#898 Healing laughter

Last night when going to bed, I just wasn’t feeling myself. I was off. Down.

But then in amongst my internal searching for ways I could make myself feel better, I had a fabulous idea.

I could make myself laugh.

I held onto the thought, vowing I would put it into action the next day, and fell asleep on the hope of laughter.

This morning it happened. I was still feeling down and out, and this Winter weather has been seriously dragging me down with its severity and longevity.

I pressed the youtube button on the remote, and searched for a name that has brought me a lot of smiles lately – Sebastian Maniscalco

I’ve written about him before. I was first told about his popular “when you rang the doorbell 20 years ago vs today” skit ages ago by a friend, but I didn’t look it up then because, well I guess I wasn’t ready. Not in the way of not being ready for laughs, but just in the way of life preoccupying me and taking me away from doing things for myself…

like LAUGHING ’til I CRIED.

I brought up an 1 hour and 15 minute comedy routine of his that I’ve seen bits of, but that I’ve never watched in full.

Today, as baby girl was at kinder, and the winds raged outside, I watched it in full.

I smiled, I giggled, and I roared with laughter.

And though my melancholy remained in the background, I was uplifted by the fact that there is happiness out there, laughter to be had, and hope for good times is still around…

So get yourself comfy and watch the above routine, you won’t regret it 🙂

#897 This too shall pass

This Winter is dragging on. I thought a saw some relief days ago, but just as quickly it has vanished.

The days are long, dark, cold and windy. The heater is our only respite.

My child chooses to argue with me relentlessly, and I respond over-emotionally – I don’t know if it is the after-affects of the lunar eclipse that is wrecking havoc in our worlds, but times are trying.

I try to look up, but when I am reminded of repeated failure, I feel like that is ALL I know. How do you feel good when what you experience is anything but?

The slimmest of lights has me wondering. It has me with little Hopes.

My sister once owned a clock that read

“The best times and worst times have one thing in common… they never last forever.”

It’s one of those sayings that have left a forever imprint on me.

Because it’s a sentiment that lifts you up amidst times of hardship, reminding you that something good is around the corner… and it keeps you humble when you are as high as a kite, riding on the coat-tails of life and feeling the love and adoration of the world at your feet.

What goes down, must come up… and vice versa.

And just this afternoon, I noticed that it was lighter outside when baby girl finished with her usual Monday afternoon swimming lesson.

We leave at the same time each week, but today it was lighter.

Well, maybe things are turning around the corner after all.

The darkness is leaving, and making room for the Light.

#896 That I have a roof

Have you heard the wind today? Well if you’re in any place other than Victoria, that question may fall on deaf ears.

The wind is whistling and howling its way around our house. Gusts throw themselves at the windows, threatening to turn our humble abode over at any moment.

Rain appears at times. The waves up in the horizon are white, the water splashing dangerously as it comes into the shore.

So I will be damn well appreciative that I have a roof over my head on this cold July day. In a world where homelessness is a serious issue, and let’s not forget nature (how do birds manage to sleep peacefully in swaying trees?) I am so happy that while I listen to the wind unleashing itself outside, I am safe, and protected.

That’s more than many others can say. Let’s spare a thought for them.

Photo by Yoann Boyer on Unsplash

#895 Total Eclipse of the Moon

I knew of the lunar eclipse going into the weekend, and then a series of events occurred, that meant I had to get up half an hour earlier this morning.

Half an hour is a significantly BIG DEAL and long time when the moon is turning blood red.

Without knowing quite what to expect, I rugged myself up and put my beanie on, phone camera turned on, heading outside into the night on my way to work, expecting to glance up at the sky for maybe, 30 seconds or so amidst it all.

Instead, I was there for 5 minutes. Work? What work? When there is an onyx sky dotted with crystal stars, and a perfectly round moon gazing down at you right opposite your house, with Mars visible right above it to the left, for our Australian eyes…

… Of course I would be happy being late.

It was perfect viewing. I took photos and video, the latter of which you can view on my SmikG facebook page.

I usually rush off to the car, scared of boogey men and ominous shadows so early in the morning, but I stood there, in the middle of the yard, just gazing above, and appreciating the moon turning to a slow red.

Apparently there are 4 eclipses a year, but not all corners of the world can see them. This morning’s one was accessible by a multitude of continents, and was also the longest of this century, with a duration of over an hour and 30 minutes.

There is also a lot of hoo-hah about this eclipse wrecking havoc on our lives over the next several weeks, with yet others believing that biblical prophesies of the moon turning blood red, will mean an impending apocalypse.

Me? I believe a change is as good as a holiday. A blood moon cannot adjust that, as change is inevitable in ALL of our lives.

Blood doesn’t have to mean death. It could mean love. Passion. Desire. Fire. Heat.

It can also be a wake up call.

Let’s just appreciate this lunar eclipse for what it is, which is simply, a beautiful and rare spectacle across our skies… ♥

#894 July 27th opens windows

Today.

Friday.

It is 2:40pm.

I am on the other side of town, driving my car after having had its regular service, back to my parents house.

I have a jacket on… but it is warm. There is no heater on.

In fact, the window is open.

WHAT?!?!

I can’t remember if the mechanic left it open after finishing with it, or whether I in fact did it. But all I can tell you, in that warm car on today the last Friday of July, the open window was INVITING. I can even add, that the sun was on my face as I jumped onto the freeway, and I wondered –

“could I get sunburnt?”

Get out of town! it is July 27 folks, this is insanity!

Can you see the suns rays just BURSTING down through the open window. You can just feel the warmth.

I know I am creating a yearly theme here. But seriously, this time around I am 4 days early. So 2018 wins.

I felt it. I feel it. Spring. It is a-coming.

Shucks you under-achiever July… you may have me reformed on your Winter-y reputation, just yet…

#893 “Oh, Nothing!”

As a parent, when your child’s usually raucous self-entertainment and high-level amusement comes to a s-l-o-w silence… 

It can mean no good.

Silence, and kids, is never a good combination. Only when they sleep can they be forgiven for it (and the parents that beg for it, well it is a God-send).

The absence of noise can only mean – disruption, and damage.

There will be drawing on the walls.

Barbie dolls will suddenly go bald.

And your prized collector’s edition DVDs will suddenly become frisbees as they fly across the room and smash into the wall.

And apart from silence, I have another indicator that baby girl has been up to no good.

She will say, randomly out of nowhere, in a naively revealing way “Oh, nothing.”

If I’ve just entered a room, and she has uttered this phrase, I know without doubt that the ‘oh, nothing,’ actually means… something.

It is hilarious, because every time she is announcing it and dobbing herself in, without me even being aware of anything happening.

Her Dad sneaking her sweets after I’ve said no – “oh, nothing!”

Grabbing my phone and doing a runner – “oh, nothing!”

Giving her barbie doll a ‘trim’ (I had to get the above example from somewhere) – “oh, nothing!”

It is so comical, that I can never be upset, even if she has gone directly against something I’ve said. Her honesty and delivery of the words make it highly entertaining.

And the best part of all?

When I use it on her.

If I have some surprise for her, I’ll just call out casually “oh, nothing.”

Watch how she runs! Because as we all know, nothing, always means, something.

Two can play at this game. 😉

#892 The Last Winter Walk

It felt like so long ago since I had done this.

These were my thoughts as I walked the 10 minutes from the car park to work, just before 7am this morning. I had had the last couple of Wednesdays off, but still, the previous ones I had worked I must have had a late shift, because this walk felt like something I hadn’t done in a LONG time.

It was peaceful. Still. Few people around. Working in the city outskirts, means that even in peak hour, there is a smaller group heading off to work and going about their day, much smaller in size than if you were to go, bang smack in the middle of the city, and have to scurry about like a hamster on a wheel.

It was still dark, and yet the first light of the day was starting to filter through. The Bolte Bridge’s lights shone above the water in the near horizon. Boats slept. Runners jogged/shuffled by with earphones on. The regular café guy started opening up shop, putting on the lights inside and taking out tables. Trams whizzed by silently.

Things were happening, and life was still moving. But it was all hush hush.

It was actually, beautiful.

I pondered this as I shoved my hands into my jacket pockets, borrowing my face into my scarf. It was still cold. I knew that the next two Wednesdays I had late shifts – therefore, I wouldn’t be walking like this, at 7 in the morning on those days. Rather, my start time would be at the leisurely hour of 3… PM.

I started to calculate. If I do two more late Wednesdays, and then I’m on holidays for a few weeks… I won’t be doing an early Wednesday shift, until September.

The next time I will be walking in the morning like this, it’ll be Spring.

Oh! I realised with excitement. This is my last Winter walk for the year.

Suddenly, EVERYTHING INSIDE OF ME HALTED. My legs kept moving forward tentatively, yet everything in my head whirred to a direct halt.

Redundancy. Moving on. New jobs.

I wouldn’t be here next Winter. This was my last Winter walk to work, EVER.

The acknowledgement suddenly saddened me. Sure it was cold… but here we were, months and months and months away from finishing up, and suddenly I was experiencing one of the many ‘lasts’ that I would inevitably come across as I made my way slowly but surely, to the work finishing line.

In this race, we were all crossing the line together. We were unified in our change, but it was still horribly bittersweet.

I was immediately relieved that I had made the Winter Walk realisation. I crossed the road, and paused near my work, taking some photos.

Those pine trees I’d complained about, when they’d replaced them with the original palm trees years ago… I’ll miss them.

That street I walk up religiously to get my coffee fix… I’ll miss it.

That view. It’s pretty darn impressive, even in Winter. Even in the dark.

Those boats. They have allowed me to daydream and ponder as they waft and tilt over the swaying waters.

Even the God-damn mirrored elevator in the building.

Sure, I’ll miss that too. What with the bright lights allowing you to see every pimple on your face, yet with enough of a warm glow that makes you feel like you too, might be able to jump in front of the cameras and give the latest news update.

Oh, it’s beginning. The ‘lasts’ are-a-coming.

Thank God for phones. Thank God for photos.

Because the memories will always remain. ♥

#891 The half-year parent-teacher interview

I used to LOVE parent-teacher interviews as a child… can you guess why?

Though most of the time I don’t think I was allowed to sit with my Mum as my teacher went through my academic accomplishments, there were snippets I gleaned, the written report that came out of it, and of course, my Mum’s proud smile after it all.

I don’t mean to brag. I wasn’t some Einstein or anything. But I listened to the teacher. I did my homework. I did what I was told in the classroom. And therefore, the report represented that.

My favourite bit was always what my teachers mentioned or wrote about my creative writing habit. Even then I hung on every word, re-reading it countlessly, and I have to say, some things don’t change. I am still desperately hanging for feedback.

Fast forward a good 25 years, and today we had yet another parent-teacher interview. This one was not so academically geared, and it wasn’t to do with me.

Still, I left beaming.

I think from the moment baby girl started 3 year-old kindergarten last year, I have been worried. Worried about development. Worried about milestones being reached. Worried if she is ready for kinder… then worried if she will be ready for the next step, after kinder.

I have spent a lot of time in my head on this one. So today, when the kindergarten teacher said some lovely and positive words about baby girl…

“she is engaging with others more,”

“she participates in class activities and puts her hand up,” and then the clincher –

“I think she is ready for school next year”

Suddenly I became my Mum, and she was me, and if you know us all that ain’t a far stretch. It’s not to say that there is anything wrong when kids are held back in kinder, and I know plenty who have done that for their kids, and who are even entertaining the possibility right now. But as a parent, you know your child, in your heart of hearts. And when that feeling in your heart, is validated by the other major learning force in your child’s life…

You breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that you were right all along.

I am just thrilled with her progress. Again, no Einstein factor. No A+ accolades.

But she is my girl, and to me, her star is shining bright :):):)

#890 The best Sisters day

I say the above confidently, and strongly, because although today was the absolute BEST, I know in my heart our share of BEST days will only get better and better as the times and the years roll on.

I am talking about times shared with my Sister.

Every time we do them, we always say they are long overdue. And they are – what with life and responsibilities, tasks and chores, Hubbies and kids, we always feel like finding time for ourselves, comes last.

But with the kids getting older, we are trying to become wiser.

By putting ourselves first. (Not always, or else the earth may tilt on its axis. No, we can only be selfish every once in a while 😉 ).

Because when we fill up our own energy and enthusiasm, zest for life and happiness restores, then we become better wives, mothers, friends, colleagues, and confidantes.

And who better to fill up your reserves with, than your Sister?

It started off with coffee, as all great days do…

And then we headed over to Mornington Pier on what was a tremendously windy and cold July day, to ‘freshen up’ our senses and REALLY FEEL ALIVE, before indulging in a comforting and decadent lunch.

 

 

Those views. Just because you need some more…

But it wasn’t the food or drink or dessert that made today amazing. Nor was it the savagely beautiful waves crashing against the pier, in amidst the stormy and temperamental ocean backdrop. No, it was simply, the company. Having someone to talk to, share your deepest secrets and desires and thoughts with, retelling happy occasions and past laughs, getting all deep and meaningful and just talking about all aspects of life… well that was the best part of the day. That was the soul nourishing bit. This is the type of stuff you live for. These are the connections you are meant to make.

These are the most important people in your life.

Which is why every day I spend with my sister, is the BEST day ever. ALWAYS ♥♥♥

#889 Park Days no. 5

You know what’s better than park days in warm weather?

Park days in JULY.

You know why?

Because it is Winter, and when any opportunity presents to get out and enjoy some sliver of warmth in the middle of the coldest time of year, well that is a big

SUCK YOU WINTER

right there.

It was still fresh, but there was no wind, making the suns descendance down onto our skins that much easier. We walked on over the short 10 minutes to the park, after our necessary coffee and babycino stop at the nearby corner café ( 🙂 ) before enjoying some family time in the park.

And by the way, another reminder that we are MORE than half-way through this coldest of seasons, meaning that…

Spring-time is coming!

:):):)