FEELING GOOD

Whew! What a tremendous difference a few days, some Premium saltines, oatmeal, ginger ale and a can of chicken noodle soup make! There's nothing like recovering from a little sickness to make you really, really grateful and appreciative. You remember how you felt, and how you currently feel. Even if you're not 100%, you know it's so much better than it was. You want to stretch, test your limits, get moving (but not too quickly), get your balance, freshen up--and, if you can help it, resign not to do WHATEVER it was that landed you flat on your back ever again. EVER. You want to make all kinds of health vows. (I'm definitely making one involving leftover shrimp.)
It's a new day. Life's waiting. Get up. Shake off all hindrances--especially the self-imposed ones. Shine your light.

FREEDOM

 

SICK DAYS

I'm sick. Sheesh. I hate being sick. It's so depressing. It's even worse when you realize it could have been avoided. It began yesterday morning. I woke up feeling lousy. My personal plumbing had been working overtime all night. The only good thing about it all is that the swollen ankles and feet I had during the trip to Chicago last week are gone. Kind of a shame in a weird way. The swelling actually made my legs look bigger. Now I need to rehydrate. My skin looks like the Sahara. Skin isn't supposed to have a sound- definitely not the sound of rustling, dried leaves.
"No sugary drinks", I read. I guess that means I can't have a lemon Italian Ice. Sigh.
The crackers and ginger ale that's supposed to work, went the way of everything else I tried to ingest, so I gave up. Vomiting is an awful, violent thing, especially when you know your stomach is practically empty. It was like my body was trying to expel my entire large intestine. I actually heard moaning, realized it was me, and felt sorry for myself. I'm so glad I finally managed to fall asleep last night. All that moaning could really keep a body awake.

Today, it seems as if there's one less elephant stomping on my stomach, but I'm awfully tired. I've managed to keep down the ginger ale and crackers. I'm either turning into a polar bear or I have a fever. The air conditioning has been on full blast all night and day, and although I'm not freezing, the water I ran in the tub, IS. I've made several attempts to get up and stay up. None have been successful.

I thought over what I'd eaten in the last few days, AND whether I'd had any anxiety. Did I make myself sick? I want to blame the shrimp, but just can't bring myself to accuse a dish I love so much. I bought it on Sunday, didn't eat it all, and refrigerated it. When I got home from my trip, I was rummaging through the refrigerator and found it. I was so happy to see it. Instead of eating it cocktail style, I put a little water in a small pot and re-steamed it. Perhaps that wasn't a good idea. Based on my symptoms, according to the mighty internet, I either have gastroenteritis, or something is wrong with my prostate. I know. One must be really, really careful with internet diagnoses.

I'm missing a concert tonight. I thought I could drag myself up and go, but considering how difficult it has been to drag myself to the bathroom, dragging myself to Alexandria was out of the question. Maybe I'm just supposed to be still. Maybe I need to make some changes. There are times when you realize you're not 20 any more.
I had some soup. It is coursing it's way through my digestive system as I type. Why is soup reserved for sick days? It was actually very good. Thank you, Progresso. Your chicken noodle is the closest thing to J. Alexander's.
I'm going to try to get up again. No sense adding atrophy and BO to my symptoms.

"Tomorrow, tomorrow, I love ya tomorrow", especially if you bring wellness.

TODAY

You don't have to hide no more

Don't have to cry inside no more

Peace of mind, take flight no more

The air seems clean today

Little girl, no fear, no more

Teenager, waste tears no more

Woman, silence is no more

No trouble in your way

You don't have to waste your grace

Or politeness one more day

Being kind to those who've taken

And left you to pay

Though used, broken, tossed aside

Love's all you've ever desired

While wondering if your life

Had robbed you of your once true smile

You've outlasted it all

Everything designed to break you

Make you fall

Here you are

It's wonderful

The air seems clean today

No trouble in your way

vrwc2011

 

SATURDAY THOUGHTS: POETRY PROMPT---OKAY

God told some folks to do some things 

That made it seem like they were completely crazy.
Ever wonder if He wants you to be one of them?
So listen now, 

don't stop, 

don't wait, 

don't turn around, 

don't doubt, 

don't hesitate.
Just do what He says.
He's been at this thing a long time, Baby.

I've learned to say, "Okay,
Whatever you want me to do, I'll do
Ain't no sense in fighting you
I'll lose."
So I'll stick to the thoughts and the plans you have for me--
and have had since my days began
And in that plan, I win

When everybody else says, "Go", 

and He says, "Wait",
It makes you seem like you're completely lazy!
Stop caring so much about what other people think!
So listen now, He knows about what lies ahead
The tricks, 

the traps, 

the pitfalls
Just follow His lead
He won't steer you wrong now, Baby

Just learn to say 

"Okay,
Whatever you want me to do, I'll do
Ain't no sense in fighting you
I'll lose."
So I'll be wise, 

and take a lesson from what happened to them,
And not think it can't visit me
Epitome of Stupidity

There's a way that seems right
In the end there's just night
Say "Okay"
Choose right
Choose light

Just learn to say 

"Okay,
Whatever you want me to do, I'll do
Ain't no sense in fighting you
I'll lose."

Make me wise, so I choose right
Make me wise, so I choose light
Okay, Your way
Okay, in spite of what they say
What do THEY know, anyway?


VRWc2011

SATURDAY THOUGHTS: PLAN B

Sometimes, an unexpected Plan B turns out so much better than your Plan A ever would have. 

Maybe I wasn't supposed to sing the songs I'd selected. 

The tracks sure played on my laptop. 

I'd used them many times before, but when I got to MetroStage last Monday, Mel Prince's sound equipment didn't even acknowledge that the CD existed--neither did the theater's desktop computer. 

I didn't have time to panic, or decide to sing a cappella, because a very talented and gracious Daryl Hunt stepped right in like a musical superhero. 

He, with pencil in hand, sat down at the piano, revised the order of songs I'd suggested, made sure the keys were comfy, and played as if we had rehearsed for weeks.

Performance tracks serve a wonderful, convenient, even economical purpose, but live music is so much better. You can be as free as you like.

I never learned how to play piano, but I'm so happy to know phenomenal talents who do. 

Technology is great, but I love the sound of a real piano being played exceptionally well. 

The MetroStage experience reminded me of a poem I'd scribbled in June. 

Maybe I'll set it to music...: )

REAL PIANO

Got a ticket to the party
Went inside, sat down, and waited for the show
Looked around me
So many young things
Would I be able to bear it?
Should I go?
Thought about that flight attendant
Saying, "Look behind in case you need to flee".
So I checked the nearest exit
It was not even remotely close to me

How I wanted
Longed and hoped for
Real piano
Could somebody
Anybody
Play piano?

Something started
Oh, so noisy!
Nothing musical at all did it employ
Just some ramblings, awful mumblings
So replete with everything that would annoy
How it tore at all of my insides
Drove it home that I'm no youngster--
That's for sure
I'm not 20, 30, even 40
There are some things I just can't do anymore

How I wanted
Longed and hoped for
Real piano
Could somebody
Anybody
Play piano?

I don't know what key
Just give to me
Something that will soothe my ears
And warm my heart
I cannot play
Maybe some day
Until then,
I can't bear what only brings more darkness to the dark

Somebody, Let it be
Real piano
Somebody, play for me
Real piano

I don't know what key
Just give it to me
Something that will soothe my ears
And warm my heart
Just not as poised
To handle noise
That makes you wanna seek a hiding place
Take refuge underground

Somebody, Let it be
Real piano
Somebody, play for me
Real piano

VRW c2011

#musicmatters