Tuesday, October 15, 2024

In Which I Stretch The Boundaries Just A Little Tiny Bit


Yesterday Lily texted me to ask if I was interested in going to Gibson's band concert which was this evening at 6:30. Now I have to tell you- I do not go out at night. I just don't. I can't remember the last time I drove in the dark.  
But what's a MerMer to do? A MerMer has to represent and that's all there is to it. And so I went. 
I was extremely disconcerted. Oh wait. That's sort of a pun. I didn't mean to make it and yet, there it is. But seriously- it messed with my head to change up my routine that much. At 6:30 I am writing a blog post. It goes without saying. But somehow I managed to hack my way out of my precious routine and got dressed and drove to Swift Creek Middle School to attend a band concert. 
And I am so glad I did. 
It was held in the cafetorium which is a word that was not invented when I was in school. As small as my school was, we had a cafeteria and a big auditorium. It may not have been as big as I remember but it was it's own thing with a stage and many seats. 
But this was a small concert and it was hard to see Gibson from where we were sitting, or actually, from where anyone was sitting because the music stands covered their faces. 


In that picture he popped up so we could all wave at him. 
He's in the jazz band, playing trombone as you can see from the first photo. Gibson has always loved to perform unlike his brother Owen who would rather die than be on a stage. 
I got to sit between my Owen and my Maggie and I really had the best time. The music was great. Even when it wasn't really exactly in tune it was still enthusiastic and all of the songs were swingy and dancey and I loved watching the band teacher conduct because she was good. That's her above and to the right of Gibson's head. 
Also- and forgive me but any parent or grandparent will not judge me on this- the concert was short and it was sweet. As Lily said, it was probably her favorite of all the kids' concerts she's been to. 
Mine too. 

And then I drove home in the dark and I did fine. No one, either human or animal, was harmed in the making of that movie. 

Do I now want to just expand my world and get out there more at night?

Uh. No. But I sure am glad I did today.

I took a walk this morning too. It's been awhile. My sciatic nerve thing has still lingered but has gotten much, much better so today I decided to risk flaring it up and took a short Lloyd walk. There are some nice flowers out there right now.


That's a confederate rose which I always describe as the Prom Queen of all flowers. It's not from my yard. Our confederate rose got sadder and sadder every year and finally, Mr. Moon just trimmed it all the way back. A lot of the branches were rotten. It simply does not get enough sun where it was planted and being a member of the hibiscus family, it does love the sun, not unlike its cousin, the okra blossom.


This plant looks all innocent and daisy-like but let me tell you, its name, Devil's Needles, may give you a clue as to how it definitely is not. The plant loves to spread its seeds by fashioning them in such a way that they will stick to everything and anything. It is also called Beggarticks because those seeds will stick to your shoes and socks and long pants so profusely that you're tempted to just throw the garments away rather than trying to painstakingly pull each and every one by hand. But the bees like them, I hear, and the blossoms are pretty. 


Here we have Blue Mistflower. It's a native and I think it's lovely. This was growing across from the GDDG. 

I wanted to check on the status of the fally-down house after the recent storms. 


It is becoming one with the earth slowly but evermore surely. 

And one last flower.


Another firespike blossom in my own yard. 

I was so glad to take a walk but I can tell that it did my sciatica no favors. I will probably not walk tomorrow but go again on Thursday. I have made an appointment with a massage therapist we know who does not do full-body massages but works on specific areas which are being problematic. Why it has taken me so long to think about going to see her is a mystery. 

And now I'm going to go eat leftovers from last night. My shrimp was so good and I added more vegetables than the recipe called for, of course, plus other things. 

I've had a good day. And I am pretty sure that Mr. Moon has too. My only real complaint is that Maurice, after sleeping with us a few times has not returned and dammit! All I ask from that cat is a little bit of coziness. Now that she knows she can, she has no more interest in it. She'd rather go out and get in fights, I guess. 

Sigh.

Love...Ms. Moon

34 comments:

  1. I don’t go driving at night although I’ve been to a LOT of school programs and sport events. I think I’m almost through. Your little one (not so little anymore!) is adorable. He has some man sized feet though! Barbara from Houston

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    1. Kids are like puppies, aren't they? You can get an estimate of how big they'll be when they grow into dogs by looking at their paws.
      I wonder how many school performances I've been to in my life? Probably just about as many as you.

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  2. And that's what we do.. Grandy (me) or MerMer (we know this one). I love band concerts but they are few and far between these days. But, that's okay, I'm not really comfortable driving at night anymore either.
    Beautiful wild flowers!

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    1. I haven't been comfortable driving for eons. I have some sort of night blindness and I really cannot see at night.

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  3. I can't believe that fally down house is still standing after the storms. Short and sweet is the best way to hold school concerts. I no longer go out if it means I'll be coming home alone in the dark, for me that means waiting around at bus stops for the bus then walking from the final bus stop to my house. in the dark. Alone. No thank you.

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    1. I can't believe that poor old house still has any almost-vertical parts to it. Bless its heart. You know it's tired.
      Yeah. I can see why you don't come home alone after the sun goes down.

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  4. I'm glad you went and anxiety did not rule the day. Beautiful blooms.

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    1. It sort of did for a minute but it passed. Thankfully.

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  5. That "floating head" photo is just gorgeous. He's a handsome young man!

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  6. I am 83 and still drive at night unlike many of my much younger friends. It does not bother me to drive the 25 miles to visit my older friend because she doesn't drive anywhere but the hairdresser, the senior center and the grocery store. I would never see her if I didn't make the trip. Expressway driving does not phase me, because I am used to it. That being said, some things DO bother me to the point of panic and those are dentist appts., and snakes. Go figure.

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    1. I have some sort of night blindness and haven't liked driving after dark for many years. That's just the way it is. I don't mind driving generally and often drive on the interstate, getting to town from here.

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  7. I don't drive often at night but I will for family and probably friends too. Some things are just worth it!
    Gibson looks so sweet with his happy face peeking out at you!
    Hope the massage helps your sciatica!

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    1. For a child's performance- I will go.
      Gibson was pretty happy we were there, I think.
      I am hoping the same thing about my sciatica.

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  8. Look at you, changing things up. I'm guessing you made Gibson very happy by being there. Have you seen the movie "Soul"? When you said the music wasn't exactly in tune, it reminded me of the beginning of that movie.
    Thanks for the flower pics. Strangely, I still have annuals blooming here. Not sure what to think of that. We have snow forecast of this coming weekend though. Sigh.
    Have a good day my friend.

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    1. Yes! Like that with the music. I love the kids so much for wanting to do this and I love the band teacher for having faith and bringing the kids to the place where they can play in public, perfect or not.
      My zinnias are just about done.
      Snow comiing? Oh my.

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  9. I guess Maurice is king (or queen) of the hill now!

    We used to call that beggarsticks plant Spanish needles. I guess the name varies, maybe depending on region?

    SO glad you went to see Gibson's concert. I'm sure he appreciated it and now it's made memories for both of you.

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    1. Spanish needles! Yes, we called them that too sometimes. They have lots of names.
      I will have happy memories of that concert. I hope Gibson does too.

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  10. Gibson's smile shows he loves band and performing. Having you in the audience must have pleased him greatly. He's chosen a great interest. Your flower photos are fantastic. I love plants that grow in masses and make a nice display. The confederate rose is a real beauty. If the one in your photo is growing in the wild, I'd be transplanting it to my garden and adding a few more.

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    1. Gibson just flat out has a beautiful smile. I'm really glad he's liking band. I hope he keeps it up.
      The confederate rose is not wild. You have to buy one! It may be possible to root a small branch. I do not know. They can grow very, very tall.

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  11. Maurice is an adorable little stinker. Gibson’s smiling face lights up the entire band. So cool! I love fally-down house. That’s something I would have spent days sketching when I wandered around doing that. Has anyone come up with a new popular common name for the confederate rose? It’s a beauty.

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    1. Someone should sketch that old house. Make a painting, perhaps.
      I have not heard any other names for that flower but I, too, have wondered about why we still call it that. I just looked it up and it's Latin name is Hibiscus Mutabilis because there can be, and often are, two different colors of blossoms on the tree. I see that it is sometimes referred to as a "Dixie rosemallow" which ain't much better. Also a "Cotton rose." I sense a theme.

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  12. We know those Daisy like flowers as Spanish Needle. I’m constantly pulling them off my pets. They are allegedly edible, which means I’ll never need to worry about starving though I think I’d have to be pretty close before trying. Years of yanking them from my yard were futile. I’ll bet Gibson was so happy to see you! The trombone is not an easy instrument, big props to him!
    Xoxo
    Barbara

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    1. Yes. I have heard Spanish needle often. I feel you on trying to pick them off pets. They're ridiculously hard to remove.

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  13. Our grandson loves the trombone too..and was in both marching band and jazz ensemble in high school. Now playing as a freshman in the college band!

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  14. when my grandson was in elementary school his history class put on a play at the school at night. I opted not to go, it was dark, I was tired and they were supposed to do it again the next day during school hours. Mikey was disappointed that I didn't come and see him that night and then they canceled the performance during the day so I really felt bad about not going.

    one of my confederate rose bushes has put out a few flowers and the other is covered in buds but not open yet. a few more days.

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    1. Oh, Ellen. Look at you- still feeling some guilt about not going to that concert. I have similar memories which do not make me feel great.
      I always think of you when I see confederate roses.

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  15. Hi Mary, for some reasons your family members are popping into my FB as people I may know. So far I've seen Hank, Jessie,Lily and today Rachel. Just puzzling.

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  16. Gibson is growing taller....and more *into himself* if that makes sense. He is a handsome, sweet boy! the confederate roses slays me every year when you post photos of them......
    Susan M

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    1. Yes. I can see the man inside Gibson starting to come out. Same with Owen.

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  17. I remember band concerts! I'm so pleased they are all behind me. Gibson is a great looking fellow, with his lovely smile.

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Tell me, sweeties. Tell me what you think.