Grand Funk

I was in a grand funk. Russ was busy and school's out for summer. I have a mountain of tasks and I'm not going to lie - IT'S IMPOSSIBLE. I may have a panic attack just thinking about it. 

Full-on anxiety took hold for a couple of days and THEN, as if I wasn't busy enough, the phone rang. It was a gig. There was a last minute emergency and could I be 107 miles away by 6pm, fully glammed up - singing for someone's wedding? 

No. No I could not. I was on my way to the yard waste facility, with bags of mud, weeds, dirt, and potato bugs in the back of the car, along with Zachary. We were both a mess and attempting to clean up the driveway before we got some type of citation for junking up the neighborhood. Our bags of debris had been sitting so long in the rain that they broke, and we'd been shoveling their dusty remains in the sweltering heat. I also had no babysitter.

I hung up the phone, defeated. "I can't" are not words in my vocabulary, but there was just no way. There is a show next month with the same entertainment group, so I called the sitter to confirm that date. I thought maybe that would give me some kind of hope for the future.

Not only did the Angel who is my babysitter confirm next month's show date, but she was available that day as well and could come over anytime! WHAT??!! There was help??? I quickly called back for the job I had just turned down, "A sitter just fell from the sky. Do you still need someone?" Yes. Yes they did.

I can't even completely remember the whirlwind that followed, but I think I have never cleaned up so fast in my life. I was like a tornado, but I was straightening and organizing, putting away toys and papers, packing alcohol wipes, snacks, gloves, shoes, throat spray, electronics and a mic stand, all while cleaning up, curling my hair, letting the dog out, watching Zachary and doing my makeup.

I reviewed songs in the car on the way. The next thing you know, I was parking on a hill next to a cow and running toward an outdoor pavilion from which I could hear the sound of an amplified guitar. The bandleader met me by the driveway and told me not to rush and that all was well.

Life is better while the music is playing and I am doing what I do. There were fine and talented musicians, happy smiling people, and beautiful countryside views. 

I am here to tell you that the impossible can be done! Thank you! Thank you! THANK YOU!!! Huge thanks to all the people who have stepped in to help when I've felt overwhelmed. Thinking back... there have been so many Earth Angels who carried me just when I thought I couldn't make it. When we can't do it on our own, we still CAN with a little help. My grand funk turned into some kind of wonderful.

It's a miracle to lose hope and find it again. May we see light just when we need it and be light when someone else needs - especially now in these days of extreme hardship for so many.

With Love and gratitude,

T

Before and After

It started with a well-deserved "treat myself with a trip to the nursery" moment.  It turned out hydrangeas and annuals were fifty percent off.

It seemed like a great weekend project for Zach and me. Russ could get some work done while I kept the boy busy outside. The yard really needed some attention too.

We got a lot done the first day, but it was NOT the best time. I'm starting to get a headache just thinking about it. It was too hot and everyone was too "yelly." The boy was running around, squirting cold water at everything in sight, making a constant racket, knocking things over, falling down and requiring attention every ten seconds. When one adult would try to keep him occupied, they'd end up contributing to the chaos with their raised voice soon after. We muddled through completely annoyed. I wondered if I should even attempt more gardening on Sunday. 

That little section under the tree looked soooooo much better though. We talked through our game plan for the next day. Zach would try to listen better and stay out of trouble. I would try more patience and more ways to engage him. Russ would focus more on his own work and only check in occasionally. We would all try and have more fun going through the process.

Take TWO! 

The next section wasn't as crowded and we could spread out more.

Zach tried his hand at container planting.

His first attempt was ok...

but he soon managed well all on his own!

The best "before and after" wasn't captured by the camera. It was our Spirit. After that first day, we tried to improve ourselves and our energy. It worked. We're always a "work in progress" but our second time around was a satisfying accomplishment. :)

Here's to the reboots! Here's to knowing that even when things get hard, we can dig deep and remove some of the obstacles in our way. 

Blessed week y'all.

Love,

T

Not COVID

The boy had been sick. I think it started when he came home COVERED in dusty sand. He had a fantastically good time dumping it all over himself, and the cloud of fine power surrounding him when he moved resembled that of Pig-Pen. He soon started to cough.

After a bit of progression to not feeling well and a trip to the doctor (who, after she stopped laughing at the sand pictures, agreed with us that he probably shouldn't do THAT again), he began to feel better - but not before two days of breathing and coughing on me. It hit me Monday evening, just after posting last week's blog. I was set to record a song that night and I could not. By Tuesday morning I was a disaster and Wednesday was even worse. I don't even remember Thursday. 

We all tested negative for COVID. 

As I continue at least four medicines and a nasal wash regimen this week, I am beyond grateful to have steady improvement. The truly scary aspect of this journey was, and continues to be, that as it was unfolding for me, we were also learning about the new data regarding the Delta variant. People we know in higher risk categories are returning to a stricter protocol and we know that even fully vaccinated, we can transmit a very serious illness to someone who is not, or someone who IS but is in a higher risk category, or to anyone really. 

I can not yell loud enough from the mountain top. PLEASE GO GET VACCINATED IF YOU ARE NOT ALREADY. Speak to your doctor. If you have already, speak to them again. It feels like everyone is so tired of this that we just don't want to listen anymore, but now is not the time for that.

I have no right to complain about my illness when so many have been taken from us. At my worst, I couldn't imagine devolving from there. It's a terrifying thought. What would happen to the boy? What about all those children who DID lose a parent? Most of the seriously ill COVID patients now are unvaccinated and some officials are STILL denying the effectiveness of masks - seemingly for their own political benefit. People are so busy trying to survive and pay the bills that they have not followed the actual news or recommendations from health officials and there are plenty of other people waiting to profit off of their lack of true information.

Children normally get sick. They interact with other kids and develop their immune system. It's expected that once they attend school they'll acquire germs, contract colds and eventually get over them. It's perfectly normal for a cold to be going around at school and for Zachary to catch it. What's unacceptable is when serious illness and death can be avoided - but isn't.

My heart breaks for all the misinformation, the deliberate acts of capitalizing off of it, the needless suffering and death. Sometimes we can't help it - but SOMETIMES WE CAN.

I'm begging you. Get the shot. 

Click here for cdc.gov

Click here for the "COVID-19 Vaccines" page on fda.gov

Click here for "How to convince someone who is hesitant to get the COVID-19 vaccine" from abc7.com 

Click here for "How to talk to vaccine-hesitant friends and family about getting the shot" from washingtonpost.com

Love you all,

T

xo

Check Your Points

We have been in need of a new refrigerator/freezer for the longest time. I had to stop buying frozen things! Zachary could no longer have popsicles. The freezer was useless. It was really just a bread box. If you like drinking ice pops, you'd love our house. It was ridiculous.

Russ thought he saw an email notification for a rewards program for a credit card of mine. (Why would he be getting the email and why would I know nothing about it?) I called and verified no significant reward benefits. He searched again, found the notice and looked it up. THEN A THOUSAND DOLLARS FELL OUT OF THE SKY!

Within several hours we had a new fridge on the way and THEN... we had ice cream. 

Moral of the story: Check your points, then check again. :)

#whoknew

Here's wishing you a glorious week filled with ice cream and windfalls.

Love,

T

Dragons

I have no idea why, as I sat here to write, the idea of dragons popped into my head. So here we are. First I looked up the spirit animal meaning:

"The dragon Spirit is drawn to people of intellect, dignity, contagious enthusiasm and authority. Dragons guide such individuals toward brilliance and, indeed, enlightenment. In this setting your Dragon Spirit Animal teaches you to roar - finding your voice, being heard and truly understood." - Google search for "Dragon Spirit Animal"

Then I looked up the cultural significance / history:

Click here for: "Chinese Dragon" on wikipedia.com

Somewhere along the way I discovered this movie:

and this song:

I wanted to learn more about cultural traditions. 

Cool! There must be a cultural center for more, right? (Yes.)

Click here for New York Chinese Cultural Center

Their mesmerizing and inspirational video:

Isn't it so amazing how much you can learn and be moved by following one little thought in your head ?

I just remembered that Russ and Zach were doing art projects earlier (Russ's design above). Maybe THAT'S why I thought of dragons.

Here's wishing you some time to follow your thoughts and ideas this week - and that your dragon stays safe and happy (as Peter Yarrow says). 

Love,

T

Easy Peasy

DON'T BELIEVE THE HYPE! 😂

"Easy Care Children's Garden" (seed mixture)

Don't you just LOVE it when people make things look easy? (Sarcasm.) Take parenting, for example. If somebody makes it look easy, THEY ARE LYING. lol

I took this video last year but never posted. It seemed trivial at the time, when confronted with the trials of 2020 and the horrors on the nightly news. It is important to remember though, that those little daily pulls and tugs on your Spirit can add up and become very heavy. It helps to keep in mind that you're not alone and that the perfect example of family, career, or relationship... is probably not as pristine as it may appear on the deceptively shiny surface.

Here's to life and all of its imperfections! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a screaming preschooler to attend to and it's past bedtime.

Blessed week to you! xo

Doesn't it look like one flower is hugging the other? 

Love,

T

Wild Flowers

 Do you think it knows what it will become?

We probably don't know what we can be either.

What if we went wild?

Are we ready to take off our training wheels...

and see?

Here's wishing you a beautiful week!

Love,

T