Friday, January 21, 2022

I THINK I'VE GOT IT!

 Now do not get so excited. I do not have the cure for the ills of the world, though maybe.... What I do have is a cure for insomnia, guaranteeing a sound, deep and refreshing sleep. "What is it, you ask?" Well, read the blog and find the cure for yourself. Where pieces are missing in your life, try to find a substitute. It works, trust me on that. Unfortunately, I will have to re-engineer the cure as of Sunday afternoon. Sadly so, but ever hopeful of an exciting re-do.

So, spill already! Okay, first step is the main ingredient. Import a loveable, exciting, curious, energetic 11-year-old, Enjoy the hugs and the questions, the wonder at the world and its contents, not like our jaded eyes, and just go with the flow. All day and into the night. Be prepared to look at the world in new ways, reenergizing yourself, reintroducing you to the possibilities of every day and every hour of that day.

Next step. Ignore the ills of the day for once. Recognize that your voice is but one in a crowd of protesters, of those in agony at our current path.  Fixings will have to wait another day or two or three. Or never, but back to the joy and the cure.

We moan and gripe about the wildlife around us. We complain about the long way we need to drive to get around the many - actually too few and threatened- nature land preserved for now and the future. Instead, observe, wonder, roam and wander. See the glory of the world, the shared traits among them - and ourselves too.

Take the time to seek out the birds around us. I enjoyed quite long, intelligent lectures by a certified ornithologist, already published with an article about birding, I learned to see those annoying iguanas in another light, as we observed them at different times of the day. And I learned that bringing mud in the house was not a catastrophe, for cleanup was possible, no harm done, and a shower cleans the rest.

The learning, the excitement, the energy - all are contagious. But no rest yet for the weary septuagenarian. Nor wanted. Not ready yet to call it quits. Too many hours of the day remain, to be filled with more fun, more knowledge and more hugs and kisses, including the notorious "squooshy hug". Beware, for it captures the heart with no return on that.

Lunch! Ah!!! Double ah. Can sit for a while, even as the chatter continues. Excitement about new dishes and a willingness to try them, much better than his grandmother. Too old to change for me. A devouring of the entire portion, unlike we old folk who shlep home a doggie box for the remainders. So refreshing. Not to forget the sundae dessert. On again, rest done with. 

To the joys of inner excitement, where blessedly, I can sit and share intellectual pursuits with the young man. We discuss the series he is currently reading, devouring. We introduce him to the challenges of sudoku and mini crosswords. We discuss the building of a birdhouse, and aha! He loves my wall art, calling it cool and then, bless him, asks who did it so no bias there at all. Knew he was a brilliant kid!

And so it continued, even as we left him for a show celebrating Tina Turner, a much-admired icon of my life. Emulating his enthusiasm, I bought into the whole gestalt of the concert. I sang, I rocked, I even danced, albeit a bit, and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was indeed special to see the old folks and the young folks enjoy the same music, admire the same genius, the strength to overcome a disastrous relationship.

Upon arriving home close to eleven what did we discover? An 11-year-old young man enjoying and discussing the pros and cons of entrants in a cooking show. Finally, it all quieted down, and we all went to sleep, gearing up for yet a most magnificent day to follow. Whatever the weather. The weather around this kid is always magnificent, always sunny and clear. And bless the boy, I slept like a log, overslept even, the best! Though now I must rush for an early morning appointment and then return to wile away the hours again with my magic young man. Not to forget those hugs and kisses, that open awe and joy in life that blaze away in his beautiful blue eyes.

A great and most wonderful cure to insomnia.

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