Perfection Does Not Just "Happen"

Rain

“And in this moment, like a swift intake of breath, the rain came.” ― Truman Capote, Other Voices, Other Rooms

We're into our second full day of rain.  I love rain.  I especially love Florida rain...heavy, big drops ping ping pinging on the windows.  In the video above, I opened the front door and sat in the great room for a long time just enjoying the sights and sounds Mother Nature was providing.  Today, it's more of the same, with low rolling thunder added for emphasis.

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Rain

(Shel Silverstein 1930-1999)

I opened my eyes

And looked up at the rain,

 And it dripped in my head

 And flowed into my brain,

 And all that I hear as I lie in my bed

Is the slishity-slosh of the rain in my head.

 I step very softly,

 I walk very slow,

I can't do a handstand--

I might overflow,

 So pardon the wild crazy thing I just said--

 I'm just not the same since there's rain in my head.

Piece by Piece

“To be bitter is to attribute intent and personality to the formless, infinite, unchanging and unchangeable void. We drift on a chartless, resistless sea. Let us sing when we can, and forget the rest..”
― H.P. Lovecraft

I cried today because I threw away a covered tin that was originally filled with little wrapped sweets.  I used to have dozens of tins of varied sizes and colors.  You know the ones I mean, the kind that those Danish Butter Cookies that people who want to give you a gift but don't know you very well or know what you like tend to give at Christmas. You save them to give away your own homemade baked good during the holidays.  Holding up the Cadbury's Heroes Tin, I looked at John and asked, "Do you think I should just throw this away?  I mean, I guess with these hands I'm never going to make Christmas cookies by the dozens again, am I?"  He said, "Oh throw the damned thing away.  Throw them all away.  Who cares?  We'll buy cookies."  So I threw the tin in all of it's shiny gaudy purple Cadbury's Heroes glory into the kitchen trash can.  And then I cried a little.

It's hard to explain to regular people why I cried.  I cried because throwing away that stupid tin I dragged all the way back from England wasn't about the tin.  It wasn't even about the cookies.  I cried because every so often some really little thing like throwing a way the tin sneaks up and slaps me in the face, reminding me that I have a handicap.  Most of the time, I'm pretty unaware of it.  Well no, let me rephrase that...most of the time I refuse to acknowlege, even to myself, that I have anything wrong with me. 

I can't do up buttons or zippers.  When I want to go to the bathroom, I have to ask someone to do the zippering and buttoning for me.  People say, "Why don't you wear pants with elastic waistbands?"   I can't write any more.  I am down to typing with two fingers.  People say, "why don't you just make an X on your checks?"  "Why don't you get Dragon Speak for the computer?"  There are so many small motor things I can no longer do.  The list is huge.  Just imagine going through your day wearing mittens.  And then, just imagine, if you've been right-handed for almost fifty years, having to retrain your brain to recognize that you are now left-handed and to send all messages to what used to be "the wrong hand." 

What I have learned is this. I won't wear elastic waist pants because that's not a style choice I'd make if I didn't have these hands.  I won't make an X instead of struggling to sign my name because I used to have beautiful writing.  And, for Chrissakes, I used to teach cursive handwriting, beautiful, perfect Zaner-Bloser penmanship.  I'm not ready to make only one letter of the alphabet to represent Me, Dana.  I'm more than that.  I am unique; and, by the way, so are YOU.  We're more than any X can signify. I won't use Dragon Speak on this computer until there is absolutely no other way for me to have written communication, no other way for me to stay in touch via email or to mess around on Facebook or do this sometimes neglected but always loved little blog of mine. 

I guess the bottom line is this...I will persevere until I just can't.  I've learned humility since that diagnosis of Multifocal Motor Neuropathy fourteen years ago.  As the disease has slowly progressed, I've learned to ask for help.  Learning that was such a huge huge psychological obstacle for me to overcome.  Asking for help goes against my stubborn, independent nature. But, I did learn to ask for help and in doing so I learned how very wonderful my fellow humans are, how pleased people are to be asked, how good it makes others feel to help someone in need. I guess one day, I'll wear those ugly old lady stretch pants.  And, one day I'll do Dagon Speak, but you won't know it.  That's part of the beauty of cyber space, we're all perfect here.  Look at Stephen Hawking and his exquisite mind.  He's a superstar in pixels. 

Until any of those days come though, I am remaining stubborn and hard-headed.  I believe that everytime I give something up because I have a handicap, because whatever it is frustrates me, because it's too hard or because I have to find a new way of doing it or because I have to ask for help, everytime I hesitate or give up doing it, I am giving up a piece of me, a piece of myself and what I like and what I do and what I want to do for others that gives both them and me pleasure.  Pretty soon,I am afraid that if I do the giving up often enough, sliver by sliver, piece by piece, there won't be any of me left.  I'll dissolve into nothingness and disappear.  I don't want that to happen.

All that being said, the final thing I wish to say is that none of you are getting Christmas cookies from me this year...deal with it.

"Each handicap is like a hurdle in a steeplechase, and when you ride up to it, if you throw your heart over, the horse will go along, too."

- Lawrence Bixby

Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Salad

Note: repost of a recipe that somehow seems to have wandered away from its original webpage home.

Busy Busy Busy...

We will be fifteen for today's combination Independence Day/Birtthday Celebration.  If you're at all stuck for a holiday dish recipe, here's what I threw together this morning.   We do not eat mayo.  We neither like it nor the calories that tag along with it.  Today's offering is usually liked by everyone for it's bacon flavor and crunchy vegetables.

Pennsylvania Dutch Potato Salad

6 potatoes (I used 2.5 lbs of baby new potatoes**) Do not overcook!!

2 beaten eggs

4 tbsp. light vinegar (to taste & I used Tarragon vinegar)

6 tbsp. water

4 tbsp. sugar (to taste)

6 slices bacon, diced and sauteed

5 scallions (spring onion, sliced very thin including tops

3 stalks celery including leaves, finely diced

About 4 tbsp or more of the bacon drippings)

3 diced hard boiled eggs

 salt & pepper

 

 Cube potatoes while hot. (I used the baby potatoes and cut them in half. They are always fresh and super tasty. I like them peeled but it's opional. To peel the little potatoes, grab each half with a finger on each side and gently squeeze a bit. The skin usually just pops off i your fingers)

 In same pot you cooked potatoes, fry bacon until crisp. Drain off all but the 4 tbsp drippings..

 Mix beaten eggs, vinegar, water, sugar and salt and pepper. Pour this mixture over bacon in a pan and cook until mixture becomes thickened. Stir constantly!!!

 Pour over potatoes and garnish with diced hard boiled egg .

 

Sweet Lorraine

Admit it...you cried. And, if you didn't, you should have.