I know that given my current circumstances it would seem that I have little to be thankful for on this holiday. But the opposite is true. I am incredibly blessed, despite being unemployed and barely making it financially. Many people in my same situation would wail and moan about how life is unfair and expect handout after handout. But below are my Top 5 reasons to be thankful:
NUMBER 1: I have a healthy and happy daughter. At age 41, being pregnant was like walking around with a ticking time bomb strapped to my chest. Terror clenched my heart as I read book after book detailing the myriad birth defects possible in women of normal child-bearing age, much less those of advanced maternal age. All the odds were stacked against me, but when she arrived, the Pie was perfect…and I mean PERFECT! She has no developmental delay, no health issues, and no learning difficulty. I am blessed every day simply by her presence in my life. I am profoundly thankful for her innocence, her intelligence, her wacky sense of humor and her very sweet heart.
NUMBER 2: I have rediscovered the child inside me and feel so grateful for the opportunity to stare at a moon in a dark sky and wonder what it’s made of, or to make believe I am a sleeping queen that can only be awakened by the kiss of a beautiful princess. Quite simply, I am thankful for the ability to play.
NUMBER 3: Many of my closest friends and family are aware of the struggles I have had over the past couple of months, and I am thankful for their support and encouragement. Several have offered generous financial assistance and without those gifts, I could not have gas service restored, or even remained in our house. On my behalf, a couple of friends have petitioned their churches for help and I have been so deeply touched by the kindness and generosity of those organizations. Total strangers helped us pay bills and buy groceries; mere words cannot illustrate how touched I am by the gesture.
NUMBER 4: During my unemployment and subsequent plummet into virtual abject poverty, I have been referred to several local agencies that have been able to help with utility assistance, clothes and food. I ask that if you are able, please donate to organizations such as these because they really do help those in the community who are in need.
NUMBER 5: I am thankful for the opportunity to wake up every day and face whatever challenge lies ahead of me. Mopping the floor, scrubbing the toilet, picking up the building blocks off the floor for about the eighty thousandth time…all these things and more give me purpose and help keep me from sliding into a depression that I may not be able to escape.
I know that something grand and fulfilling awaits me in the future, but in the meantime, I’ll just continue to count my blessings….
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Show Business
I am a theatre junkie…as you can tell by the way I spelled it with and “re” instead of “er.” I also pronounce it THEE-uh-ter, not thee-ATE-er. Whether it’s experimental improv, a small one-act or a musical playing, I love to go to the theatre. I am an especially humongous fan of the musical; my iPod is chock-a-block full of show tunes with everything from “Avenue Q” to “Xanadu.”
I am fortunate enough to have a friend who holds season tickets to our local performing arts facility and is also generous enough to invite me along when she has an extra ticket. Thus, I found myself with a seat for the touring production of “Wicked.” (Thanks, Steph!) The offer presented me with a dilemma that was two-fold: finding a babysitter and what to wear.
My regular childcare provider was unavailable, so I spent about half and hour making phone calls. I was prepared to get creative so I considered multiple options: 1) duct tape the Pie in a box and put her in the garage 2) just sneak out of the house while “Finding Nemo” played for the gazillionth time on the DVD player 3) call my dad to come over and sit on the couch for 3 hours while the Pie ran amok (most likely naked) through the house. However, my conscience would not permit me to further investigate these options; fortunately, my good friend who lives a couple of blocks away agreed to baby sit. One down, one to go.
When I texted my friend that I was trying to decide what to wear to the show, she responded with “I’m thinking along the line of clothes…” I knew I was at least on the right track. I take the theatre seriously, people, and I have a deep respect for the work that goes into mounting a show. I have worked with actors and stage crew, and I admire the dedication it requires. In that vein, I want to show my respect by dressing for the occasion. As I prepared for my evening out, my lovely daughter would occasionally comment: “Mama, you bra and panties match!” “Mama, me like you boots!” “Mama, how you get so pretty?” I admit, that last one stung a little bit!
Arriving at the performing arts center, after digging through my cupholder to come up with the $5 in change required for parking, I entered the lobby with great anticipation. I expected turned out folks in their finest duds, giddily chatting amongst themselves and imbibing wine from tiny plastic cups. But, I am reminded that this is the year 2010, not the 1940’s, and men no longer wear fedoras and women who should wear girdles don’t. The assault upon my eyes was ravaging, causing me to despair about the state of society where it is acceptable to wear the same clothes to the theatre as one would wear to a football game. There were dudes sucking back Bud Lights, dressed in jeans and team jerseys; women wore ensembles that looked like they just came in from doing the laundry on a rock by the river!
Oh, and lest we forget the ones who try TOO hard! There was a couple in their mid-forties that looked like they were going to a 1980’s prom – matching his outfit with her frock, even! A few teen-agers in attendance wore heels that were way out of their league with little tiny skirts and strappy tops. And the sequins! My God! Little blue-haired ladies looked like they had bedazzled themselves within an inch of their lives; and even women my age looked as if they spilled their kids' glitter glue all over themselves! Listen; if it ain’t the Miss America pageant, you have no business wearing sequins! How can I get this bill before Congress? Michelle Obama didn’t wear sequins on her husband’s inaugural day so what would possess a person to don them for a Sunday evening out?
The show was wonderful and I had a great time, despite waiting in line for 17 minutes for the ladies restroom, then having to pee like my life depended on it since there were legions of women with full bladders behind me. Probably all that beer they drank.
I am fortunate enough to have a friend who holds season tickets to our local performing arts facility and is also generous enough to invite me along when she has an extra ticket. Thus, I found myself with a seat for the touring production of “Wicked.” (Thanks, Steph!) The offer presented me with a dilemma that was two-fold: finding a babysitter and what to wear.
My regular childcare provider was unavailable, so I spent about half and hour making phone calls. I was prepared to get creative so I considered multiple options: 1) duct tape the Pie in a box and put her in the garage 2) just sneak out of the house while “Finding Nemo” played for the gazillionth time on the DVD player 3) call my dad to come over and sit on the couch for 3 hours while the Pie ran amok (most likely naked) through the house. However, my conscience would not permit me to further investigate these options; fortunately, my good friend who lives a couple of blocks away agreed to baby sit. One down, one to go.
When I texted my friend that I was trying to decide what to wear to the show, she responded with “I’m thinking along the line of clothes…” I knew I was at least on the right track. I take the theatre seriously, people, and I have a deep respect for the work that goes into mounting a show. I have worked with actors and stage crew, and I admire the dedication it requires. In that vein, I want to show my respect by dressing for the occasion. As I prepared for my evening out, my lovely daughter would occasionally comment: “Mama, you bra and panties match!” “Mama, me like you boots!” “Mama, how you get so pretty?” I admit, that last one stung a little bit!
Arriving at the performing arts center, after digging through my cupholder to come up with the $5 in change required for parking, I entered the lobby with great anticipation. I expected turned out folks in their finest duds, giddily chatting amongst themselves and imbibing wine from tiny plastic cups. But, I am reminded that this is the year 2010, not the 1940’s, and men no longer wear fedoras and women who should wear girdles don’t. The assault upon my eyes was ravaging, causing me to despair about the state of society where it is acceptable to wear the same clothes to the theatre as one would wear to a football game. There were dudes sucking back Bud Lights, dressed in jeans and team jerseys; women wore ensembles that looked like they just came in from doing the laundry on a rock by the river!
Oh, and lest we forget the ones who try TOO hard! There was a couple in their mid-forties that looked like they were going to a 1980’s prom – matching his outfit with her frock, even! A few teen-agers in attendance wore heels that were way out of their league with little tiny skirts and strappy tops. And the sequins! My God! Little blue-haired ladies looked like they had bedazzled themselves within an inch of their lives; and even women my age looked as if they spilled their kids' glitter glue all over themselves! Listen; if it ain’t the Miss America pageant, you have no business wearing sequins! How can I get this bill before Congress? Michelle Obama didn’t wear sequins on her husband’s inaugural day so what would possess a person to don them for a Sunday evening out?
The show was wonderful and I had a great time, despite waiting in line for 17 minutes for the ladies restroom, then having to pee like my life depended on it since there were legions of women with full bladders behind me. Probably all that beer they drank.
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