I am pieces of all the places I have been and the people I have loved
I've been stitched together by song lyrics, book quotes, adventure, late night conversations, moonlight and the smell of coffee.
Brooke Hampton
Chalk outside Trump Tower yesterday
Will his cult pay it off for him?
Facing up to the reality of old age is difficult. I had wrestled for several days on knitting socks, something which has always been easy for me. One of my eyes is nearly blind so perspective is off. Socks are knitted on narrow gauge needles with tiny stitches.
I struggled until a few hours ago and finally thought, why am I wasting my time on this, when do I think it will work and that magically my sight will be restored to 20/20 in both eyes? Work on the knitting I CAN do! I'm a hard case alright. Why on earth do we all behave as if we have 200 years to live in perfect health with all youthful abilities intact?
This was on Irish Radio today and it brought a flood of memories of my mother (who died so young) and this was one of her favourite songs of all time. She had a beautiful voice.
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ReplyDeleteI use a spot light for knitting and I can even see black wool stitches. Lovely song.
ReplyDeleteSo do I Cris but not good enough for the 3mms unfortunately.
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Indeed, why do we believe in perfect health till the day we die, when obviously our bodies are gradually wearing out? I now have a few bodily malfunctions but they just have to be managed. Pretending they're not happening won't get me very far.
ReplyDeleteYes, $83 million might be a hefty enough penalty to change what Trump says about Jean Carroll. But no doubt his followers are screaming "witch hunt" yet again.
Of course the cult will scream fake news and all the rest of it. I think at this stage they are terrified of losing Orange Jesus as who could they worship next? He's been appointed by the Man Upstairs, no less, to lead them to the kingdom of racism and endless misogyny.
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It’s really frightening how gullible with such propensity for conspiracy theories these trumpers can be. They are in so deep they can never get out. They really are to be pitied. Mary
DeleteLife does have to be adjusted to current abilities. The clip is geoblocked here.
ReplyDeleteAh no, it's quite a lovely song but well, very old fashioned now but I still hear her singing it. One of my brothers, in his grief, wrecked all the tapes we'd made of her.
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It's my first winter of sock knitting and I'm not sure which I like more -- knitting or wearing them. But the yarn is indeed fine and requires good eye sight. So disappointed in Mr. T's crowd of followers! Morality seems to have gone out the window as they continue to support the egotistical con man! (shudder) Loved the tender hearted song which I remembered.
ReplyDeleteOTP I also love lilacs, I've had them in all my gardens over the years as Mum did. The scent is so lovely and such a harbinger of spring. I'll miss my knitted socks, though I have a tiny stockpile!
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Like Andrew, I cannot view the video.
ReplyDeleteI know that there are things I can no longer do. Do I remember? No. Do I continue to try and beat myself up for my 'failures'. Sadly yes.
I am the queen of slow learners.
Letting go is so difficult for this stubborn woman too, EC, just accepting the reality of "never" rather than persisting and vainly persisting. I have some stunning sock yarns, many gifted, which I will now donate (and shed some tears, no doubt!)
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I use a lamp around my neck for socks, too. My problem is my glasses.
ReplyDeleteAlas, like I mentioned above, my neck lank works on the thicker yarns but not the delicate socks.
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Your mentioning your mother brought tears to my eyes. I'm so sorry your brother ruined the tapes you had of her, but I'm glad your memories of her are so loving. ❤️
ReplyDeleteMy brother was only 19, CM and in terrible grief. We were all enraged at the time (which channeled our grief) but in hindsight I forgive him. I am positive he regrets it.
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I'll respond to the lovely song, although did enjoy the photo of the "tower" (cannot bring myself to enter the person's proper name). The song is beautiful and I must have heard it long long ago since some of the words were very familar. A bit of tearing up along with it for some unknown reason. Thank you for posting it.
ReplyDeleteThank you Marge, it never fails to get me too. It was composed during WW2 and it always sounds so full of hope to me. As the countries were far from gathering lilacs then. I imagine it played on the radio a lot, a long with White Cliffs of Dover and We'll Meet Again.
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It would hurt my heart a little to say farewell to some carefully chosen yarn (not that I'm a knitter)
ReplyDeleteAging is just cruel. Some suffer it with grace and others not so much.
Have a good week :)
Thank you Kylie, yes "rail against the dying of the light" is not such a good look for us oldies! Plus railing takes a lot of energy!
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Lovely song. Reminds me of the Irish Tenors' singing. Not sure if you're familiar w/Ronan Tynan. Saw him here at an Irish festival. Sang Hallelujah a cappella. The most beautiful thing (other than my kids laughing) that I have ever heard.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, Trump is a disgrace. The support he has, however, is scary.
Yes, I've heard Ronan sing, Elle, another lovely tenor voice. I am fervently hoping the US is restored to sanity at the next election. His base scare me to death though. Plus the influence he has over the shameless and anti-democracy congress.
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I'm in the spam corner again :(
ReplyDeleteI must see if I can fish you out of there River :D
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River nothing from you in the spam folder, though I did rescue a few others.
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It had been a while since I heard Ben Heppner sing this beautiful old song, so thanks for bringing it to me again. As for Trump, I just read that from donations from his thoroughly duped supporters he has now paid fifty million dollars in legal fees. Yet still they send money. Go figure! Hugs - David
ReplyDeleteIt's unbelievable David how brainwashed his cult is. Poor old pensioners throwing their food money at him. I think one would have to be a racist misogynistic hate monger to support him. WE know what MAGA is an acronym for. I was staggered at his legal bills, none of which he is paying out of his own pocket. USian politics have to be one of the most corrupt systems in the world. No checks and balances.
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Aging sucks in some aspects but at least the mind remains. Thanks for Ben Heppner. I am sorry not to be able to hear your mother song.
ReplyDeleteIt does suck e, 2 more friends died this week. I would have loved if the tapes had been saved.
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An old friend in Toronto switched to larger needles and heavier yarn for knitting socks when her eyesight failed her. I envy the person who commented that at least the mind remains. I can no longer write long form, or knit. Losing one’s mind is not fun. I quit my writing group because I had nothing to say. The leader of the group wanted me to stay, but I just felt my own loss of capability listening to others who still had it.
ReplyDeleteAnnie I am so sorry to hear this. I know you had Long Covid but I was hoping you would get better. I hear you on listening to others as I have been sick too as you know (behind me a lot now but who knows, nothing is for certain in old age). I isolated a lot as it just made me feel worse being around the healthy and vibrant. Constant reminders of what used to be. I am hoping that for you things DO improve. Even a little.
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