On the Occasion of…

/ olivia

…my 62nd birthday, it seems like the appropriate time to celebrate and count some blessings.

  • I may have some health issues, but I feel pretty good most of the time.
  • I have a job I mostly like that pays well.  I have enough of all the material things in my life – and more.  Much more than I need, and a whole lot of what I want.
  • I have a lovely daughter and even lovelier grandkids.  They are thriving.
  • I have a partner who’s a good person and who cares about me.
  • I was in New Orleans this week.  🙂
  • I’m off work today! It’s a warm and sunshiny day!!

CW:  Domestic violence

In other events, I was

  • In NOLA,  in a hotel room next door to a loud, angry man, who was berating his girlfriend/wife for having gotten them LOST – like she ALWAYS does – and making him walk all over New Orleans.  YES, he was FUCKING ANGRY!!!   Being someone who gets lost ALL THE TIME myself, it caught my attention.  The verbal berating went on for a long time and I kept wondering if he was going to hit her.  He didn’t, but the yelling continued off and on for a couple of hours.  Apparently this proved that everything wrong was her fault, not his, and no, they weren’t going back out that night, he didn’t care if she was hungry or if it was her birthday, she was not stable or she wouldn’t have gotten them lost, and they weren’t going out there and get lost again.  I did tell the hotel clerk, and they quieted down for a while, but then he would rev up again.  I could barely hear her, and it was probably just as well.  It reminded me of long gone years and my first husband’s rage.  I know what it’s like to tolerate that, and it made me sad to hear it.  I’m sending her lots of energy and love today, and would invite you to do the same – love and strength for all the nameless women with angry husbands.  And I guess him too, because when I read it now,  and remember the things he said, I hear so much anxiety and fear.   Sigh…

 

  • In an airport, a man started telling me about how he’d been traveling for work for 39 years.  He said he’d been on the road this time for almost 2 weeks, but he was going home that day.  His marriage was important to him. and he wasn’t going to lose this relationship.  A bit ruefully, he added that he’d been married twice before, but this time they’d been together 17 years and he wasn’t going to lose that.  I wanted to ask him why this marriage was different, but it was time to board my plane and I was afraid it was going to be a long conversation.  Besides, this way i can make up my own answers.  Just seems like there’s a lot there to ponder…

Hope your day is as lovely as mine is going to be!!

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27 thoughts on “On the Occasion of…”

    • Dear Jade, Thank you so very much!! It was a lovely day, and part of what made it lovely is knowing that people like you care about me. Thank you for being there – lots and lots of love back to you. Missy. 🙂 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  10. Happy birthday! I’m so glad you have so many blessings to count. Remembering the good is important.

    I feel awful for that woman. I think I’m a bit empathetic in that I feel so strongly in situations like these.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

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