On my way home from work on Friday night, I was in stop-and-go traffic behind a guy in a silver Miata with a black top. It was the earlier version of the Miata, the version with the plastic window, which he had unzipped. It made me smile, because I remembered that I used to do that, too, sometimes when I had mine. Yes, before the 2002 Miata I own now, I owned a 1992 Miata. What can I say, I love those little cars.
The thing I noticed about him beyond his car, was that he had a tick. I don’t know if he had Turret’s syndrome or what, but every 30 seconds or so, his body forced him to turn his head to his right, bobble it a couple times, while he mouthed a few words, and then he faced forward again. Over and over it went.
At first I thought it was kind of funny, then as time passed and we all slowly crept forward together, stuck on the freeway in a proximity closer than any of us wanted, I couldn’t help but think how exhausting that must be for him. Time after time I watched his head turn quickly, bobble, his car would mildly swerve in sync, and then he regained control, faced forward and acted as if everything was normal. It was normal for him. His normal.
Isn’t that what we all try to do? Move forward with each of our versions of “normal?” Whatever that may be?
Yesterday was the annual Green Dinner event at Tony’s church. It’s an event that we start talking about when we put our Valentine’s decorations away and bring out our St. Patrick’s Day decorations. It’s an event I always enjoy, where they serve delicious corned beef, potatoes, carrots, cabbage and cake (CAKE!!). This year, while the venue was a bit smaller and there were no Irish dancers, I still immensely enjoyed everything that was offered. Plus, visiting with the Seniors (Tony’s parents), and the Steve/Marigold/Huck/Milo Show made for a perfect evening, as far as I was concerned.
Today I got back in the pool for the first time in a month and a half. I felt like I needed to for my own sanity, but I was scared to do so, because I thought for sure I’d miscarry right then and there. The doctor tells you not to do something and suddenly it becomes Bad. Yet in a “normal” pregnancy, swimming would be Good. The mind is a funny thing sometimes.
The act of swimming felt weird to me after so long of a break. Although they knew what they were supposed to be doing, my arms felt like uncoordinated noodles. I was also ultra-aware of what muscles I was using to accomplish what came so easily to me not that long ago. The most surprising thing to me, though, was that I didn’t get winded at all… my stamina and endurance hadn’t changed much. Which is to say that I didn’t find myself huffing and puffing at all, and I was pleased with that. I guess I was in better shape than I had thought.
It was such a beautiful day here today. Tony refilled the bird feeders in our back yard and the sun was so warm and bright, I went outside and thought, “Wow, I bet it would feel wonderful just to lie down and look up at the sky…” And so I did. Then I fell asleep and ended up taking a 45 minute nap, lying on the warmed concrete in our back yard, with the sun shining warmly on my skin and a slight breeze stirring the leaves of the Eucalyptus tree behind me. I had a nap in the oasis, such as it is, of my own back yard.
Then I had to get up and do chores.
Normal. My normal.
Jammie J's Quest 
Yes, cake, almost grass to lie on (warm ground anyway), swim.
Sure beats the snow and all the cloudy weather here.
I sure need to come back.
Love you,
🙂
Love you, too.
What a great post. 🙂
Man, that must be exhausting for that guy…
Your nap sounds delicious. I want to get back into bed…
Why is it that when we’re kids we hate to go to bed for fear we’ll miss something. Then as adults, we can’t wait to go to bed and really wish we could miss a lot of the things we fear? 🙂
xo
Your normal sounds good to me. Much better than normal people’s normals. 😉
Have a great week!
Hmmm, well, I was having a good “normal” day, I guess. 🙂
Thanks, you have a good week, too. 🙂
the sun can be so rejuvenating. i love to stand near my back door with the sun shining in and just let it wrap around me and warm me up. i am glad you had such a nice nap 🙂
I love the warmth of the sun. It feels soooooo good, doesn’t it? 🙂
I wish I could have a do-over of all good naps. *happy sigh*
I love taking naps and Green Dinner and I love you sweetie, NANANANANA
XXOXOXOXOX
Mmmm, Green Dinner and naps. 🙂
xoxo
Doesn’t that sound like a post card, lying on your back staring at the clouds? Sounds like a little slice of heaven.
Definitely was a bit of heaven here on earth. Very enjoyable.
It is interestimg what you said about that young man and how exhausting that must be…His “normal” sounds very tiring to me….!
Was all the food Green at The Green Dinner? It doesn’t look like it from that picture…lol!
It had to feel really GOOD to be swimming once again….
The weather has been lovely, hasn’t it? How nice to take a nap in your own backyard, my dear….!
After awhile I couldn’t help but realize what a pain in the neck that must be for him. Literally.
hehe… no, I just call it Green Dinner because it’s food for St. Patrick’s day.
I can’t believe how beautiful it’s been here this week. *happy sigh*
Glad you are swimming again – that is a good non impact exercise method. Around here all the big hotel pools opened March 15 (heated of course)
I love swimming so much… I can’t wait for my community pool to be heated again. One more month, one more month…
Have I said how much I enjoy your banner above. The New Year’s Day parade flowers and a super great picture of both you and Tony!
Love you,
You just did. Good memories from that day. 🙂
Love you, too.
Normal is good. Normal is…. well….normal. 🙂
I’m glad you have Normal.
Normal is as normal does… 🙂
lol. i know, right? must be part of growing up or something. 😛
Grrr, I hate growing up. 🙂