Thursday, December 31, 2020

words, shouting

* T S Eliot:For last year's words belong to last year's language/And next year's words await another voice./And to make an end is to make a beginning.

* Kipling:We're all islands shouting lies to each other across seas of misunderstanding. 

Tuesday, December 29, 2020

Voltaire, Frost, Jesse, Arnold, music

* Voltaire: If you want to know who controls you, look at who you are not allowed to criticize.

* Frost: In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life:it goes on.

* Jesse to Walter in 'Breaking Bad': You gotta cut out all your loser cry baby crap right now and think of something scientific.

* Arnold: So, if you are too tired to speak, sit next to me, because I, too, am fluent in silence.

* I marvel at the professionalism and dexterity of a British military band in full uniform performing/playing while on horseback. Calm horses. 

Wednesday, December 23, 2020

end, candle, sun, day, sigh, year

* From 'Parade's End':If you let yourself go you'll go further than you wish.

* Knitting by candlelight while watching 'The Last of the Mohicans'.

* 'Does the sun ask itself, "Am I good? Am I worthwhile? Is there enough of me?" No. It burns and it shines. Does the sun ask itself, "What does the moon think of me? How does Mars feel about me today?" No. It burns, it shines. Does the sun ask itself, "Am I as big as other suns in other galaxies?" No. It burns. It shines.'

* A roaring, windy day which rattles the windows, sends the broom flying, quakes the cobwebs.

* Big sigh grateful.

* Headed for the big roundup, a computing of the year.

Thursday, December 17, 2020

home, butter, clootie, crunches, rod, op/pro, daughter

 * While moving through the day I mentally listed what walking into the home would mean...a hot shower; dog play; water, water, water, to drink, drink, drink. 

* "knob of butter"

* I want to make a clootie. (Spell check gave that a red dot line--don't they have no culture (Scottish)?

* Tire crunches as they pass in the street.

* I have a rod Christmas tree--8 horizontal rods of decreasing lengths as they rise,  intersecting a vertical rod, to the top star. Empty, I draped it with my jewelry and put a red satin bow on top.  Realized that is what my mother did with a tree branch found after a whooshy wind storm on the Big Island in 1955. Jewelry decorations.

* Resigned to the inescapable operation/procedure, as I lay on the gurney I marveled at the ballet of professional hospital people who held back the curtain to enter. A nurse said she had the same op/pro two days ago (reassuring to me). The gyn knew to announce herself figuring that I would not recognize her (she gets to wear jewelry!). Although each asked the same questions (were they trying to trip me up?) which can be a bit daunting to a foggy brain slowly turning to mush as needed, they all were kind and calm. The anesthetist reassured me that, no, I would be sooooo far sedated that there was no way I would wake up as I did, screaming, during a past procedure. Ultimate delight engulfed me when the tiny assistant anesthetist dashed, raced, careened, my sides up gurney to the OR. What exhilarating fun to feel the air made cool by  speed whizz past my only wearing a hospital gown body. 

* A daughter who jumped out of the homeward bound car for a dash into the hospital to pay the pharmacy, as I did not bring $ or card. 

**** And they did the weight in metric!!!!

Sunday, December 13, 2020

time, Guinness, yarn, worker

* H. Murakami: Time flows in a strange way on Sunday.

* You'll feel better when you've had a Guinness.

* At my age I get all my fun by sitting down with a ball of knobbly yarn.

* Every health care worker I have come across lately has been calm and cheerful. 

Saturday, December 5, 2020

nests, skin, giving in, willows, dogs, towels, gone

* Nests of squirrels revealed in fallen leaf trees.

* My face skin tight and warm after a day in the sunshine with a book.

* Giving in, giving in, to the necessity of an operation in the time of pandy.

* Red and yellow willow shoots, curly, tall,  standing in a basket.

* The dogs demand their position  on either side of me on the sofa but when I get up and then return my place is smaller. Have they moved or have I grown?

* Washing and hanging out all the beach towels. I sink my nose into them as I fold and I smell the sun and remember summer.

* Donning hat, fluffy slippers, shawl when the sun is gone and I nestle in for the night.