When I was in high school, I read a delightful play by Oscar Wilde called “The Importance of Being Earnest.” It was a British farce or satire, a play on words. One of the main characters, Jack, pretends to be a man named Ernest while he is in town having fun. He wants to propose to Gwendolyn, but she thinks that’s his real name. All sorts of mayhem ensues caused by his deception.
And of course, Jack learned that he would have been better off being earnest than Ernest.
Today as I write this it’s Valentine’s Day. A day where we celebrate love. Just yesterday I read an article about Hallmark movies, and how so many people love them because they're so uplifting.
But here's the thing. I don't find them uplifting. Why? Because they make me dissatisfied with my life.
Creativity doesn’t always have to come from pain. But last week it did in my case. If you read Monday’s blog post, you know I had mouth surgery last week. And it’s still painful. And as I said, a girl's got to eat. So, before my surgery, I made a list of foods I thought I could make and eat post-surgery.
My plans didn’t exactly turn out as expected.
Mouth surgery left me in quite a bit of pain. And yet a girl’s got to eat. And talk at least a little bit. What on earth am I supposed to do?
What a great way to say, “Happy retirement.”
Ice dams are threatening bridges and the surrounding land area in Connecticut. Alternating warm and cold weather has caused ice to break apart and flow downstream, getting caught on bridge supports or at especially sharp bends. I saw one close up the other day.
I witnessed its menacing power.
Strange weather has taught me a valuable lesson. One I seem to need to learn over and over – a lot. The week of New Year’s it was cold. VERY cold. Maybe even record cold for that time of year. We had the snowstorm (aka bomb cyclone) on January 4th, all while experiencing a deep freeze. Southern New England got anywhere from 6-16 inches of snow, and it drifted all over the place. It seemed like it would be cold forever.
Then suddenly it was warm.
Today was an Admin day. Bills and some of the mounds of paperwork that have languished unattended. Let’s just say I’m a long way from actually taming this tiger.
But at least it’s not attacking me right away.
Day three of retirement, and we’re having Snowmaggedon, a Bomb Cyclone, or whatever catchy name they want to call a huge Nor’easter in New England. Heavy snowfall, high winds that swirl like a hurricane.
A complete whiteout.
Yesterday was my first day not going to the office. Well, sort of, anyway. I actually did go to the office…to turn in my laptop, phone, ID badge, and credit card. Except this time I couldn’t go in. I’ve already been erased from the system. My name already says “presence unknown” in the corporate chat tool.
How do I feel? A jumble of emotions. Just like life.
I woke this morning in a cold sweat – heart racing and body tight and stressed. I slept fitfully, apparently feeling the stress of the last day of work. It took every ounce of energy and skill I had to breathe my way to calm. Why?
Because I spent yesterday racing to the finish line.
