Wedding Fever

It's the fantastic news we've been waiting for. Garrett and Kate are engaged! Yes, we all expected this and it is very welcome. I absolutely adore Kate and counted her as one of my "adopted" children nearly the instant I met her. I was not expecting was a real date to aspire to. A real ceremony and party to plan for. I was prepared for a long engagement. A very long engagement indeed. Just last week, while we waited for said impending proposal, my daughter said she'd heard Kate say she never cared to get married and when Garrett expressed concern over whether his proposal would be accepted, I could only say, "Then you offer the ring as a symbol of your love and the bond and commitment you share." I, however, did expect her to say, "yes."

In the drudgery of daily life it is invigorating to have an event to look forward to. Something to feel exaggerated zeal and zest for. My eldest daughter, Jackie, called just after 10pm last night to gush and puzzle about her wedding attire. As Best Man, the question now is, does she wear a gown or a tux? And she related to me ideas Kate has about her wedding dress. Suddenly I realized we were in full wedding swing. Rosie and I started sketching ideas for a dress with tuxedo qualities.

I am working up the bubbly here. Just creeping out from under the blanket of flu which has plagued my house since Christmas, and nursing a back injury (which still has unknown sources) happy is tough to muster. But muster I shall, dammit! Inquiring moms want to know details! I don't ask because I don't want to be a space invader. I avoid prying and manipulating. I'm just curious. Very curious. I've been a dead cat before you know. (How many lives do I have left?)

I wonder about what state the wedding may be held in, just how big it is getting and what role can and may I play?

So this morning to satiate the excitement Jackie incised in me, I find myself searching mother of the bride dresses (disappointingly, there's none labeled mother of the groom) and groom's family responsibilities.

Dread and fear and self loathing filled me. Breathe, I told myself. This is a time for convivial merriment! And no fun time to be at poverty level. I know my financially and medically challenged position. Still I expect to afford my family's wedding clothes, transportation if needed, a wedding gift and the rehearsal dinner. I feel exuberant, and even frolicsome at the mere thought of this union. Garrett and Kate are an excellent match. So why do I allow my joy to be tainted because of my inabilities and short comings? How can I not participate in my son's momentously mirthful occasion? How can I be such a broke-ass, ugly, embarrassing troll at my son's wedding?! Someone slap me! BREATHE!

I'm better now. Where's my Prozac? I've been anticipating this event for sometime, and now that it is reality, I am totally unprepared. I remind myself that no matter about me, the wedding will go on, and I can enjoy the ride or drown in my self induced anxiety. I think I'll choose to relish the thrill of this roller coaster. Mother of the Groom. I haven't played that role before. This should be exciting. The price of the ride is giving up my anxiety, insecurity and self absorption. And the prize is my son's happiness.

Daily Withdrawals

I wonder how many days slip by without much notice. We go through the motions of our lives, sometimes blindly. Days are spent like currency, depleting our banks, but there's no saving for a rainy day. When we are out of days, time is up. So now, I hope to ask myself each day, if this were my last day, is this what I'd want to be doing?

Sadly, most days the answer is no. I need to fix this. Why is it so much harder than it sounds? I have not learned to be authentically happy, or to live in the moment, or to take advantage of every day of my life. I comprehend the ideas, but I am subject to inertia, and movement from this very solidified spot is not without great effort. I need a simple machine and some outside muscle for help. Crow bar anyone????

Sleep is elusive for me. I chase it. I wait for it. I want real and true rest so desperately, I feel drunk for the lack of it. Even when I do sleep, it is fitful and filled with strange and often terrible dreams from which I waken, screaming. Sometimes flailing my arms at some would be assailant. Sometimes my cat wakes me, biting my toes in fear because I've been kicking ferociously in his direction.

I don't know when it happened that restful sleep slipped away from my life. I don't know how long it has been since I have slept through the night, even fitfully, without some form of sleep aid. (Although even those often do not keep me asleep.)

I sit awake, in the middle of my queen size bed, with my laptop before me. I watch movies, tv shows, play solitaire, check Facebook, Gaiaonline (which I can blame my 13 year old for getting me started in) ExperienceProject, Stumble! or just news sites. I fall asleep at the word processor. Several rows or pages of "d's" depending upon how long I'd been in that position, always my head bobbing up, trying to shut down the computer, but too tired to see the keys straight.

Is this sleep pattern epidemic? Is it more common in mid-life? I cannot be the only Zombie out there. Does anyone know if normal sleep ever returns? I'd say more, but I'm gonna try to take a nap now.

St. Valentine's Massacre

It is February. The month to celebrate love. Chocolate hearts, lovingly message printed Sweettarts, Filligreed and "ungapatchkid" as my grand mother used to say, Valentines.

I never liked Valentine's Day. Even though I normally love any excuse to have a party, the idea of Valentine's Day stuck like a poppy seed in my gums.
Now here it is again, in the face of my second divorce, where I find that love can go just as it came. No romantic gesture will revive the Eros in this relationship. Once I was wooed with teddy bears and champagne, chocolates and jewelry, weekend trips and romantic dinners, and the most effective, tender loving care lavished upon my young children. But love goes way deeper than that. It means fighting the good fight to be as healthy as you can be for as long as possible and live as full a life as possible with those who want you around. It means being encouraging, not proving how much better you are at anything than anyone including your mate. It means giving up the last chocolate chip cookie.

There is so much it means to me. Funny, I used to believe in True Love. I used to be a hopeless romantic. I used to think I would find a happily ever after thing. Somebody start singing "Memories." Where's the Kleenex? sniff sniff
ok better now. Who the f@#% needs a Valentine anyhow?

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Abortion Clinic

How can I stress enough the disquiet at having to take a girl for a fourth abortion?! I simply cannot. Anger, frustration, disappointment and sadness welled as a congealed concoction which together should have a name, since frequently, they all do come together. As if they all got the same invitation to a party.

"Are you goin' to Hope's stress-fest?"
"Hells yeah, can I catch a ride?"

So I brushed the unwelcome emotions from my heavy shoulders and got my ass out of bed early so I could be greeted by graphic and gory signs depicting abortion horrors. And so the very religious protesters could shout at us and menace us as our car pulled into the very recently fenced-in parking lot.

This fence was so new I thought I could still smell the sap on the wood. In spite of this shining and spectacular diversion, protesters had set up a soap box to loom over the fence with a megaphone. I shit you not. Recollections of my Toys for Tots episode with Prosti-Preacher telling us we were "goin' ta heeeellll, you can't do this alone, you need Jeeezus to help youuuu..." sprung up in my mind. We were jeered, and chastised, berated and pleaded with. And the only emotion they evoked was anger. I wanted to go around the fence and shove the little man off his step ladder. Sadly, the police were watching, supposedly for our protection, although I suspect for the protection of the obnoxious, prostelatizing, ranting protesters as well. I admit that at moment they were in more danger than I. (wink wink) I held a my hand up in a peace sign to the window at the woman approaching the car as we entered the lot.

After our charge was all checked in, G and I went to grab some grub. And to kill some time until it was time to pick her up. I won't explain "Chilly Willy the Madman of South Blvd. McDonald's" cuz G wants to tell that tale. And folks...that one is gonna be good. We should even get a song or a poem out of it. ;)
When we were called to report back to the clinic, I mentioned that the protesters had probably taken a break for lunch since it was after noon now. G snickered. And then we turned the corner. and he was dismayed and saddened at not being able to blast them with Linkin Park's "One Step Closer" out of his windows.
Exactly the song they make ME think of. "Shut up when I'm talking to you!"

How is it that love can turn from electric spark, from buzzing excitement and deep roiling passion, and bright burning embers, to powdery filthy ash? How does beating pulsing heart turn to cold diamonds, cutting our beloved to splinters when we go? How can we cause so much pain to someone we only wanted to hold dear for what seemed would be eternity?

I have no answers. For all of my experience, I am at a loss as to how Eros dies. When even still, I care so deeply and do not wish to cause harm or pain, I know the romance is dead. If only I could erect a kind headstone. A poignant marker for this beautiful thing that did exist.

I have had my mourning. I have grieved. I am closer to acceptance. But he will start at anger. And somehow I have to believe that the anger is not at me but part of his grief.

He has been in denial for a long time. And while I have moved painfully through the anger, bargaining, and depression, he has not. I think I am ready for acceptance now. So I will be the one to make the arrangements. But when I tell him our love has died, and he has to face it and emerge from his fog of denial, he will hate me for bringing the news. For the knell rung out for him to hear.

Inaugeration 2009

This year, we swear in to office a true president of the People. This moment has been coming to us for quite some time. The intense power and dense winds of change are more palpable than ever.

I was in first grade, at P.S. 224 in Brooklyn, NY, during Dr. Martin Luther King Day. The teacher rolled a television set into our classroom for us to view footage to Dr. King delivering his famous "I Believe.." speech. At the age of 6, I was impressed and touched profoundly by that speech and the man who delivered it. I was of a minority demographic, and could relate to much of the injustices dealt minorities in our country.

I grew up believing in an America that year after year seemed to be slipping through our fingers. Perhaps a bit of an idealist, I knew in my heart, that in my lifetime we would see a President of great change. Great as in enormous, as in wonderful, astoundingly impressive even.

Here we are. A man my own age, who grew up with the America I grew up with. A man who I believe wants America to be healthy, respected, deserving, and just, as we always believed her to be in our hearts. America was an underdog, a champion for those who could not stand up for themselves, a champion wielding successes in the name of what is right and true and good.

Barack Obama represents all these things to me. I see the chance for an upswing of positive influence and reactions across the country, and throughout it's people at a time when we need it the most.
This is our chance for prosperity of the heart and redemption.