I’ve heard a few people refer to 2010 as “Oh Ten,” which is good for a giggle followed by accidental repetition like “strategery.”
2009 started as 2008 ended. In a miasma of travel, friends, travel, food, travel, nosebleeds and travel. D and I had decided that we would not even look at an airport for a while, but just as soon as we said it, D was dragged away to business in Florida this morning. Somewhere in the jet fuel, he and I exchanged second anniversary kisses. I hear celebrating the second year of marriage entails gifts of cotton. Here, my love, have some nice, fluffy cotton sheets to sleep on and a Q-Tip so you can hear me when I say, “I love you, but you’re hogging the bed again.”
Because we can’t have merry-jolly for more than five minutes at a time in these here parts: Our next-door neighbor was found dead of an accidental drug overdose and, yesterday afternoon, a PHI helicopter crashed in the marshes of southwest Terrebonne Parish, killing 6 contractors and both pilots on their way to Shell’s Cougar 301 facility. All we know is that NTSB will investigate the crash and all flights have been grounded until further notice. I’ve flown out of Amelia before and have remarked on the serenity and beauty of the flight and view. Not so for these people. My sincere condolences to the families and friends of the dead and wishes for a speedy recovery to the sole survivor.
Many resolutions floated around in my head on December 31st – lose twenty pounds through regular exercise, introduce more salads and complex carbs into my diet, create time to write well and learn how to use a sewing machine – until I realized that such promises of change are useless until we make ways for them happen. Some health professionals agree: “When we resolve to change, it needs to come with a strategy to change. Simply saying you want to do something does not fuel the change. Consider the strategy and outline the process of change that is simple and realistic.” For instance, a friend who has increased considerably in dress size since the birth of her children told me that she doesn’t want to get rid of a closetful of Size 6 clothing because she may lose all that weight. Ever the queen of giving great advice but not heeding it myself, I said, “If you cannot make one hour in your day for vigorous, cardiovascular exercise, give those clothes away now.” I’ve decided to follow my own advice regarding those cute Size Medium tops that stare at me each morning yearning to be worn. You should know that, really, this isn’t about dress sizes and shedding vanity pounds, it’s about taking control of health, telling yourself you don’t have to live in Stress Mode even if you’re living in Debrisville and not mentally and physically wrecking yourself further. My brother likes to remind me that my eggs aren’t getting any younger and he’s right. If I want to create healthy new life with them, I’d best get mine in order. To that end, we do what we can and not what we want to or the impossible.
With that in mind, we plunge headfirst into Carnival Season (Epiphany is tomorrow, y’all). Don’t forget to come to the Krewe du Vieux parade on February 7th. We know, the website has not been updated since last season and someone is working on it, we think. I’m probably going to be so mired in checks, MS Excel and QuickBooks until then that you should probably remind me to make it to my own parade. Save me, Jeebus!
So, allow me to start off this new year with Job’s prayer to Yahweh, as told by Woody Allen, “Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory. Thou hast a good job. Don’t blow it.”
Actually I was thinking “Oh-Ten” might be a phrase shouted in the middle of especially good sex…but that’s just too naughty.
Oh, damn, did I post that? Shee-it.
Girl, I’m going to tell your temple on you. For the shame.
I gave up New Years resolutions in favor of New Years solutions last year; I picked a dozen things that were either low-level irritations or things I’d not made the time to handle/deal with/fix and dispatched them as required during the month of January. The sense of satisfaction derived was sufficient to repeat the technique this year… I’m pleased to note that out of the 12 items identified and listed, three have already been addressed and another three (including the two most time-consuming and labor-intensive) are well underway. Sometimes something as simple or mundane as finally fixing the dripping shower head can make a big difference in one’s general satisfaction or sense of accomplishment.
In hindsight, resolving one of last year’s issues was the tipping point in my choosing to move back to New Orleans. Going wireless at home so I could listen to WWOZ anywhere in my non-NOLA residence set the ball rolling that resulted in the relocation plans being finalized. You never know what gets put into motion with a small change being wrought… I just wish I could feel as good about my new and somewhat shocking (at least to me) dependence on reading glasses — also one of last year’s solutions. If the point is to improve one’s general quality of life, then I can honestly say that the “solutions” strategy has paid handsome dividends.