Category: That’s Life

ON BEING ENTOMBED.

ON BEING ENTOMBED.

by sharwrite ♥ 1 Comment

Living in isolation, I find myself with time on my hands.  There are all kinds of projects — like clearing my closets, the pantry, my office.  While important, these tasks are what some may call “non-starters.”  I settled on going through my office credenza, which is filled with old photographs.

Among the pictures were photos of a holiday taken long-ago in Capri, the idyllic island off the southern coast of Italy.  As my mind traveled back in time, I recalled an incident that gave a whole new meaning to the term “isolation.”

I was sitting in the lounge of the hotel with my parents when I realized I’d left something in my room.  I rushed off to retrieve it.  Upon entering the elevator, I pushed the floor number and headed up.  Suddenly there was a jolt, and the elevator stopped.

I pushed the floor number again.  Nothing.  Once again.  Nothing.  I pushed every floor number.  Nothing.  There was a little button with a bell on it.  I pushed it.  In the distance, I heard ringing, then NOTHING.   Anxiety was building. I pushed the bell button again, determined to keep it ringing until I made contact with a human being.

From afar,  I heard, “Pronto, pronto, Qual e il problema?”

Oh hell, my Italian is not all that good, and, with panic just around the corner, it’s not good at all.  “Help!”

In very broken English (he was on the verge of hysteria, and his English was about as good as my Italian), he asked, “Where are you?”

Where did he think I was? “I’m in the elevator.”

“Si signorina, a che piano?”

“What?”

“On what floor?”

“I don’t know.  The elevator just stopped.”

“I need for you to open the door.”

There was more than one set of doors in the elevator.  I went to one and pressed my hands against the door and attempted to drag it to an open position.  This is not an easy thing to do when the lift isn’t functioning.  Finally, the door was open.  I faced a wall.

“What do you see?”

“A brick wall.”

“I need for you to open the other door.”

Again, drag and pull– another brick wall.

“What do you see?”

“Oh my God, I’m entombed!”

“Che cosa?

“It’s another wall!”

“Solo un momento.”  And then there was “the sound of silence.”

I recalled a movie where an elevator crashed.  Someone remarked, if the people hadn’t been standing, they might have survived, but their spinal columns were shattered when the elevator jolted to the bottom of the shaft.

“Signorina? I am going to pull you up.”

With that, using what I guess was some kind of pulley system, he tugged, then tugged again.  After each tug, the lift would move upward then settle down with a jarring bump.   As I fell to the floor in an effort to save my spinal column, I prayed.  “Please, God, I don’t want to die in an elevator crash.”

Finally, I saw a bit of light, then more and then the head of the man pulling me up.  I have no idea what he thought when he saw me lying on the floor.  Perhaps he believed I fainted.  A few more pulls and I was free!

Yes, there are different types of isolation — some dramatic, others seemingly never-ending.  We all hope this time of seclusion draws to a close, sooner rather than later.

 

 

 

WHAT’S YOUR VISION?

WHAT’S YOUR VISION?

by sharwrite ♥ 2 Comments

At the last meeting of our WomenHeart Group, we gathered stacks of old magazines, pictures, postcards, quotations, scissors, glue, and used our imaginations to create individual Vision Boards.  Andee and Annie brought some 9 x 12 boards that, when finished, could be hung on the wall.  We had an hour and a half to create a vision of our lives.

Better than a resolution, a Vision Board is a reminder of what’s essential in your life.  The idea came to us via our HeartSister Caridad.  In addition to heart disease, Cari had several other serious health issues. She told us about her Vision Board. It had words of encouragement, pictures of loved ones, and a photograph of the beach – a place Cari associated with peace and serenity. The first thing every morning, she would look at it.  It would lighten her load and help her start her day with feelings of thankfulness.

In January 2017, we had our first VB party.  At the end of a delightful evening,  we shared our completed projects.  Here is Cari with her Vision Board along with Annie de Velasco, Andee Weiner, and me.  What a lovely moment.

This year, the inspiration for my Vision Board started with two books.  Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy, by Sarah Ban Breathnach, is a book I read years ago and decided to revisit.  Each day there is a passage to read, and each month she suggests small activities to enrich the reader’s life, called “Joyful Simplicities.”  The second book by Jennifer Ashton, M.D, was published recently and titled, “The Self-Care Solution.”  Dr. Ashton set in motion personal monthly challenges, which would help improve her life.

Why these books?  For years I’ve been reading “how-to” books.  And, yes, I often learned how to do something better.  Alternatively, these books dived into how to better care for me, physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.

My vision board (shown below) is hanging in my office, which is currently filled with clutter.  Is it any wonder it has the words “less clutter” prominently displayed?  Looking like a title at the top of a page, I’m reminded to “Enjoy Life.  It has an expiration date.”  My blog is noted, as are the two books starting me on my journey, and my self-care monthly challenges.  In my first month, I delved into meditation.  That was so satisfying, I’m continuing it daily.

One thing that’s difficult to read in this picture, but really spoke to me are the words, “Instead of focusing on a to-do list, start a to be list.  Things I want to be:  Happy, Calm, Loving, Healthy, Awesome.”  As an A-Type personality,  I’m thinking not being driven by my to-do list is going to take some extra work.

So there is my vision for 2020.  It is said, visualization is a powerful mind exercise.  I’ll have to get back to you next year and let you know how strong my vision is.

In the meantime, here are some suggestions for your Vision Board.  Focus more on how you want to feel — not merely on things you want.  Use pictures, words, photographs, even trinkets.  There aren’t any rules.  Come back next year and let me know how you did.

“If I only had a brain…”

“If I only had a brain…”

by sharwrite ♥ 2 Comments

As Dorothy was on her way to the Emerald City, to seek help from the great and magnificent Oz, she came upon a fork in the yellow brick road. She pondered aloud, “Which way should I go?” A scarecrow, perched on a pole behind her said, “You can go this way, or you can go that way.” As he uttered those words, his arms crossed in front of him as he pointed in opposite directions.

In the 1939 movie, the scarecrow laments his lack of a brain in a song. One verse goes like this:

I would not be just a Nuthin’,

My head all full of stuffin’,

My heart all full of pain,

And perhaps I’d deserve you and be

Even worthy of you

If I only had a brain.

I’m an “Oz” girl. As a child, I either read the books or my brother read them to me. What I never knew until today, was L. Frank Baum (the author of The Wizard of Oz) was a political activist in the 1890s, and it is thought by many that the story is allegorical for the political, social, and economic happenings of that period.

Todays political, social, and economic happenings are fraught with prejudice, hatred, and anger. Last Sunday more than thirty died in two mass shootings. In El Paso, three young children are parentless, as both their mother and father were among those killed. Countless families are grieving the loss of sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, moms, and dads. As a nation, we sit, asking, “Why?” As a people, we ask, “How many people have to die?” I wonder when our representatives will get a collective brain and DO SOMETHING!

In my serendipitous world, I, as Dorothy, would come across not a scarecrow, but an octopus. Because, in answer to my question, “why is this happening?” the octopus points to White Nationalism, the internet, social media, the use of military-type automatic weapons, mental illness, gun show loopholes, the lack of universal background checks, violent internet games. The octopus pointing in so many different directions gets tangled in his arms and can’t go with me to get a brain.   Once again, nothing gets done.

According to polls, the tide is turning, and Americans believe universal background checks are necessary when purchasing guns. Why not start there?

In politics, there are constituents and representatives. As constituents, we put representatives in office. They work for us, and as such, their behavior indicates if they deserve and are worthy of our votes. It’s easy to let them know what you think. Google your representatives, go to their websites. You will find local and Washington phone numbers, and addresses. Call or write, but do something. If enough constituents let their representatives know a vote for them in the next election is dependent upon them doing their jobs, Washington politicians might just get a collective brain.

Today is the 219th day of the year. To date, there have been 251 mass shootings in the United States. More than 250 people are dead, and more than 1000 have been injured.  Do you prefer to act or live in a potential war zone?

 

Todd Tongen

Todd Tongen

by sharwrite ♥ 1 Comment

Miami lost a friend.  Todd Tongen, WPLG newscaster and weekend morning anchor passed away over the weekend.  He was a brilliant storyteller and an excellent journalist.  Several years ago, Todd came up with an idea, the “10 Taxi.”  In his role as the taxi driver, he would drive celebrities around town.  There were priceless moments in the cab, as he provided us with interviews with such people as Peter Jennings, Ed McMahon, and Joan Rivers.

There was no doubt Todd loved his job. Whether at the anchor desk, or dressing as a “Todd turkey,” while collecting food for the less fortunate at Thanksgiving, collecting books for disadvantaged kids as part of the WPLG Big Book Drive, or traveling over Dade and Broward counties gathering Toys for Tots at Christmas, he brought enthusiasm, exuberance, and energy to his segments.

I never had the opportunity to meet Todd.  However, as an avid viewer of WPLG, I’ve watched him for decades.  In my mind, he was part of my family.   My heart goes out to his wife and sons, as well as his WPLG family as they mourn his loss.

I was looking at Facebook and found a short Q & A about Todd.  At one point, he was asked to give one word that would describe him.  He said, with that twinkle in his eye, “supercalifragilisticexpialidocious.”  If I were asked, I’d choose joy.   In all the years he shared his life with Miami, he demonstrated his happiness with life.  Joy is contagious, and after a few moments of watching Todd, we were happier as well.  Thank you, Todd.

HAPPY 2019

HAPPY 2019

by sharwrite ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Hello there, readers.  Here we go again.  I don’t know about you, but the year 2018 seemed to be on a race to get to the finish line.  Wasn’t it just yesterday when we were ringing in “18, “and now it’s history.

Who out there has resolutions for 2019?  How many have already broken them?  How many of you have at the top of the list something to do with “diet?”  I heard on the news that approximately 80% of us are stressing over losing weight.

In the past couple of years, I’ve lost more than 35 pounds.  Someone asked me,  “how did you lose all that weight?”  My response was, “Well, I think it was the heart attack that got my attention.”   That’s a bit extreme, so during this year, we can explore what’s worked for me and also for you.  Keep in mind, there doesn’t appear to be a “one-size-fits-all” diet out there!

I’m thinking about a new Vision Board.  For those of you who don’t know what that is, it’s a collage of words, pictures, and aspirations for the coming year.  Once put together, it should be placed in a prominent place as a reminder of what you wish to gravitate towards.  As opposed to a “New Year’s Resolution,” this adds greater intent and resolve.

I plan to spend much more time writing…both on my blog and other venues.  Hopefully, I’ll be posting weekly, and plan to spend more time on health and wellness.  That being said, I’ve embarked on a “Dry January” challenge, the purpose is to enhance your health. It is said when doing this you are more focused, your skin (the largest organ of the body) is healthier, and you sleep better.

Those of you who know me well, are aware I love my wine!  I’ve written before, that I was born in Milwaukee, raised in Chicago, but grew up in the Bay area of California — next door to the wine country!

So here I am, with no wine in the house.   As I write this, we are only on day 7, and I can say I’m more focused.  Once the challenge is completed, I’ll let you know my results.

I’m excited about the prospect of 2019. Until my next post, have a great week and keep the “Happy” in your days!