Posted in 2022, life, Religion

Troubling Thoughts

I’ve spent the last 2 years reading a daily bible verse or two accompanied by the author’s thoughts in “God’s Wisdom for Women” (or something similar). It usually sets me straight for my day.

Friday, June 24th, I read the verse from 1 Corinthians 14:33 that says, “God is not a God of disorder but of peace – -as in all the congregations of the Lord’s people.” This is the wording from the New International Version. Pretty simple, makes you feel good right?

Well, there are times I like to go to my bible and read more of the chapter and I was kind of shocked to read what followed in Verse 34-35: “Women should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.”

I think any type of good feeling disappeared at that moment! Such bullshit! This isn’t God’s word, these are words strung together by men to keep women then and now in their places. I believe in God, and I pray to God regularly, but that really shook me. I believe God wants all of us to have a voice and for those voices to be heard. But you know, people conveniently point to the bible when it suits them to say “see, right here in the bible” to their wives, children, friends, and congregations.

And then, ironically, Roe v. Wade was overturned that same afternoon. But that’s a story for another day.

Posted in life

Past, Present, Future

I believe we are being guided by someone(s), and that when we were born, and our bodies can tell so much about ourselves.

My sister gave me a diary for Christmas when I was 10. I think it was the first time I saw astrology listings and descriptions. I’m a Taurus (4/22) born in the cusp of Aries. One is a homebody, and the other very social. Two very different personalities and I used to say “I’m a loner who likes to go out and meet people” or “I’m a partier who’d rather be home!” 2 different lives.

In my late 20s, shortly after my mother died, and after I met my future husband (and they were linked spiritually), I had a palm reading done. It was my first experience with this and it was very enlightening in that it saw an inner turmoil inside me. Although I was working on the belief of “don’t reveal too much because they’ll jump on that”, in hindsight it’s what has followed me for almost 35 years.

She talked about my “closed throat” and asked questions as to why I thought that was. Of course, I had no idea. I’d never been a talker of emotions until I had a few beers in me and then watch out!, you’d be looking for your exit moment. I really thought it just all related to my leaving and I guess thoughts left unsaid with that and with my mother’s passing.

Since then I’ve met with mediums who have brought forth my parents along with other ancestors. For my first reading I was told to bring questions for them, but I had no idea what type of questions! I really didn’t want a prediction of the future! But even without questions, the multitude of people who said “hello” was astonishing, and comforting.

Subsequent readings have brought forth my parents and my mother in law. My father has given business advice “yes daddy, you did know what you were talking about”; my mother to let me know “you have always been like this honey – taking everything on and holding everything in, and just caring too much about everyone else.”

My palm reading showed two life lines. I interpreted that at the time to mean my life with my family and my life with friends, or maybe my new life ahead when in 2 weeks I was moving from Connecticut to California to live with my future husband whom I met on vacation! Not so fast….

Years later I bought an astrology book that took the date, location, and time you were born and you map out your charts. Based on that, there is a section on the self you show to the world and your inner self. Mine are absolute opposites. It would make you wonder how can that be? They’d have to be a Jekyll and Hyde! Remember those 2 life lines?

Yesterday I had a tarot card reading at an event in Southington. I had never met Joanne before but I liked her face in her picture and the time worked! When I walked in, she said a red Fox came in with me. And not a little one, it was big! A quick search shows it signifies “you take your time and are cautious about your approach to life” – very true, very intriguing!

She immediately saw conflict within me. She sensed in my professional life that I’m “a force” but in my personal life I was to retreat and be a wallflower “don’t look at me”. I need to work to find balance between the two. Remember those 2 life lines?

After picking my favorite number and color (which was numerology and which deck to use), she shuffled the deck 7 times and each time read what she saw in the shuffle before she neatened them. Each was very enlightening and never once did I think “nah, you got that wrong”.

Then it was on to three card reading – past, present, future. I gave her to them in the order I pulled them. What did they reveal?

My present card revealed excitement “eat, drink, and be merry” while my future card revealed my need to carry everything bottled up inside of me. 2 lives. The forceful professional me, and the retreating personal me. Which is even the “real” me? The problem is, I can’t do that to myself anymore. I’ve got to open up that “closed throat” and share my pain as well as my excitement. Through conversations, through writing, through meditation, and I think (and Joanne said it would be wise to), through therapy.

I’m hoping this is a new beginning for me. I already know there are no accidental meetings! I was meant to go yesterday, I was meant to have this reading to put the pieces together and know I have to follow the signs to being those 2 lives into 1 strong life.

Posted in friends, life

Life and Death

I’m spending the early part of this day grocery shopping, paying bills, and puttering around as I wait for 3pm to get changed to head on over to a wake and funeral service for a friend who died on Monday from heart-related complications from Covid. She was 48 years old, wife, mother of a 17 year old and 12 year old.

I met her in 1997 when she came to work at the insurance brokerage I worked at and it was maybe her second job after graduating college. She sat right across the small aisle from me and was always asking questions, sometimes the same over and over. I know that annoyed me but I also know we talked and laughed a lot! She was 14 years younger than me and would come with me to my son’s second and third-grade concerts that were held during the school day.

After I left, we lost touch. I then discovered she and her husband bought a house in the same town I was in less than a 1/2 mile from mine! We reconnected again and after her youngest child was in pre-school, she came to work for us. It was another case of a lot of talking, and not always a lot of work getting done! But I really enjoyed her company and I felt like I was the older voice she sometimes needed to hear (not that she ever took my advice!).

But eventually, we needed full-time help and she couldn’t give me that so we had to part ways. It was probably best for her because she got a job in the school system and was able to have summers and vacation time off to be with her kids.

We didn’t stay in touch very much. We were Facebook friends but that is pretty superficial. I know she was happy at the school as a paraprofessional for kindergarten and she was planning on getting her masters in special education. She loved her family so much and would do anything for her kids.

I was alerted to her death on Monday evening because a few of my friends are also in the school system. When the system-wide email went out, one friend checked and saw I was friends with her and messaged me. I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since.

It’s not that I haven’t had friends or relatives die at a young age, but I don’t think I’ve experienced this suddenness before and it’s unsettling. It seems ridiculous to even think “oh she’s looking over them now” because she should be HERE with them. I have no words for comfort. I just keep praying for her husband and children, her mother and brother, and her best friend who has been a constant presence in her and her family’s lives. That’s all I can do.

Posted in life

Sugary Hangover

I have been eating super clean since early November with occasional (T-Day, Christmas) little splurges of treats.

But yesterday for my husband’s birthday we had family over and had pizza, and a Carvel ice cream cake, and cupcakes (because I think my son thinks I’m a heathen and would not have something to stick a candle in). I had the pizza, I had the cake and although I was going to save the cupcake, I ate it bit by “I’m not going to eat anymore” bit.

I woke up in the middle of the night to gagging on acid from the reflux of food I ate quickly confirming that my new eating habits were the right choice for me.

This morning I feel like the morning after an alcoholic binge – a shaky, somewhat weep mess. I don’t even drink anymore for that exact “oh lord what did I do/say” reason <– which really hasn’t been a problem for a number of years, but one alcoholic drink will have that affect on me.

Or maybe it’s all because I lost an hour of sleep in the time change….

Posted in 2021, Goals, life

Welcome to 2021!

I don’t usually use New Years as a time to start at 0 or set goals. I like to use my birthday to re-set and I’ve given up on goals because I’m afraid to fail so why bother.

But this year is different I’m sure you’ll all agree. In the words of Queen Elizabeth in 1992, it was “annus horribilis”.

It started out great! Plenty of jobs on the books, a trip to Cabo with friends, and then the creepy crawly tendrils started wending their way into our lives. 

I remember first it was “wash your hands!”  We were still only at that phase when we went to Maine for a long weekend. It was another couple of weeks before the shit really hit the fan.

That came in the middle of March and places were closing down and we were like “what the f….”. What else was there to do but close down for a week to at least figure out what was going to happen. Fortunately one job just finished up, one was exterior work, and the other a bathroom that didn’t impact the homeowners too much.

But enough of that. It was just mentally a tough year for us all. People working from home, with kids learning remotely.  People with no jobs at home. People (like us) who were still working everyday and praying everyone would stay safe (they have!).

And then there was the election. OMG that election. I think it’s still going on. Do we have a winner? I’m not really sure.

So why do I feel like entering 2021 I need to re-set? I think I just want to shake off the germs of 2020.

Why do I feel like this year of all years I want to set goals? Mainly because I’m 60 and if I can’t set a goal because I’m afraid of failure, that means I’ve still got a lot to learn.

Posted in life

Getting Older

As I edge towards my 60th birthday, I can’t help but to start thinking about my mortality. In my 20s, 30s and even 40s, I think I felt so invincible. Aside from the achy right hip, even now I work out every morning to Jillian Michaels Ripped in 30 or 30 day Shred or a Firm workout but I still can’t help but think what’s in store for me in the coming years.

My mother died the day before her 65 birthday from brain cancer. Not a cancer that she lived with that traveled to her brain but out and out Brain Cancer. Glio-blastoma Multiforme. The most aggressive cancer that begins within the brain. Nightmare. Diagnosed January 31, 1987 and died April 4, 1987.

So I can’t help but think.