watched them every evening over supper and now it's over. It's a strange feeling.
Stores definitely need chickens! Although they do poop a lot. Still, that would be such a friendly thing. I remember the beach bar and restaurant that we visited in Cozumel that had a rooster. He was all alone in his chicken-ness but he lived a pretty good life because people fed him bits of chips and other food.
DeleteIt IS a strange feeling when we finish a series. I hate it.
You aren't alone in making multiple repairs of much loved items of clothing. I've had a few things that absolutely should have been binned, but they were so comfy and soft it was painful to contemplate it.
ReplyDeleteExactly, Mary. I understand.
Deletenot only does that dress strap look brown, the fabric looks like burlap.
ReplyDeleteyeah, shot the man in the back 7 times at close range. wtf. how can that ever be justified. how blatant does it have to get before those cops get arrested on the spot. and the RNC, which I also have not watched but read reports, true to form...lies and gaslighting.
Well, it's kind of a gray blue now. That photo is extremely close-up. It's linen. Threadbare linen. Soft as can be.
DeleteI don't even think things could get more blatant. Obviously, cops being arrested on the spot is not a thing that happens. For any reason. Fuck them. And fuck the RNC.
Anything on Netflix with more than five seasons has me hooked, attached to the characters, "family", somewhat predictable, somewhat normal in that is is NOT here and now.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful foul photo!
Wonderful memories.
That is all we have in these days of utter horror.
Yes. We need our shows, our books, our memories. And still, the horror is always here.
DeleteI love the story of that shirt - but at the rate you're going you're never going to get your closets cleaned out. And I absolutely get what you mean about not wanting to hear any more about current events. It is SO depressing and when you feel you can't do anything about it, it just makes it all the more so!
ReplyDeleteI KNOW! I am not going to get my closets cleaned up. I have simply got to stop being so emotionally attached to these garments.
DeleteI do read about current events but I will not watch those lying sons-of-bitches during the convention. I refuse.
I'm glad to hear you forget your own blog posts. Sometimes I learn something and I search my blog to see if I've mentioned it before, and yep, three or four years ago, I learned it then too! Argh!
ReplyDeleteGlad you got out for a walk. Your post office is the best. So small-towney. That puzzle is going to be a big hit!
Good to hear that I'm not the only one, Steve.
DeleteI hope the boys like their puzzle. I'll see them tomorrow and we shall see.
I am glad you're feeling more normal. And I'm glad I don't watch TV at all except things I choose on catch-up. I need to stop doing social media now (though not blogs) and that will make it so much easier to get on with my life. That dress is a pretty colour. Doesn't look faded to me, but then I don't know what it looked like before!
ReplyDeleteI have not watched one second of the RNC either. Cozumel is on your mind. I hope you get to visit again soon.
ReplyDelete