ODE TO JOY!

The moral of this post is to try and spread a little joy.  Laugh and the world laughs with you.  Weep, and you weep alone.  None so true a phrase was far from my lips this week.  Thank you, Ella Wheeler Wilcox.  Although I do not agree with all her ideas and ideals, the next line of her poem was quite thought provoking; "For the sad old earth must borrow its mirth, But has trouble enough of its own".  What on earth (no pun intended) does this mean?  All I could think was 'borrow our mirth', when we have 'trouble enough of our own'.  So now, I am not only attempting to encourage, but to educate.  (How many jumped on to Google.  Well done to those who didn't, as you didn't 'give a flip'.)  This week has brought out the best, and worst in people.  I am not sure how many times I have said, "Yeah, but I live in Austin!"  Austin is, for the most part, not only a city, it is a way of life.  Most Austinites care for one another, and most would do anything not only for their family, but for friends and neighbours, because we are all family.  We unite.  Now, for those who know me, you know I do not do 'twee', or 'slush'.  However, I have found myself enjoying the 'other' side.  I know there are many people outside of this city, state and indeed the 'Union', who feel the same, but I am here, and living in the 'now'.  A big thank you to everyone who is 'thinking of others'.  (Oh I know, slushy!)   Will I spread joy?  

There were many 'offers' on Monday.  Restaurants were flooding my inbox with emails, offering two for one, and the like.  Many had offers on 'take-out', but most were offering ridiculous bargains for those who would 'eat in'.  We found out that a lot of restaurant staff are not paid by the hour, and rely heavily on tips.  I received my 'buy one, get one' from our Macaroni Grill  so I called the restaurant to  make sure they were open. (I had received emails from some places, that followed up with, 'We are closed' notices.)  Scott assured me that they were open, and asked if I had a 'large' party.   I told him there would only be the two of us, but we were regulars and wanted to support them.  He was grateful.  I then asked Dana if he thought it might be a good idea to take the guys as a thank you, in order to further support the establishment.  He agreed.  After work on Monday night, we headed out to the eatery.  Mondays are usually slow, with a lot of restaurants giving a 'bogo' offer, and Macgrill has been doing this for a long time.  However, on Monday, although it was not busting, it was much busier than we have seen it on a regular Monday.  Obviously, there were those taking advantage of the special offer, but there were also larger parties.  (The offer is 'per check' so most would not get more than one free meal per table.  This is Austin.  We like a bargain, but recognise a need.)  Six of us ate at the table, with me being the only one to take advantage of the 'bogo'.   Due to the lack of staff, and the high volume of 'take outs', the service was slow, but we assured the waiter that we were not in a hurry.  

We left the restaurant after about two hours.  We laughed a lot.  Edward, who although is not technically part of the team, but is literally part of the family, was in fine form, and when our son-in-law is in that mood, we take full advantage.  I was picked on constantly, and enjoyed every minute!  "Do you like your new washing machine?" he asked.  "It's okay", said I.  "What's wrong with it.  Doesn't it rip up your clothes enough, as it doesn't have an agitator?" he responded.  My daughter came up with the solution.  "She doesn't like it because she couldn't buy it, leave it in the box for eighteen months and then decide to use it!"  Oh how well they know me!  Everyone found this extremely amusing, and I had to agree that she was right!  When it was time to go, I had half of my meal in a take out box, as it was enormous, and another take out box for my 'get one'.  We had dinner prepared for Tuesday.  We discussed where were would go 'tomorrow', in order to support other places while we could, and perhaps freeze my left overs and have them when we couldn't!  Scott came over to our table, as he recognised the accent, and wondered if it was me who called earlier.  He thanked me for bringing in my 'friends'.

I received an invitation to my oldest friend's daughter's wedding on Monday evening.  I told her last year that, baring emergencies, I would be there.  What constitutes an emergency?  I filled in the reply card and sent a message that I would be there, "Even if I have to swim across".  Thankfully, Lesley responded that she would meet me half way across the Atlantic with a boat!  

Tuesday, we 'couldn't'.  The directive came down from 'on high' that all restaurants must close their dining rooms.  We were particularly concerned for those who would now not be able to work and potentially lose their livelihood.  However, other than knowing these people by sight, and sometimes name, we knew little else about them.  Admittedly, I am not sure I would want 'all and sundry' to know 'everything' about me.  Having said that, I think I give enough 'away' in each post to give a basic picture.  So, the question posed was how to prevent the 'weep alone' syndrome.  Was it possible?   

I received my steamer on Tuesday.  This made me smile.  I was absolutely amazed at the speed of the turnaround.  I wanted to tell everyone, but there was no one around to tell!  Admittedly, if anyone had been around to tell, they would probably not be interested, but this is Austin and the natural response would have been, 'Awesome!' without a shred of sarcasm!  


Dinner was delicious.  We did not get home until quite late, and it was a delight not to have to do anything but 'warm it up'.  I did not want to watch the news, and frankly I was not interested in anyone else's 'point of view'.  If someone wanted to talk to me, personally, I would listen, but all the 'what if's' did little to spread any joy.  I wanted to laugh, not weep.  

Joe was open for customers.  I drove across town to get my coffee and I was handed a disposable cup.  The traffic was very light, and I headed back to the office a little after eight thirty.  Dana had asked me to pick something up from the house, and that I did.  Everything seemed to be ticking like clockwork, and that was not good.  The workings of a clock are very structured, and precise.  It was all too quiet.  However, in the quietness, I heard something.  The birds.  I do not mean like the Daphne Du Maurier thriller, dramatised by Hitchcock, but tweets other than that on social media.  I could hear the birds in the middle of the day.  I was messaging with Steph, and told her.  She listened, and five thousand miles away, she could hear birds.  Obviously not the same birds, but birds!  I smiled.  Spring was making her way through and there was a glimmer. Were they laughing?  Laugh and the world will laugh .... through the birds!

Another old friend messaged me on Wednesday afternoon.  Lynda sent me a message to say she was moving and a note of her new address.  I was about to message back, when I thought, why not phone?  I did!  Living on the same continent, it would make sense to actually speak to each other!  It was a lovely chat, and whilst we discussed lots of problematic issues, a voice to voice chat was the best medicine!

The week continued, as did the unrest.  Shops were opening early for old people.  "If you are sixty, you can go early to Costco on Tuesday and Thursday".  Hah!  Born too late, again!  I was born too late to take part in the 'flower power' movement.  Admittedly, I was attracted to the fun clothes and music festivals, not the drugs and free love.  Now I was born just too late to shop early at Costco.  Of course I am joking!  "You can take Dana", said one of my friends.  Oh sure!  I can see him queuing at Costco, early on a Tuesday morning, in the hope of a roll or two of toilet paper!  


I learned a few things during the week.  Singing 'happy birthday' twice is actually not sufficient when washing your hands.  If you want to do it properly, a rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody is nearer to the mark!  I thought of all the times I had wondered at people not washing their hands after frequenting the facilities, and how much time they would now lose if they adhered to instruction.  I chuckled.  Laugh and the world will laugh with you!

It was on Friday night that I finally calculated all the good things.  I must admit, I had been flagging and wondering at how we would 'ride the storm'.  It was at that point that I realised what was driving me.  It was the fear of the unknown.  I was my very own 'What if' person, and did not need the media to do it for me.  I like things in order, in fact, I like clockwork!  It is amazing what you learn about yourself in times of crisis!  I was at rock bottom, and there was only one way out!  Up!  My answer was to go back to the sixties.  Now this may make some of you really laugh, but my remedy was to put on a recording of Judith Durham, and the Seekers, singing, 'We shall not be moved'.  There was something very pure and wonderful about The Seekers, and that is another one of my 'born too late' upsets.  I will never (I say with almost certainty) see Ms Durham in concert, let alone meet her in person.  Along with Julie Andrew, I have a handful of (musical) heroines, whom I will (and I say with almost certainty) never meet, let alone see 'live', global crisis or not!  However, I digress.  Ms Durham's voice was enough to break the ties of fear and depression, and I rose up, (I have met Andra Day - I will rise up,) and quoted Doris Day, (not on list of heroines,) Que sera sera! 

I went shopping on Saturday with a whole new perspective.  The weather had turned a lot colder and the rain was coming and going. I would only buy what I needed, and what I thought would be useful. If I did not need something, I was not going to deprive those who did.  Samantha did the same.  We queued to get into Costco.  Everyone was in good spirits and no one quibbled with the fact that they were only letting in a few people at a time.  "Hey, how ya doin?" was heard throughout the store, as people went around, slower than usual, perhaps because they were not in a hurry!  "Where d'y'all get those?" I was asked a couple of times, and asked others a couple of times. (Although I still did not use the universal 'y'all'.) I picked up a box of croissants, in case breakfast could not be take out in the morning.  I called Samantha's neighbour, Sandra, who has two children and was unable to find some essentials when she had the opportunity to shop, and made a list.  Most things had a 'one per cardmember' sign posted.  I did not need milk. She could have mine. It reminded me of the stories my mother told of rationing during the war, and how everyone had come together and gave their ration of eggs to my grandmother, as my mother had jaundice and was bedridden.  They later found that eggs are not commodious with that particular ailment, but the sharing, caring thought was paramount.  It was not a case of survival of the fittest, but rather survival of all. 

We queued at Sams.  The wind was whirling through the pillars. What did we need?  We chose to stick to our routine for as long as we could, and it was no longer about us.  The constable that was there for 'crowd control' was in good spirits.  This is Austin!  We didn't really need 'crowd control'.  He was very pleasant. I asked if I could get him a cup of coffee, or something, but he declined.  Little did I know that the self service facilities would be 'out'.  We shopped.  I had my list and stuck to it.  

There was no queue at Walmart.  "Howdy ladies.  How y'all today?" asked the man at the door, ready with a wipe for our cart.  "Great, thanks.  And how about you?" I replied.  His face lit up.  "I am good, thank you, but not as good as you as I don't have a cool accent!"  Still room for joy!  We shopped.  A security guard was wandering around the store.  "How are you today?" I asked the guy who was probably nearing 50, if not over.  He responded that he was doing well, and walked on by.  A little later, we saw him chatting to some young women.  "So, how are you ladies.  What y'all up to today".  They smiled, and he carried on chatting.  Hmm.  No change there then!  No, I am not making a point, I am glad for the norm!  

As we left the store, we saw 'my' homeless man.  He was sitting in his chair, wrapped up as best he could be to secure him from the elements.  I handed him a bag with croissants, bananas, a couple of 'ring pull' tins of sausages, and some 'three musketeers'. (Milky way in English.)  As there is no longer 'dine in' at the restaurants, I was concerned that he would not get the take out boxes that people usually bring to him. He was grateful, but his face lit up when he saw the chocolate bars. "Candy", he said, with a tone that indicated it was a luxury.  We chatted for a while, and prayed together.  It was a special couple of minutes.  If only I could do more.....

It took me some time to reorganise my freezer when I got home.  I am pretty haphazard about most things, despite my yearning for order.  It wasn't badly packed, but it could have been better, and by the time I finished, it was perfect!  We went and collected some dinner, mainly to support the restaurants rather than sheer laziness, although I have got used to not cooking on a Saturday.

Sunday was very different.  I made breakfast and we went for a walk.  Samantha and Edward came over with some beautiful flowers.  I had forgotten it was Mother's Day in all the world except here!  I had sent my mother a card and flowers, so that was covered, and had remembered when I called, but then it all went out of my head!  I had a lovely chat with my grandsons, and my son, and with my lovely daughter-in-law, so I got to see nearly all the kids.  No reason or Dana's daughter to know about English Mother's Day, especially when the English (step) mother forgets!  

So, for now, I have little to say.  It has been an up and down week.  I hope that the laughter will continue, and no one needs to weep alone.  I hope things will be brighter, and perhaps more settled, despite what happens, and I hope I can actually get to send out some news, next week, in ............. another story!