Day 3387: A state of constant amazement

Yesterday, I was happy to see this sentence about a state of constant amazement in the book “1325 Buddhist Ways to be Happy” by Barbara Ann Kipfer.

I think I AM awake because I do seem to live in a state of constant amazement. Maybe that’s why I use the word “amazing” constantly.

When I went out for a walk in the 50 degree weather yesterday with no raincoat (because my iPhone told me there was no chance of precipitation), I was in a state of constant amazement because of

• the beauty that was all around me,
• the rain that started when I was far from home, and
• the amazing and almost biblical HAIL, from which I could find no escape and therefore decided to laugh at and enjoy.

Do you see the state of constant amazement in my other images for today?

I’m in a state of constant amazement about how things are never what you expect. Three years ago, on National Siblings Day, Michael and I decided to not worry for a year, because worry never helps anything. We didn’t know what was ahead of us from April 10, 2019 through April 10, 2020 (my son and I both getting shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, my speaking at my college reunion, Michael and I getting married, my getting COVID at a group therapy conference in NYC, the COVID lockdowns, our cat Oscar getting cancer, etc.) or we might have been in a state of constant amazement at our hope to not worry for that amazing year.

Here’s what I find on YouTube when I search for “a state of constant amazement.”

I’m in a state of constant amazement about what people go through in this world and the healing power of love.

Thanks to all who are sharing my state of constant amazement here and now, including YOU.

Day 2775: Overload

Yesterday, when I was in an elevator at Tufts Medical Center, overloaded with awareness AND worry about being out and about during the coronavirus pandemic, I saw this:

These days, we are dealing with an overload of

• bad news,
• uncertainty about the future,
• corruption,
• lies,
• trauma,
• injustice,
• deaths, and
• information (which is why I linked to a load of other material throughout this list).

Thankfully, I’ve had  an overload of  good care from my long-time cardiologist, Dr. Deeb Salem (featured in an overload of my previous posts here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here).

Even though this blog might have an overload of photos of Dr. Salem, here is another one from my appointment with him yesterday:

During the coronavirus pandemic, frontline health workers like Dr. Salem have to wear an overload of Personal Protective Equipment.  Dr. Salem, who has an overload of cardiology students wanting to work with him, told  one of them yesterday that he always schedules me for his last appointment of the day because we have an overload of things to talk about. Yesterday’s overloaded conversation included

• Dr. Salem’s personal experience of working with Dr. Anthony Fauci (who is “a very smart and very good guy”),
• discussions of my having had the coronavirus in March and possible lasting effects of that,
• scheduling an echocardiogram to make sure that there is no permanent damage to my heart because of COVID-19,
• the possibility of Dr. Salem and I writing a book together,
• my stating that Dr. Salem and I have an overload of respect and love for each other,
• Dr. Salem saying, “I think you’re doing great,” and
• scheduling our next overloaded appointment for the day after my 68th birthday in February.

Dr. Salem said he was interviewed on Boston TV recently about his experiences working with Dr. Fauci, but I can’t find that interview in the overload of videos out there about Dr. Fauci.

Here’s an overload of other photos from yesterday:

Michael overloads our plates with nutritious food, ever day.

Here‘s “Overload” by Zinnia, which has been loaded over 7 million times on YouTube.

I’m looking forward to an overload of comments, below.

As always, I have an overload of gratitude to all, including YOU.

Day 2742: Staggering

Our 18-year-old cat, Oscar, who has cancer, has been staggering, sometimes, when he walks. Otherwise, his appetite is good and he does not seem to be in pain. He continues to be a staggeringly sweet kitty who wants to be close to his family.

It is staggering to me ….

• What world leaders will do to hold onto power,
• The increase of coronavirus cases in the United States,
• That the U.S. President discourages testing and social distancing despite the recommendations of his own staff,
• How people can ignore facts and science because of fear, anger, and denial,
• How pernicious white male rage can be,
• How some people are valued over others,
• How kind, perceptive, and thoughtful my 22-year old son is,
• That my son Aaron thinks that people should have the option of euthanasia and animals should be allowed to die naturally,
• How long the line and wait was yesterday for Aaron to be tested for COVID-19,
• How quickly we got the good test results,
• How beautiful the South Shore of Boston is,
• How everything my husband Michael cooks is so delicious, and
• How great it is when the whole family is in the house.

Do you see anything staggering in my photos from yesterday ?

It is staggering to me that somebody posted a negative comment at the end of this article in the Deseret News starring yours truly.

https://www.deseret.com/platform/amp/indepth/2020/5/31/21264377/coronavirus-anthony-fauci-socks-quarantine-pandemic-covid-19-tees-tshirts-masks-etsy

It is staggering to me that

• Jennifer Graham, the awesome writer of that article, found me through this blog and
• the article links to this performance of my original song “Left the House Before I Felt Ready”!

My viewer numbers on YouTube are still less than staggering even after the publication of that story. However, I will keep staggering along in my pursuit of fame and fortune.

In the meantime, I am staggeringly grateful to all who follow me here, including YOU!

Day 2695: Nature

Since my nature is to observe nature (including human nature), it’s natural that I would write posts with nature in the title. However, this is only my fifth post out of two thousand seven hundred and thirty-one to use the word “nature” (see the other ones here, here,  here, and here) and the first one where “nature” stands alone.

Is it your nature to guess why I chose the title “nature”after looking at my photos from yesterday?

Is it your nature to choose your favorite photos of all of those?  My nature is that it’s sometimes difficult to choose, but this one — with its gentleness, kindness, love, and self control  —  appeals most to my nature:

When I wasn’t out & about observing human nature & nature, I watched the beautiful Chinese animated film Big Fish & Begonia, which is about nature, human nature, and the call of the ocean.

It is my nature to include the official trailer for Big Fish & Begonia:

It is also my nature to collect hearts & thank you’s, so here is the natural end to today’s post:

Day 2682: Where all the monsters are

Looking back at yesterday’s Daily Bitch Calendar, I see where all the monsters are.

I don’t know if I agree with the Daily Bitch Calendar that all the monsters are in back of me, since I see monsters elsewhere.

When we look back at my other images from yesterday, are there monsters there?

 

Therapists EVERYWHERE must deal with the monsters within their patients and themselves.

Here‘s “Calling All the Monsters” with China Anne McClain from A.N.T. Farm:

 

Where do you think all the monsters are?

Looking back again, I thought the coronavirus monster might be at CVS when I snapped this photo yesterday:

Day 2678: Bitching Days

As we’ve all been bitching about during this bitching pandemic,  it’s been difficult to know what bitching day it is, because one bitching day merges into another one.

Therefore,  I was bitching thrilled when the Daily Bitch Calendar arrived at my home yesterday.

I’ve been missing that bitching calendar from work, every bitching day.

Can you bitching believe what that bitching calendar was bitching about the last day I was in my bitching office?

On February 28, I was bitching to my husband Michael that I didn’t want to leave him and go to bitching New York City for a bitching week-long conference with hundreds of other bitches from all over the bitching world, what with all the bitching news about the bitching coronavirus pandemic.

Well, we’re all bitching about the bitching pandemic together now.

I shared yesterday’s Daily Bitch calendar page with both my bitching  Thursday therapy groups.

That is bitching hilarious, because people in groups often bitch about their families.

Here are many other bitching days from The Daily Bitch Calendar:

 

I wish we all had an adult role model to look up to, every bitching day.

This daily bitch …

… is a nice segue to all my other photos from my bitching day yesterday.

Honestly, what has Harley got to bitch about?

Here‘s a cat video from some bitching days in 2020:

 

I look forward to your bitching comments, every bitching day!

 

Day 2671: Outlets

It’s challenging to find outlets for our feelings, thoughts, needs, wants, and wishes when the coronavirus is out there, not letting us live our normal and familiar  lives.

Yesterday, my outlets included

• connecting with others, remotely and in person,
• mindfulness exercises, including focusing on the phrases “May I meet this moment fully” and “May I meet this moment as a friend.”
• facilitating two of my Coping and Healing groups online,
• going out for short walks while maintaining social distancing,
• accepting myself and others, exactly as we are,
• looking up, down, and all around,
• enjoying what I have, and
• taking photos.

My outlets also include music and dancing, and Michael and I recently danced to this old R.E.M. tune:

(Don’t Go Back To) Rockville
R.E.M.
Looking at your watch a third time
Waiting in the station for the bus
Going to a place that’s far
So far away and if that’s not enough
Going where nobody says hello
They don’t talk to anybody they don’t know
You’ll wind up in some factory
That’s full time filth and nowhere left to go
Walk home to an empty house
Sit around all by yourself
I know it might sound strange but I believe
You’ll be coming back before too long
Don’t go back to Rockville
Don’t go back to Rockville
Don’t go back to Rockville
And waste another year
At night I drink myself to sleep and pretend
I don’t care if you’re not here with me
‘Cause it’s so much easier to handle
All my problems if I’m too far out to sea
But something better happen soon
Or it’s gonna be too late to bring you back

When people have an outlet to express themselves (like my Coping and Healing Groups), they’re saying it feels too late to bring ourselves back to where we were before the pandemic and that we might all be wasting another year waiting for this to be over.

How can any year be wasted if we meet each moment fully and as a friend?

What are your outlets, my friends?

Here’s another daily outlet for me: gratitude.

 

Day 2670: Urgent

Despite my dealing with many urgent situations over the last two thousand, six hundred and seventy days (but who’s urgently counting?), I’ve never published a blog post with the title “Urgent” before.

Well, there’s no time like the present and these can seem like urgent times, although “urgent” is not an adjective I’ve heard about these times we’re living through together. I HAVE heard people describe these times as

• challenging,
• uncertain,
• difficult,
• strange,
• weird,
• anxious,
• upsetting,
• frightening,
• scary,
• terrifying,
• troubling,
• painful,
• confusing,
• unexpected,
• unprecedented,
• stressful,
• crazy,
• crazy-making, and
• surreal.

Yesterday, during these challenging, uncertain, difficult, strange, etc. times, we brought our cat Oscar back to the Urgent Care Veterinary Center for a blood pressure test and to get medication. His situation didn’t seem urgent enough for an ultrasound of his digestive tract yesterday. However, if he ever throws up dried blood again,  we’ll urgently schedule that test as soon as possible.

Anything urgent in my pictures from yesterday?

People in my Coping and Healing group yesterday talked about many topics — urgent and otherwise —  including the anniversary tribute to Prince , which I had missed. So, after our trip to the Veterinary Urgent Care Center, Michael, Oscar, and I watched “Let’s Go Crazy: Grammy Prince Tribute” On Demand last night, including this performance posted on YouTube by BoDerekSmith:

Here’s an urgent performance of “Baby I’m A Star” by the original, one-and-only Prince.

What feels urgent to me, during times like these, is finding and sharing moments of joy with others.

It’s not urgent that you express your thoughts and feelings about this “Urgent” post in a comment; however, it’s definitely appreciated. Urgent and emergent thanks to all who help me create these blog posts, including YOU!

Day 2661: PTSD

People who regularly read this blog might know that PTSD can stand for

• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• President Trump Stress Disorder
• Post-Thoracotomy Stress Disorder
• Pacemaker Transplant Stress Disorder
• Pain Tolerating Stress Disorder
• Physical Tasks Stress Disorder
• Painfully Taking Stairs Disorder
• Political Talk Stress Disorder
• Post-Trump Stress Disorder
• Pre-Trump Stress Disorder, and
• Presidential Terror Stress Disorder

During this age of anxiety, PTSD can also stand for

Plague Times Stress Disorder

Pandemic Terror Stress Disorder

Almost everyone I know has some form of PTSD, including me.

Here‘s something that’s been helping people deal with PTSD: Some Good News with John Krasinski:

I don’t know if this is a sign of PTSD, but I can’t make it through any episode of that wonderful show without crying.

Here are my latest PTSDs (Photos That Somebody Deserves):

 

What are your thoughts and feelings about PTSD, my Perceptive, Terrific, Super, and Dear readers?

Presently, Thanks Seem Deserved.

 

 

Day 2660: The Age of Anxiety

Yesterday, during what felt like an age of anxiety on Easter 2020 at a Boston Whole Foods Market,  I noticed this magazine in a check-out line:

I’m pretty sure that magazine came out before COVID-19 anxiety, which is aging all of us. During any age of anxiety, it helps to know that you are not alone, as that magazine cover reminds us.

Do you see evidence of the age of anxiety in the other images I captured yesterday?

I’ve been experiencing an age of anxiety because my INR has not been within range for TWO MONTHS (partly because of my having COVID-19 and taking antibiotics for suspected pneumonia), until yesterday.

I celebrated my INR being in range with …

… chocolate bunnies (on sale)!

Here‘s a post I wrote, during a different age, about how to reduce anxiety (which can multiply as quickly as bunnies).

Do any of my photos, above, reduce your anxiety?  This is my favorite anxiety-reducing photo from today’s post:

That neighborhood cat seems to be doing okay during this age of anxiety.

Here is The Age of Anxiety (Symphony #2) written by Leonard Bernstein in 1949, inspired by the 1947 W.H. Auden poem The Age of Anxiety:

There have been many ages of anxiety throughout our evolutionary transitions. How are you getting through this one?

As always, I’m getting through this age of anxiety with gratitude.