Thanksgiving Playlist
So easy picking my playlist—song, actually—for this Thanksgiving. I’m Counting My Blessings ala Bing and Rosemary as I prepare our Thanksgiving Feast.
As I dice and slice and whip and bake, I am keenly aware of how blessed me and mine are to have all we have and live as we live.
That first Thanksgiving, a 3-day long feast which included fowl, 4 deer, shellfish, cranberries, maybe, but no mashed potatoes and definitely no pie (potatoes hadn’t been introduced to the New World yet, and the Pilgrims lacked butter and flour for crust) was a celebration of a successful 1621 harvest.
It did not mean the end of hard times for the Pilgrims. Even as they feasted, I’m sure the Pilgrims were keenly aware, as am I, that one certainly of our uncertain futures is that there will be difficult times ahead. Knowing this makes me even more grateful to be able to celebrate our harvest today.
Happy Thanksgiving! And thank you.
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When Stars and/or Trains Align . . . or not
My baby takes the morning train. Don't know about yours, but this baby just missed her train--by 7 minutes.
So I'm sitting in the railway station, sipping a latte, waiting for the next train--which will depart in 145 minutes. I reached the station at 5:45, the train departed at 5:33. 12 measly minutes.
Google "Rail-Car" this pops up
I'm formulating the story problems in my head:
Or Color Your Own Train...
If my flight landed at 4:30, and it took me forever to get through the viper of an immigration line, and even longer in the customs line only to arrive at the Airtrain Station just as one was pulling out, what should I have done in order to shave 12 or 15 minutes off my time?
- Jumped the queue?
- Sprinted up the escalator?
- Not used the washroom?
- None of the Above
- All of the Above
There's a food court of sorts at Jamaica Station. It consists of 3 shops--one being the "Air Bar" (Opens at 11)--and a section with tables and chairs. I have jingle in my pockets, my IPad in my bag and the timer set on my phone. I'm one of the lucky ones. All around me, people surrounded by bags sleep with their heads on the "Customer Only" tables. Judging by the look of them--mouths open, slumped, if they were customers, it was hours ago. I wonder which train they're waiting for...or if they know? Or care? Or are?
While I sip my latte, I'm thinking of the hours this delay is costing me. If only I'd checked the train times sooner—last night in the departure lounge. If only I'd know the train left at 5:33...
Would knowing have made a difference?
Most definitely!
Would I have been able to catch that earlier train? Who knows . . .
I do know is what I would have been doing if I had known the train’s departure time:
Instead of stretching my legs, clicking through messages, and wondering about all the other people waiting with me in those lines, my insides would have been buzzing like a hot switchboard, I would have been feeling like the lady a few bends of the queue back who bellowed out, "Hey Number 15! 17! 22! Get to Work! You are on the clock! Stopping chatting and take care of business!”
In my case, ignorance was bliss and no busted brain vessels.
Noooo this is not my latte. Mine was in a paper cup. Good news, click the pic and it will take you to a site with more cool latte art and a How-To U-Tube.
In the meantime I'll sip my latte, and be grateful the NY Deli only had everything bagels--with rye seeds--so I am not tempted to order one (with extra cream cheese) and do another story question:
If I were two people and one of me had managed to leap immigration & customs lines, my suitcase had rolled down the baggage carousel sooner than later, I hadn’t stopped to use the washroom, I had caught that earlier Airtrain in time to make the 5:33 train, that one would be seated at my computer sipping coffee and clicking on my computer, what would the other of me be doing?
The other of me that didn’t catch the 5:33 morning is sitting in the station, sipping a latte and clicking on my IPAD while waiting for the 8:03 train to Ronkonkoma. Coffee vs. Latte, Computer vs. IPAD, Coffee-Latte, Computer-IPAD...
When Stars and/or Trains Align Playlist:
- My Baby Takes the Morning Train by Sheena Easton
- Homeward Bound by Simon & Garfunkle
- Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is? by Chicago
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That Three Letter Loophole
“I try to…really I do… But…It’s just that…”
Almost every time I hear that word “try” (except when I use it, of course), the same memory springs to mind. I can’t recall where I was or when it happened:
"Try to lift it."
A man, perhaps a teacher or dinner companion, placed his hand on top if mine and said, “Try to lift your hand.”
I lifted my hand.
Shaking his head, disapprovingly, the man pressed my hand back down onto the table. “I said, ‘try to lift it.’”
Puzzled, I lifted my hand again.
He pushed it down again. “I didn’t say ‘lift your hand,’” he said. “I said ‘try to lift it.’”
Try. The three letter loophole.
Yes, this includes Mount Everest.
I tried to climb Mount Everest once—well, up to the Base Camp anyway. The plans were set. We had our gear. We had been training. But, at the last minute, our VISA requests were denied. It was a good try, and at least I tried. Spit in one hand, try with another, what do you get? One either climbs the highest peak in the world, or one doesn’t. One might start climbing and not reach the top. But that is not trying, that is climbing—doing. And yes, it is semantics. Some might say I’m “splitting hairs” even. That three letter loophole.
I do things. Lots of things. Most importantly, for purposes of this essay, when I say I’ll do a thing, I do it. For example, I said I would brush my teeth twice daily; floss; pay bills; babysit my grandson; eat leafy greens, and I do (except on rare occasion).
I try to do things, too: Return extra pounds to whomever owns them; exercise daily; stop using the word “cute”; call my mother . . . Try-schmy. Nobody ever does anything they “try” to do.
We do what we do. (Sally Bowles singing Mein Herr popped into my head as I typed that. I tried to resist, but…)
Where is this leading? To a confession: Since the beginning of the year I have been trying to finish several manuscripts. I’ve tried, really I have. And although I do spend several hours per day writing and/or on writing-related activities, despite all my trying, I have yet to succeed. After 10 frustrating months I have finally come to a decision: I am going to stop trying!
As of today, I am doing. One hour each day I am going to write. No excuses. No hall passes.
Mom’s Three Day Rule:
“If Mom’s three day rule worked to help her quit smoking, surely it will work to help me get back to creative writing.”
My mother always says it takes three days to make or break a habit. “Three days to make & three days to do & three days to set” she says (which is actually nine days, but somehow breaking it into 3 parts makes it easier.) If Mom’s three day rule worked to help her quit smoking, surely it will work to help me get back to creative writing.
And if, like me, there’s something you’re ready to stop trying, and start doing--and yes, I am talking to YOU! Writers who might be gearing up for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month). And YOU, too! Everyone else who wants to stop trying. Why not join me? Let’s do it!
To Do List:
First Gather Tools. We’re on a Hero’s Journey and heroes needs tools!
- Calendar: Hang it in a prominent place.
- Happy Jar: Choose a happy jar/vase/pail to serve as your “Reward Jar.” Keep it on the smallish side so the vast emptiness of the vessel won’t be discouraging. (You can always upsize.)Decorate it, if desired.
- Reward Token: Decide on a reward token of choice. It might be money, chocolate, toffee, jewels, lotto tickets, marbles, shells (or a combo of several).
See my Happy Jar? It's smallish, the 30 days of Doing size. I can upsize!
The Plan:
- Set: “To Do” Goal.
- Commit: I will Do It each day. (Fill in the Do IT with your Do)
- Track Progress: None of this X stuff; mark progress with a smiley face (mine’s red) on the calendar each day you DO IT!
- Reward! (No hard work should go unrewarded): Each day of Doing It earns one token
- Accountability counts! Miss a day/Lose a token. Take one out of your Happy Jar (No, you may not eat it!) Most importantly, tell yourself: Tomorrow, I’m back! I will Do It!
Do It for 3 days, then 3 days more, and three days after that, just think what we will have accomplished!
