extraordinary elevator kaleidoscope

Believe it or not, that's an introverted computer nerd in the center, singing "Crazy" as if she's known the Gnarls Barkley tune all of her life...

but she has not.

In fact, she was fairly oblivious to music in general - and musicals in particular - until an MRI incident opened up her world to life outside numbers and code.

But, like Sheldon Cooper of TBBT, she's blessed with family and friends familiar with feelings. 

Even more so, she has a fluid-gender neighbor who is a club disc jockey to figuratively hold her hand and help her understand all these emotions being flung at her via 'heart songs', by strangers and work colleagues and family alike.

Then, one day, the young woman finds herself as the one singing and dancing as if in a choreographed music video... but it's just her.

The accompaniment is all a figment of her newfound imagination.

And just what has set off the "Glitch" in her brand of superpower?

She has just left the family meeting called by the doctor of her terminally ill dad.

The medical world can do no more for the father and the family needs to prepare for his death.

I well recall Dr. Rydzak having that conversation with me and my brothers about my mom, twenty years ago last month.

I can totally relate.

No wonder that daddy's girl became her worst nightmare: a person who expresses emotions to everyone in her path, all day long, through song lyrics.

Grief doesn't pull any punches and leaves a person's mind in tatters.

This NBC show is very true to that truth.

So Zoey sings "Crazy" as she returns to work, post-doctor's office.

She sings "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" to her boss and coworker (Leif), having witnessed their scene the previous evening on her way out.

She sings "Pressure" when forced to participate in a meeting with the company owner about a new product in the works, no doubt saved from dismissal by the quick thinking of her best friend, Max, who turned her solo into a duet.

She sings "I'm Yours" to him, afterward, realizing too late that he will interpret it to mean she finally loves him, just as he loves her, and has loved her for quite some time.

She sings "I Want You To Want Me" to her crush, Simon, a man engaged to be wed but attracted to her via the prism of loss (she heard his 'heart song' about his father who'd committed suicide in the near past, hers is dying, so they have that in common).

Finally, at last, she accepts what is demanded of her by the universe: to talk to her father about her overwhelming emotions surrounding his demise.

After all, when her superpower presents her with someone else's 'heart song', her duty lies with helping them process the emotion driving the music.

So, all day long, she had avoided dealing with the emotion of this latest news about her dad, blowing off her mom's phone calls in the process - and, all day long, she had been haunted by other 'heart songs' emanating from her lips and moving her body, no matter how she tried to control the situations when they arose.

At day's end, she relents.

She sings "How Do I Live" to her Dad, a truly heartfelt moment between the girl he had always encouraged and protected and the man who had always accepted her as she was.

What a perfect song to end that episode.

I totally relate.

***   ***   ***

That was seen for the second time last night.

I had watched the entire season months ago, having seen previews for it on tv and been attracted to the musical nature of it.

N'est-ce pas?

Totally my cup of tea!

Then, last weekend, I was looking for something to distract from the grief anniversary of Mama's death...

and the universe reminded me of this.

It will only be available until the end of today and I still have four episodes to view.

I've thought of not watching the last one -

it deals with the funeral -

but it has the effervescent Bernadette Peters in a refreshing role -

so I'm going to try to get through it.

Plus, I know the relief of having completed this task will be good for me, much like eating all of a well-balanced meal is good for my body.

That's the usual way to get to dessert, too.

(smile)

i thank You, God, for the music in my life.

good times jar

I first heard of having such a thing several years ago: a jar filled with receipts and ticket stubs for good times shared with others during the course of a year.

I had laughingly remarked that mine would be stuffed tight within a matter of months!

Then, the pandemic struck.

Suddenly, my world of theatre and cinema and brunches and luncheons and dinners with others ground to an absolute stop on March 24.

That's when I thought about the jar.

I had a 13-inch tall pasta container that I thought to use - it had been a gift from Paul and Cathy.

I began using it that first day of the lock-down and all year through December 31.

It was reassuring to watch the events slowly gathering behind the glass.

Then, by summer, they really began to pile up, between the baseball games, the re-opening of the cinemas and restaurants, and the proliferation of Zoom events.

Oh, yes, the online gatherings with people I knew and could converse with were most definitely included!

I needed to feel that I was part of a world community, that I was still able to be with those I know and love...

the filling of that jar reminded me that I was not alone.

i thank You, God.

Now, with the pandemic far from done, I still need that reassurance.

I still need to be able to look at that jar and see physical reminders of good times shared.

How blessed I am to already have several items in there: the front of box for the cornbread taken to Hinesville for that first luncheon; the movie ticket for "WW84" shared with Carolyn; a second movie ticket, this one "News Of The World", again with Carolyn.

That's a good start for a year that's only just begun!

i thank You, God!

I've also been reminded, through a social experiment on fb, that those who know and love me are keeping tabs on me.

Just look at these responses to the post I left there just a few days ago!

***   ***   ***

Faustina Smith
I LIKE TᕼIS IᗪEᗩ. ᒪEᗩᐯE ᗩ ᑭOSITIᐯE ᗯOᖇᗪ I ᑕᗩᑎ ᑕᗩᖇᖇY ᖴOᖇ 2021 TᕼᗩT STᗩᖇTS ᗯITᕼ TᕼE FIRST ᒪETTEᖇ Oᖴ YOᑌᖇ ᑎᗩᗰE. IT ᑕᗩᑎ OᑎᒪY ᗷE ONE ᗯOᖇᗪ. TᕼEᑎ ᑕOᑭY TᕼIS TO YOᑌᖇ ᗯᗩLL
My Word is "Faith”.

Kathy Hodges
Kindness

Jan Parham Williams
Joy

Shayla Edgell
Serenity

Sheryl Petroski Pena
Serendipity

Sherry Moore
Share

Brenda Williams Long
Brave

Lynn Engler
Love

Penny Walker Bos
Perseveres

Zakk De Long
Eloquence

Stephanie Mostashari
Smile

Barbara Narcarti
Blessed

Barbara Narcarti
Celebrate

Robbie Prouty Rush
Yes!

Genie Brazzeal Lawson
Grateful

Jeff Powless
Joy

Jo Coleman-Williams
Joy

Rhonda S. Curby
Reason

Sandra Voelker
Serenity

Damitta Roberts
Motivated

Sandra Cherise Karlin
SINCERITY.

JinHi Soucy Rand
Jubilance

Axelle Kieffer
Artist

Melinda McEwen
Memories

Pat Andres
Peace.

Christopher Jean Soucy
Caring

Linda Walker
Loving

***   ***   ***

My thanks to Jackie Frant for getting me started with that fb post.

And my many thanks for all who brought JOY to this undertaking and for helping me to remember how important that word is to the quality of life.

Meanwhile, I'm closing this with the words from George Michaels' song.

"I need someone to hold me

but I wait for something more...

'cause I gotta have FAITH,

I gotta have FAITH, FAITH, FAITH! "

what's the first thing you'll do?

 

That was Christa's query to each of us after our 'zoom' midnight toast to 2021.

I had answered "travel", then followed that with "down to Kissimmee", to visit with the "Sweet Caroline" girls.

Lauri and Lynn had seconded that motion, going so far as to invite all four of us to their new place for the send-off of this year.

Last night - or very early this morning before I went to sleep, as it were - I saw that Christa had posed the query on fb.

I've changed my answer to "dine out with friends".

Not that spending December 31st with Christa, Lauri, Lynn, Barbara, Sandy, and others in sunny Florida is not still on my list, mind, because it most def is.

But that 3-foot span across a table at a restaurant, whether inside or out, cannot truly be called safe social distancing.

Alligators must be 6-foot to qualify for that.

So, I have not dined with my tres amigas since mid-March.

True, I did Bonefish with Barbara for my birthday62 in June, and I Carey'd with Carolyn in October after a bit of magic... but that's all I've had with them since mid-March.

The only dining I've had with the bfe physicist or the baseball-loving Eagle Scout has been over brunch at my house, with their mugs smiling at me on their mugs.

I have not dined with my brother Smitty and his wife except by mug, either, and I haven't even been able to do that - yet - with my youngest brother Tony and his wife nor with my middle brother Ronnie.

At least I dined live with the running bear psychologist on several occasions, with the most recent being about two months ago; now, with him called away, I'll only see him over coffee.

Honestly, if not for my first niece and her brother, I would have had no one except waitstaff to talk to as I dined out.

i thank You, God, for them.

Here's to better dining days - and nights! - ahead!

Now, off to "WW84" for a second BigD viewing, this time with Carolyn.

I'll definitely look forward to post-movie discussions over a table in the future.

perfect for today

I had texted mi tres amigas the lure of a movie this afternoon and another tomorrow.

Barbara had said "maybe" for today, as well as Sandy; Carolyn said "yes" for tomorrow's.

I went ahead to the 3:45 (such an unusual, but pleasing, start time) of the 2003 $5 Fan Favorite, not knowing if I might be the only one.

Of course, I was not the only one.

Wait, let me clarify.

As it turned out, mine was the only physical presence...

but, as the odometer attested, I was not alone.

215600: a nice, round, number, just like Mama likes.

I am never alone.

(smile)

"Love Actually" (is all around) was the perfect movie for today!

I had forgotten that it was a Christmas movie, so that made it perfect, too.

I adore holiday-themed tales in the late fall and winter!

This movie had several different tales interwoven, with a sister in this one and her brother in that one; two people in the porn industry shedding a light as well as their clothes; a boy in love and a girl in a lobster costume and another as an octopus for a different telling of the nativity; an aging rock star and a Prime Minister - delightful!

Celebrating love in all its forms - new, old, waning, young, complicated, simple, hopeful, grieving, forming, platonic, brotherly, motherly, sisterly, fatherly, family, friends - it was a reminder that love is not limited to couples.

That was perfect for today.

This date marks the twentieth anniversary of Mama's death.

I am grateful she was there with me in that empty screening room.

She was not the only one, though.

This movie was my 73rd since the cinemas reopened in late August.

That lets me know that Daddy was there, too.

Plus, I had people still on Earth who checked in on me today.

My first niece texted earlier to say I was in her thoughts and I had reassured her that I was well and soon to see a movie with friends.

Mister Willie called earlier, to check on me and see that I was doing well, so I had reassured him that I was, too.

And, truly, I have been well.

Right now, I'm sipping on peppermint tea, having updated my journal.

I had thought about starting a new one for 2021, but, as we are still in a state of pandemic, I'm soldiering on in this one.

It just feels like the right thing to do.

Opening the packet of tea received after Imam Maajid Faheem 'Ali died in 2016 also felt like the right thing to do.

That packet was a gesture of love from his family to all who came to celebrate his life.

I can almost hear his voice telling me that every little thing is going to be alright. 

Perfect for today.

i thank You, God.

my attitude? gratitude!

And why wouldn't it be?

For my first midday meal of this year, I had planned a dinner at home, right...

but then I was summoned to Hinesville and just look at this feast my first niece prepared!

Well, she cooked all except that applesauced cornbread.

I made that!

I cut it in triangles, too!

(smile!)

After the repast, the girls went down for a nap and Chris returned to his football (European-style) game, leaving me and Christina time to talk - delightful!

This photo had magically surfaced on my dining room table before I left home - there are no coincidences - and I'd brought it along.

She and I talked about that room at Frank's house and the items on the table and how much Chloe resembles her at two years old.

That brought up my 'limited gene pool' train of thought and our relationship to Benjamin Franklin.

She read the essay she'd done about the bombing at Pearl Harbor and I told her of my Great-Uncle Sam and his living through that terrible ordeal, but never talking of it.

Then the conversation wandered over to things there in her kitchen, items she was straightening up and putting back into place - items that included a vast assortment of spices and rubs and marinades.

Wow.

Lemon pepper was one of those, naturally.

I told her about me using it in Mama's Salmon Stew recipe, having mistakenly put it in for regular black pepper and finding it more tasty.

She told me about her Daddy cooking breakfast for her and Michael and putting lemon pepper on the bacon, something she still does.

I'd never heard that Ronnie did such a thing!

What a wonderful story to learn from his one-and-only daughter!

I'm so grateful she has some fond memories of him, and that she and I had this time together today to allow us to really talk, to hop down a bunny trail and naturally follow where it led without a time schedule or interruption.

Wow.

That was golden!

Then Purple and Pink awoke!

The day was still warm so into the back yard we went, playing on the swings, looking at the fire pit, walking around and around!

My favorite thing, though, was this spontaneous picnic!

Christina made peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches for them...

and she made one for me, too!

Then we all sat outside and watched the night come as we dined on our summer-day picnic feast!

The breeze had picked up and a splatter of rain drizzle finally drove us inside.

No worries - that just meant we got to play in the girls' room!

So many books...

so many dolls...

so many unicorns, including this familiar pair!

Such a magical way to spend the first day of this year!

i thank You, God!

getting ready for a new year!

I'm getting ready to put 2020 into the rearview mirror!

Checkbook - balanced!

Out with the old and in with the new!

Fresh linens on the bed - done!

Rice, spinach, black-eyed peas, cornbread, and the honeybaked ham Smitty gave me on Christmas Day!

New Year's Day meal fixin's - assembled!

(Yes, even though I'll now be going to Christina's!)

Watching "Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist" and getting in a little dancing during episodes 3 (Boss) and 4 (Neighbor)!

Movin' and groovin' and not worryin' about whether every thing is under CTRL - you betcha!

Getting a little KINKY GREEN (from Dawn's party last year) into the apple juice from ARC, in the little stein from Club Pianissimo on Kadena Circle in Okinawa!

All set to see the year out - and welcome the next!

Joining Christa's "New Year's End" Zoom to watch a bit of Shaquille O'Neal as a man of "Steel", with a chaser of Judd Nelson!

There to start a year anew with Christa, Sandy, Barbara, Lauri, and Lynn - hallelujah!

pandemic in usa, in review

 

For these three graphs, I have plotted data I gathered from various DPH sites between May 20th and this penultimate day of 2020, for the ten states I monitor.

This first graph contains the total number of people who had COVID over that time span.

As can be seen, that sunny yellow of California has been leading the nation for the entire seven months.

Texas and Florida, sporting purple-brown and deep orange, were lagging until the start of summer but have nearly caught up with the West Coast a time or two.

Georgia's dark blue line had been running a distant fourth place with no contenders until early voting began for the 2020 General Election in mid-October.

Within two weeks, Pennsylvania (light blue), Tennessee (purple-blue), and Michigan (dark green), had caught up, all now having more than half a million people who have been infected by the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus.

(My hypothesis is that Georgia will again tower over them as the run-off election here takes its toll on people's health in the coming weeks.)

Alabama (light green), Louisiana (black), and Oklahoma (yellow-orange) are trailing the pack, but don't be fooled: each of them is still a heavyweight.

Alabama leads the charge with more than 350,000 infected people; Oklahoma is giving its best to catch up, with more than 280,000 having added COVID to their medical records.

For those interested in such things, my ten states have a whopping total of more than 8,358,000, representing almost half of the total cases in the entire USA.

That's pretty sobering news.

 

Looking at the rates of infection per 100,000 people is certainly not reassuring that the nation is heading in a better direction.

Remember, the goal is no new cases, and we have not even gotten past the first wave yet in this pandemic.

So, what do the rate curves tell us?

These ten states had less than 1 person per 100,000 that was infected by the coronavirus in the middle of May.

Then, from the middle of June to the first week of August, the rates climbed exponentially toward 3 people infected per 100,000 for all except Michigan and Pennsylvania.

There followed a period of the states maintaining that higher infection rate...

until the onset of early voting for the 2020 General Election.

Another exponential rise followed, one which has affected all ten of my states, one which has continued up to year's end.

The black line of Louisiana held dominance until that second rise; Tennessee has far outstripped it now, with Oklahoma and Alabama vying for second.

Tennessee, home of several people I know and love, will soon have 9 people infected for every 100,000 that live there.

Pennsylvania, seemingly bringing up the bottom, is no slouch, having 5 people infected for every 100,000 citizens.

So, what good news might there be?

The seven-day sums of new infections are starting to decrease, somewhat.

There have been peaks and dips for the most part, with those dips following two weeks after the close of the General Election and two weeks after the Thanksgiving holiday.

Only Georgia is having rising numbers of those newly infected.

No surprise there.

I will be so glad when this run-off is done, though I expect another round of folks contesting the results.

Hopefully, the new strain of the virus will still be susceptible to one or more of the vaccines which have been created and have begun making the rounds.

What is that poem I love about hope?

Oh, yes.

"Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul

and sings the tune without the words

and never stops at all."

Thanks, Emily Dickinson.