Catchy beat and it makes you want to dance as well! Do the shuffle!
Just Keep Going!
I’ve had so many pieces of advice from people who cared and some I’ve taken to heart and others were well-meant but didn’t do a thing for me!
Not too long ago, someone said to me, “Just keep going!” It stuck and landed where it should. I got a bit of bad news and was ready to throw up my hands and say, “I can’t do this. This is just too much!” A friend walked in, took one look and said, “Just Keep Going!” It didn’t mean much at the time but through the weeks the enormity of those words set in. It has always been about moving forward. No matter what the problems, the pain, the anger, life’s idiosyncrasies, and much much more, it has always been about moving forward.
Those words sank in and I’ve taken them as my daily mantra. “Just Keep Going!” I don’t know what the future holds, what the outcome will be, if it will work out, and if life will be kind, but I’m just going to keep going and hope there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Thank you friend for that beautiful piece of advice.
A Weird Dream
I woke up this morning drenched in sweat! The days have been unbearably hot and the nights, well, just as unbearable. I’ve been downing water like there is no tomorrow and that could have contributed to the over excess of fluids oozing out of my pores. It could have but add the weirdest dream I’ve ever had to that and I wonder.
Sometimes my dreams are in 3D, over the top and movie length! It goes on like I’m in a movie scene and sometimes I wake up and remember everything and at other times, they disappear into nothingness. Last night, it was a strange dream. I hate dreaming about graveyards but there is this one recurring place that I dream about. It is in Singapore and having spent a lot of time in the country, it is a place that gives me the creeps, the graveyards I mean. This particular area has three cemeteries, Christian to one side, Muslim, and Chinese on the other side. I don’t know why but I never liked the place and whenever I had to go past this place, the hair on the back of my neck would stand up!
Guess what? Last night, I was back at this place only this time walking! Stranger still, my ex was next to me and the place had changed. The tombstones were gone and there was a hotel, a restaurant, and a park! Yikes!!! I could still see the tombstones in my mind’s eye. Anyway, we were having a casual conversation and heading to the restaurant for some food. I couldn’t get rid of the creepy feeling and everywhere I looked, I saw tombstones for as far as the eye could see even though the place had changed and they were no longer there.
The significance of the dream? I don’t know. Please feel free to tell me if you know what this means. It was a long dream, movie length as well I think, and there were other moving parts but I don’t remember the rest of it. Only that I woke up with a start drenched in sweat. CREEPY!
I have a big operation coming up and I’ve been wrestling or rather struggling with it. Could it have triggered this weird dream or is it trying to tell me something? If so, why is the ex in the picture?
Ok, it could be just a dream and nothing more. I HOPE SO!
LOL!
Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson go on a camping trip.
After a good dinner and a bottle of wine, they retire for the night and go to sleep.
Some hours later, Holmes wakes up and nudges his faithful friend. “Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.”
“I see millions and millions of stars, Holmes” replies Watson.
“And what do you deduce from that?”
Watson ponders for a minute.
“Well, Astronomically, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.
Astrologically, I observe that Saturn is in Leo.
Horologically, I deduce that the time is approximately a quarter past three.
Meteorologically, I suspect that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow.
Theologically, I can see that God is all-powerful and that we are a small and insignificant part of the universe.”
But what does it tell you, Holmes?”
Holmes is silent for a moment.
“Watson, you idiot!” he says. “Someone has stolen our tent!”
Sometimes it takes a little longer to wake up! 🤣
A Great Job!
I couldn’t help it, I needed to post this. A great job of pointing out the deficits and the problems where they belong. Keep it coming! I had my first laugh with my first cup of coffee. Looks like it is going to be a great day! 👍
LIFE!
Life has a certain way of bringing things to the fore and it often does it without giving notice first! One day everything is going fine and the next you wonder what happened and why you’re at where you’re at.
I used to worry about what “life” had up its sleeve and how it was going to affect me. This worrywart syndrome that I have didn’t help much either. Something is going good and I would say to myself, “Wait for it! It’s coming, it’s on the way!” I’m talking about the bad stuff and it never fails because it shows up wearing bells and more!
Perhaps we bring on more of the same when negativity follows us around. These days, I take it as it comes and I offer the other cheek as well! I don’t look for the “bad stuff” to happen. If it does, I decide how I will handle it. Life has a tendency to throw things your way, perhaps it was a boring day up there or wherever they or it is and it’s time to shake things up and sometimes it is party time!
Worrying about things is not going to help matters much. Deciding that whatever comes your way, you are going to handle it and handle it with grace is the way to go. Is “life” giving me a break with that attitude. Nope! It says, “You’ve got lessons to learn and I want to see what you’re made of.”
Bring it on! First things first. I don’t worry as much as I used to. I still do because that goes with the territory, the one of being a worrywart. However, I try not to let it turn my world upside down and inside out. Those days are done it. I am calmer, bolder, braver, and ready to do battle!
Elements of Truth?
I needed something to laugh about and this did the trick. Alright, I agree it is hitting way below the belt but then again who cares! Sometimes the truth hurts!
It’s Time to Say Goodbye
Goodbyes are never easy but it is time to do exactly that. Shiro, the Persian, and Gallahad, the British long-haired cat with orange eyes will be leaving soon and I am sad.
I’ve had them for over three months now, keeping watch over them because my son, their daddy, is concentrating on his new job and they would have been a distraction plus the temporary apartment he had didn’t allow pets. So, mom offered help and with a heavy heart he accepted. Now he has an apartment that is much bigger and he is looking forward to having them back again.
The two cats were not easy. It was extra work for me and they love getting up at 5 in the mornings! Fine and good but the problem was or rather is that they want the “food lady” up as well! Now, Chachi, my little guy is joining in the fun! Somewhere along the way, he has learned that being a cat is not a bad thing after all! They are teaching him how to get what he wants, how to run riot if he doesn’t, and how to BUG mom till she gives in.
Yes, life hasn’t been easy but it hasn’t been all work and no play either. I’ve come to know them pretty well. Shiro is my little princess or rather the little girl I never had! She is sweet and sassy and takes no nonsense from the other two. Gallahad is the quiet one. He observes but where food is concerned he jumps in and turns on the charm! Those orange eyes do the rest and I find myself feeding him more than I should!
They will be leaving on Sunday and a little piece of me will go with them. I will worry about them and wonder if all is well with them as well. Chachi will miss them too. It will be back to being Number 1 for him but with no one to play with. Little Miss Ipanema still shows up now and then. She’s his girlfriend from across the street and they have this “love” thing going. Just through the kitchen window. She showed up a few days ago and saw Shiro sitting at the window staring out and her claws came out!
Things will be a lot quieter around here. I will miss the sound of running feet on the stairs, the soft purring, the loud meowing, and the shows of affection. I won’t miss the work, the constant cleaning up, and picking up behind them and getting up early in the mornings.
Time to relax and to let them go. Farewell my lovelies!
This Perfect Quote
The following quote by Maya Angelou describes my outlook on life perfectly.
“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.”
Beautifully said and that is exactly what I strive for. Living “life” is not just about existing, it means so much more and there are many moving parts needed to make it happen. The quote above encapsulates how life should be lived if you want to live it to the fullest. Ms. Angelou is famous for her powerful autobiographies, her thought-provoking poetry, and civil rights activism. However, she is best known for her 1969 memoir, “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” It tells the story of her difficult childhood up to age 17. One of her most famous quotes is this one.
“People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.”
However, I love her outlook on life and it means don’t just survive but thrive, care deeply about what you do, show kindness and compassion to others, and laugh a lot AND if you can do all of that with some style, so much the better!
The Strength Within
“Sometimes, the strength within you is not a fiery flame for all to see, it is just a tiny spark that whispers softly ‘You got this, keep going.”
Less than three weeks to go before I give up control of my body to a surgeon and hope that he is competent enough and will do a great job. Some days I am alright meaning calm and collected but on other days, like today, I am climbing walls!
My first thought when I learned about what needed to be done was, “I can’t do this!” Then it dawned on me that I was alone and even though being “alone” was and has been great but not when you don’t know the outcome and having help by your side would be a great thing to have at a time like this. Do I want my ex back? That’s a big NO! However, support of some kind would be great when you’re feeling unusually small and helpless!
I took time to mull things over. The fear wanted to take over and I almost drowned in it. Then I found that tiny spark within that said, “You are not alone. You’ve got this!” Courage came riding in on a white horse and I started looking around at what was available for a person in my situation. My Chilean friend said, “I’m here for you. I’ll drive you to both your appointments and I will drive you back home after your hospital stay.” Things started looking up. I looked some more and I got more offers of help. Friends showed up, real friends, and they offered help after the operation especially during the recuperation period.
What about Chachi? My precious little guy, what do I do about him? He has never been alone. I looked for cat sitters and there were plenty but I wanted people who were trained to do the job and to do it well. Lots of students offered to cat sit but I wasn’t too sure. Then I found one place that ticked all the right boxes. They were going to cost more than the others but I signed the contract. Someone will come in twice a day, feed him, make sure he has fresh water, food, clean the litterbox, and play with him for half an hour if he wants it. I’ve got them booked for a week because bending over will be a problem after the operation and carrying heavy stuff as well. Going up and down the stairs? I was told to keep it to a bare minimum so most of my time will be spent in the downstairs living room for the first week or so. I love my bedroom which is upstairs so I’m not looking forward to change. Workouts are out as well. Walking is allowed and recommended but 5 to 10 minutes a day for the first week. This will be hard as well. I workout 7 days a week so I can’t see myself doing that but I have no choice in the matter.
What do I do about help when I come back home? That was weighing heavy on my mind. I won’t be allowed to drive and it will be bedrest, maybe painkillers ( I hope not!), and taking it easy and hoping the wound heals. I looked around for help and I found this lady. We met and talked and she offered all the help I needed. Cleaning, taking care of Chachi, shopping, driving me to the doctor and driving me back if I needed it. I couldn’t believe it but wait there is more.
The heavens opened up and an “angel” walked in when she told me that she worked at the same hospital as a nursing aide where I would have my procedure done! My eyes opened wide when she said, “I’ll come check on you after the operation. You’ll be in good hands.” I couldn’t believe it!
“I can also help you with all your needs and I will talk to the nurses there to keep an extra eye on you! Don’t worry, I’m there for you.”
Hallelujah?!! Her wings were missing but who knows, she probably had them neatly tucked away. She walked in here this morning, cleaned up the place, took the trash away, AND we had a talk. She told me that she has a week off during the week of my operation but plans to stay home.
“Don’t worry, I plan to come visit everyday and I AM THERE FOR YOU!”
Did I get lucky or is this just too good to be true? Perhaps, luck has nothing to do with it. Angels walk among us and I truly believe that. So, have my worries subsided just a little? NOPE. I am a worrywart and I will find something else to worry about! There is this other thing. I think I’m going to die because I have had these weird feelings and premonitions that point to it. Can someone help with that? AI says it is normal to have such thoughts especially with a big operation coming up. I don’t know folks, I’ve been preparing for the worst but who knows.
My point is this, don’t give up hope. Don’t succumb to your fears and there is always a way out. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
“One day you will understand that you had the strength within you from the very beginning. Keep going.” Unknown
Now, I hope that the “angel” doesn’t disappear as the time for the operation gets closer!
