I woke up early this morning, dreading my birthday - and fervently hoping that I'll never see another one.
Almost immediately, my cat Bosco leaped onto the bed and puked all over my brand new electric blanket. After my shrieks of anger and disgust subsided, I realized that this odious feline ceremony was a symbolic culmination of my entire life.
I've had bad years before, but this previous year has been the absolute worst one ever. A never-ending avalanche of personal problems and health issues have completely expunged any sense of normalcy in my existence, and are driving me very near the brink of insanity.
I never mention all of my real problems in this blog. They would be too astounding to believe.
But I plod on......foolishly feigning cautious optimism....and hoping that by some inane miracle things will eventually get better.
I know I'm not alone. We are all existing in our own private versions of hell - - although many are reluctant to admit it.
As for now, I have nothing else to offer but a few ancient photos - taken when I was blissfully innocent and unaware of the future years of agony I would be compelled to endure.
You've undoubtedly seen these before, since I post them every year during the holidays.
I'm presently thinking of a favorite poem
Rock Me to Sleep by Elizabeth Akers Allen:
Backward, turn backward, O Time, in your flight,
Make me a child again just for tonight....
The house we lived in when I was one yr. old.
My father took this photo on Christmas Eve
I'm only guessing on my age here...
I either just turned three or just turned four....??
I'm sorry your Bosco started your birthday off on a wrong note. I hope the rest of your birthday is better. Maybe if you called your cousin who lives in your state and spoke with her , you two could come up with some fun memories that you had together to reminisce.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the Rock Me to Sleep Poem. I will have to copy it down to put on an index card for my Poems that I enjoy box. I have all kind of short poems that I really like to keep and read through when I need some inspiration.
I'm hoping your birthday got better as the day progressed.
I used to love that tinsel that they used on Christmas trees back then. I can distinctly remember taking a bit of the tinsel and putting it in my mouth to chew it because it felt so weird to my teeth. I didn't swallow it, thank goodness. It did look so much more sparkly than the stuff we use now days.
Take care. Hoping for a Happy Birthday for you after all.
My cousin Nancy and I share many fond memories. Unfortunately, whenever I'm deeply depressed I tend to completely avoid talking to anyone. That's been my lifelong habit (and I'll admit it's a bad habit...).
Delete"Rock Me to Sleep" is such a long poem that I decided to only post the first two lines. The entire poem can be found on the Internet.
The old-fashioned Christmas tinsel was really great, but I haven't seen it since I was a small child.
Dear Jon, Again, you sure nailed it. When a beloved pet --one that reflects what is naturally good in the universe-- bounds barfing onto the bed, I tend to take it as a sign. The cosmos is disturbed lately. Similarly strange things have happened here to loved ones and me! I won't go into them, but must remind myself --and you, because I care-- the forces of good and evil share a strange and maddening sense of humor. Yes, God and Satan, and someday I will demand they account for it. Just don't let them drive you to distraction or destruction.
ReplyDeletePS: You know that in a few days my seventy-twotin birthday's coming up. Hope you did well on yours today, in compliment to all Sagittarians. You're a correspondant's treasure, Jon.
DeleteI agree that the cosmos is disturbed lately - and it's working overtime to annoy us. I think God pulled a cruel joke on me by letting Satan continually kick me in the ass....
DeleteI hope you have a happy, peaceful, and stress-free birthday, Geo. Take care, and my best always.
DeleteWishing you a HPpy 🎂 despite of the way the day started and also despite Bosco’s unwelcome “gift.” This was the first time I had seen your childhood photos and those were certainly the days of innocence and happiness. Perhaps as suggested in a previous comment, you could reach out to a cousin, even if just to talk awhile. BTW I would send you a mailed greeting if you contact me at my blog email with an address.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for the B Day wishes. I've been trying to find your email address - but the email link on your blog only takes me to a search engine. I'm clueless as to what I might be doing wrong.....
DeletePrecious photographs! I've not heard of Ms. Allen's Poem 'Rock Me To Sleep' before, but I love the sentiment. Seriously, I hope you're feeling a little better this morning. Is it, perhaps, time for another batch of homemade wine?
ReplyDeleteI wanted to post the entire poem, but it is rather long. It can be found on the Internet - it's really quite touching.
DeleteI've already made a few batches of wine. Heaven knows I need it.....
always look on the bright side, no matter how dismal. Bosco gave you a present.
ReplyDeleteBosco has a knack for bringing me unwanted gifts. He once put a dead mouse in my bed - while I was sleeping!
DeleteI tend to agree with Geo on his views about pets and the universe. We are definitely connected to our beloved pets - an extention of ourselves perhaps?
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I never saw these pics of you as a child so thank you for posting these again. Jon, what an adorable baby you were! :-)
Pets are not only a part of our family, they are definitely an extension of ourselves.
DeleteI'm definitely still a kid at heart, but - unfortunately - I'm no longer adorable...
Happy birthday! Well, happier than cat puke on your new electric blanket. I hope the day progressed in a much better manner. :)
ReplyDeleteMy day did progress a little better than it started out. My cat Bosco is notorious for having unpleasant surprises - - but his birthday "gift" was the absolute worst surprise of all. I wonde4r if he planned it.....??
DeleteSorry Jon that you couldn’t get to my email. On my blog, click on my name under Who Writes This Stuff, then on the next page click on email under my name. Hope this works this time.
ReplyDeleteGood grief! I still can't access your email. I tried everything.
Deletehappy belated birthday Jon!
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's nice to know you still visit my blog. I hope you're doing okay. Happy holidays!
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