« Best. Meme. Ever. | Main | A World Without Writers »
Illness in the Family...and sunshine means quite a lot to me
It's the Friday before Thanksgiving. The college kids are heading homeward next week. Lori Perdue left this morning, heading back to the warmth of her family, after her hearing yesterday. Last night we had a small activist's salon at our house, a family gathering, really, and an opportunity to process the past few weeks.
(Lori is scheduled for a hearing in January, but she is filing a motion to dismiss, which seems likely to happen since the police report is vague and tepid; deliberately, we think).
Everyone at the table last night has been struggling with one thing or another lately, but mostly the recurring theme is the breakdown of the human body and the need for repair. From the challenges of bipolar disorder to major depression to dislocated shoulders, to Richard's surgery today to remove a growth on his neck, the need for good and productive medical interventions was a topic of conversation.
We have seen in our DCP community the same issues lately: woz's surgery, monkey's heart repairs, ABQ John's wife Linda's health issues, and more of us facing similar concerns in our family.
Aside from the obvious connection to healthcare and insurance issues, which we all understand we are somewhat privileged to have few concerns about at the moment, I have been pondering the metaphor of breakdown of the body.
I have described 9-11 as a wound to New York City and Washington, and an effective invasive attack. The virus that was released by that attack was, and is, fear. Fighting fear is as difficult as fighting a lethal virus. And often, when we are fighting a lethal virus, the body goes into a series of breakdowns that are related to the battle with the virus , even if the virus eventually is eradicated or subsumed.
We are battle-weary, aren't we? I feel many of us are turning inward, to heal and recoup some of the fissures and disconnects that are the result of months, YEARS, of fighting against fear, ignorance, intolerance, and injustice. At the same time, I marvel at our ability to keep going, to stay alive and in the moment, caring for our families, communities, country, planet while the inner battles go on as well.
Yesterday we talked about 9-11 in my dance history class. We remembered that in the weeks and months that followed, not much art was developed--no auditions, no production meetings, the stage lights were dark. But people did not stop singing and dancing. In fact, it was the singing and dancing together that brought healing and recovery to the community. 9-11 reminded us that our bodies are vulnerable to attacks from lethal sources, but we can hold hands and move in a circle and find the powerful sounds and actions to care for each other when necessary.
Next week is Thanksgiving. Today is Richard's surgery. Let's have warm thoughts for each other, wish the travelers safe journeys, and sing and dance with friends, OK?
Sunshine Sunshine
(James Taylor)
Sounds of laughter here comes Sunshine
Smiling faces all around
They possess you bless you Sunshine
Now you can never let them down
I say Sunshine
Sunshine, Sunshine
Is that a cloud across your smile or did you dream again last night
It's best you rest inside a while as blue doesn't seem to suit you right
Things ain't what they used to be pain and rain and misery
Illness in the family and Sunshine means a lot to me
I say Sunshine
But could it be Sunshine is drifting with midnight
And lonely when everyone's gone
Blue crystal spirits and gardens in moonlight
Leave weak alone and bleak all quiet and grey by dawn
Sunshine Sunshine
Rising too late to chase the cold and failing to change the frost to dew
She's trading her mood of yellow gold for frost bitten shades of silver
blue
Friends and lovers past and gone and no-one waiting further on
I'm running short of things to be and Sunshine means quiet a lot to me
I say Sunshine... Sunshine
18 Comments
Leave a comment
Not registered? Click on 'Sign-in' above and then select 'Sign up' in the lower right corner. Don't forget to click on the link in the confirmation email that will be sent to your email address.
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darlin' I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been clear
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' it's been a long cold lonely winter
Little darlin' it feels like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Little darlin' the smiles returning to their faces
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been here
Here comes the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Sun, sun, sun, here it comes
Little darlin' I feel the ice is slowly meltin'
Little darlin' it seems like years since it's been clear
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
And I say it's all right
Here come the sun, here comes the sun
It's all right, it's all right
Sending Richard best wishes... hoping that he can continue to put in hard work for what's right, for years and years to come.
Sitting in the waiting room--the surgery was delayed by earlier surgeries with complications. Thanks for all good wishes here.
He will be staying overnight at this point.
For Richard - lots of positive energy and thoughts for your surgery and the aftermath. Hopefully it's well and truly over now, and I can send that energy for your recovery.
Karen - great thread header, as usual. How right you are. I feel that way most of the time. Yesterday this very thing hit me. I was hit in the gut by the *old* pain, not the surgery pain and it really spooked me. My plan is for a minimum of 5 years great health.
And then I realised what sent me to my bed in the afternoon. I watch lots of news coverage and current affairs on the two commercial free networks. Only one now, sadly. George Bush was speaking about the stupidity of Congress trying to tell the military leaders how to end the Iraq war. Anger is a bad emotion, I've decided. And I have to stop setting myself up for it.
Anger rarely achieves much other than to make us sick. We have to get beyond the anger towards our journalists and oppositions in government. I saw an interview with Rod Stewart a week ago. He said that he is besotted by his little 18 month old son. "He is such a little ray of sunshine when he gets out of bed in the morning. And he stays that way most of every day."
And I remembered that with my second son. He woke so happy in the morning he certainly turned on the sun in me. We need to nurture ourselves because I fear this struggle we are engaging in together, is making us sick. We mustn't let go of the struggle. But we must maintain the best health to struggle well.
Good wishes coming your way, Richard, and Karen.
An irish blessing from Johnny Depp (?):
“May the wind always be on your back and the sun upon your face and may the winds of destiny carry you aloft to dance with the stars.”
Hair - Let the Sunshine In
Carol: I just showed that clip to my dance class! Thanks for it.
Just got home from the hospital--Richard resting nicely and minus the neck thing, so all is good for the moment. He was quite silly and loopy for a bit and then he just settled down.
Very sweet to care for people, isn't it?
Karen: Glad to hear all is well. I hope it is a restful night for both of you.
And that the sun is shining in the morning!
We should all stop and let the sun shine on our faces when we can. It is good for the soul, and the vitamin D doesn't hurt the psyche either.
Thanks, Karen. Linda and I will keep Richard in our thoughts tonight and hope he recovers quickly. Also wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a Happy Turkey Day! Love to all.
abq
Happy Thanksgiving, ABQ John!
Sending warm wishes Linda's way, in hopes of good days this coming week. Be well, both of you.
ABQ John
Glad to see you here again. I hope Linda is doing well... Sending her my best wishes.
Please come back visit us more often!
Karen,
Glad to hear that Richard has come out of the surgery well. I know the silly talk. Sadly, I always remember my silly talk.
Carol, you're right about the vitamin D. Here in Australia, with the constant use of SPF+20 creams that we cover our children with plus clothing that won't let the sunshine through, plus every child wearing a hat - and now sunglasses too, there is a major deficiency in vitamin D. I suspect this is a problem the world over.
Down here in Tasmania where the biggest hole in the Ozone is above us, it's kind of Do I or Don't I? And for me now with a medication warning to stay out of the sun altogether, maybe it's time to buy the fake stuff.
Thinking about all of you this Thanksgiving week.
Karen, good to hear that Richard is doing ok.
ABQ and Linda, take care. We're thinking about you.
Woz, you sound like you're doing much better.
And Monkey, you got a nice heart going--guess we gotta call you the "tin man." Always knew you were all heart!
Please delete my double post if it's annoying - I was not recleared to do that ... ???
Best recovery & recup to my birthday twin Richard!!
Sorry to hear about Dick's surgery. I hope it went well, and that his recovery will be swift. And about everyone else's health challenges as well.
Karen and richard-- I just saw this article.I was very sorry to hear about Richard's surgery, but very very glad to know that it went well. Your post was beautiful. As is your wonderful habit, your piece, as usual, brought some light to our collective and individual troubles.