I’m stealing lyrics again! This time it’s from The Beatles’ “Hey Jude”. What a great line. It could easily be anyone’s mantra. Everyone of us has our sad times in life. The difference between us, though, is what we do with those sad times. I’ve always, in my life, tried to take Paul McCartney’s advice to make them better.
As I wrote a few posts ago, this pandemic was turning into a sad time for me. It was making me pessimistic and a little cranky. I think I’ve turned a corner though. I’ve been trying to figure out why the change to the positive, when we still have a long way to go with social distancing and staying at home.
One thing for sure is last night’s One World: Together at Home special on TV. It was great hearing all the performances from the artists’ own homes. I think my favorite was Elton John banging out “I’m Still Standing” from his patio. It was fun to see Charlie Puth singing from his parents’ bedroom. They hadn’t even made the bed! Paul McCartney performing Lady Madonna from his kitchen. So, there were the individual performances, but just the collection of creativity, history, hope, and joy was wonderful. They were taking a sad song, and making it better.
You know what else is helping me turn the corner? Flowers! Tree Blossoms! The greening of the woods! We are eleven days from May, the best month of the year! Yes, my birthday is in May and everyone knows that May babies are the best. All of my children would disagree. But just looking outside and seeing that drab brown turn into a kaleidoscope of yellows, pinks, purples, blues, and reds on a background of green is exciting.
My creative juices have been activated because I have been reading a lot more. I am on a streak of four great books in a row. That almost never happens. I highly recommend “My Dark Vanessa”. I read a memoir called “Into the Wilderness” written about a girl’s childhood in Idaho. That’s now my muse to write my own memoir. I’ve started, but as I’ve written before, my follow through can use some work. I guess if I keep going with this, it will be a testament to newfound optimism. We’ll see. The general theme of my memoir will be taking a sad song and making it better. Thank you, Paul.
Sometimes it is just the basics, that can turn a frown around. I am fully stocked with toilet paper, finding a six role pack at Weis. Yes, the little things in life. And, really, it is the little things in life that are important. Little things like love, kindness, humanity, and sharing. Well, maybe they aren’t so little!?
That’s how things are going with me, stuck here in Schnecksville. I’d love to hear your “surviving the pandemic” stories. Leave a comment. Send me an email. Just don’t knock on my door!
A Semi-retired Kind of Life 