Ending 2020 on a positive note

 Here are some photos I took at Lake Apopka in Central Florida in the last days of 2020.  

It was 50 years ago today.

50 years ago, Tom and I moved in together.  We had no money, jobs, skills, or education. In fact, at 19 years-old we had hardly any brains at all!  

When we decided to give it a go we had been an on again, off again couple for two years; never exclusive, rarely in the same city at the same time. I was indulging my creative imagination, seeking revelations, finding my self. Tom was a traveler, a hitchhiker, an adventurous Lost Boy. We were perfect for each other!

Ours has been an alternative love story, complicated and edgy. It isn't a simple romance, or even a particularly appropriate tale to tell young, impressionable grandchildren. The late 1960s and early 1970s were outside of time for some of us. But for crying out loud, we beat the odds.  

Trees and Memory

Certain of my mother's grandparents came from Germany. Mom grew up in a home where German was still spoken. In later years, when Mom was especially frustrated, she would let loose with a heartfelt "Mein Gott im Himmel." Hearing my mother speak German gave me pause. It didn't happen often because she only remembered a few phrases her father used.  Now I only remember this one. 

Oh wait, she also said "Ach du lieber" or something like that. Again, there were strong emotions involved. Maybe there's more. I should consult my memories. They are all there, somewhere.

I have written before about my mother decorating the tree. Her father put the tree up on Christmas Eve, after the children went to bed. Waking up to a shining tree was the ultimate magic of her Christmas morning. They used real candles, so Grandpa got up early to light them before waking his Katholisch horde.  

That's how it is with me and Christmas. I have my memories and I store my mother's, too. It seems I save some of her father's Christmas memories, as well.  I'm a computer hard drive. A storage unit. Mnemosyne, daughter of Heaven and Earth.  Mother of the Muses.

I would rather be Demeter so I could sleep all winter long.  

https://mythologysource.com/mnemosyne-greek-goddess/

  

I love and hate Christmas

I love colored lights! The Surly Republican across the street goes all out decorating and illuminating his house. Every night I open the door and walk out on my porch to savor the display. I told him I enjoyed it. He barely answered, didn't make eye contact, and walked away. Sucks to be him.

Going through ornaments and thinking about the why or the who is always a profoundly moving experience. I hold them in my hand, thinking hard about people who gifted them to us. 

I enjoy giving presents. I realize gift giving is a poor excuse for showing love, but when it comes to that particular emotion I throw caution to the wind.

I'm heartened by the softening of hearts, opening of wallets, and end-of-the-year donations to the poor. I wish we were always open hearted, but at least we have this season to remind us how good generosity feels.

OMG! Consider the yummy cookies and scrumptious meals we only make at Christmas. These foods are precious because of their limited availability.  I'm like a little kid. I can't wait!

I hear from so many loved ones my heart nearly bursts. Wide open. Phantasmagorical blood spurting everywhere, y'all.  Ouch.  

Which brings me to the "hate" part of Christmas. I am emotionally overwhelmed. The stress of buying the right presents sets my head spinning. And I worry about eating and drinking too much over the next 3 weeks. Because I will. 

Find your voice

I'm a strong woman and I'm proud of it.  I don't swallow my anger because I don't care if my anger is perceived as not being "ladylike."  I don't care if some people don't approve when I speak out. I don't aspire to join the bourgeoisie.  I don't care if traditional men or women don't find me attractive.  I don't find them attractive either.

I care about truth.  I care about justice.  I care about respect.  In fact, I demand respect.  You can disagree with me, but never roll your eyes when I speak.  

Find your voice.  Make it heard.  

In the words of the great Maggie Kuhn:

I don't even

Blogging has many challenges.  One is circumventing the cultural nuances of colloquialisms.  I'm not one to be too careful about what I say.  I often think I'm funny, and laugh loudest at my own jokes.  Sometimes I'm the only one laughing.  Not a problem for me.  However, I need to remember that words and phrases that resonate with my friends in Indiana, New York, or Florida have different connotations in other places.  

Recently I responded to Robbie at Tone Deaf.  He is sometimes outrageous and hilarious, often prone to honest self-reflection, and almost always British.  His post was hilarious.  I commented "I don't even know what to say." 

In the context of my life and reactions to others, that was a compliment of sorts.  It translates roughly to "I surrender," or "okay, you win."  In real life it would likely be said to my brother "Big D" with one hand on my hip, and one eyebrow raised.  

I think Robbie thought I was scolding him.  

We learn so much from each other.  

The Glass Ceiling

 I love the sound of breaking glass!

This election will never end!

I hope by writing this title down I will jinx the "Endless Waiting."  I'm using a little of that "reverse psychology" my old sainted Mother used to swear by. Also, I'm desperate for this to end. I have a bottle of expensive champagne in my fridge that I would like to drink in celebration sooner rather than later. It calls to me with a siren's allure.

We need to remind the Fates (those dangerously potent ladies) that this election has a life of it's own. Clotho has done her work, but Lachesis seems to be savoring her moment. Atropos can cut the thread and seal our destiny. Although, who am I to question Lachesis?  
 
Yes, I AM a little nervous that I've garnered the attention of the ancient Moirai. I guess I should include the words please and thank you. Please, ladies, don't let the lying liar who lies steal the election. Thank you.

Desperate times call for desperate measures.  

The three Fates spinning the web of human destiny, sculpture by Gottfried Schadow, 1790, part of the tombstone for Count Alexander von der Mark; in the Old National Gallery, Berlin.  From the Encyclopaedia Britannica. 

Stress Eating

When I'm nervous, I eat. I'm stress eating cold pizza for breakfast right now, and I will likely eat more for lunch. I fully realize it is counterproductive; however, I don't want to stop. If Biden wins, I'll start a healthy diet and exercise program Wednesday morning. If Biden loses, I don't know what I'll do.  

Wait a minute, I DO know what I'll do.  I'll start a healthy diet and exercise program. I've got 4 more years of resistance fighting in me.  I'm almost sure of it.

P.S. Halloween didn't help.  I tried to socially distance with the candy giving.  Only 2 trick or treaters showed up, 4 if you include the 2 mosquitoes that died and I found floating in my margarita.  Now I have all that candy left, somewhere in the house.  Tom hid it from me.  I love that man.  

Yes, I sat outside on Halloween blaring the Carmina Burana by Carl Orf, eating bbq potato chips and drinking margaritas.  Seemed appropriate.  Maybe a glass of wine, too.  Nobody complained.  I'm outta control.   

Here's the real thing.  

Apprehension and then some

It isn't that I don't have anything to say.  I am simply paralyzed by apprehension* about the upcoming U.S. elections.  

Here are this morning's Florida numbers for people who have already either early voted, or voted by mail.   Please note this just lists the information by political party.  It does not indicate who each person voted for.  And there are over 14 million registered voters in Florida.  Still, it gives me hope.  

2,076, 621 Republican's have voted to date.

2,440,470 Democrats have voted to date.

*Apprehension
noun

1 he was filled with apprehension: anxiety, worry, unease, nervousness, nerves, misgivings, disquiet, concern, tension, trepidation, perturbation, consternation, angst, dread, alarm, fear, foreboding; informal butterflies, jitters, the willies, the creeps, the shivers, the heebie-jeebies. ANTONYMS confidence.