A chain reaction
Whenever I was feeling gloomy as a child my mother would tell me to go and do something nice for someone else. It was this advice and several other bits, that made me secure in the knowledge that she was completely barmy. At that time I was unaware of ‘displacement’ activities, and ‘self therapy’ was an alien concept. I think of my barmy old mum as I receive an international telephone call from my chum, the one with the charmed and perfect life:-
“Come on Maddy, tell me all your woes so that I can feel less mopey.”
“Ooo where to start! Shall I tell you about my ghastly gum remodeling escape or the root canal that I had instead accidentally?”
Later in the day, when the painkillers start to wear off and I become more mopey, I telephone my American pal, the one with more woes than is fair for any one person to shoulder. Hers are the kind of woes that can’t be fixed, ameliorated or obliterated. Perfect teeth so no need for dental insurance. Her expenses aren’t for autism therapies but for health issues. A perfect family and yet a life time of unwarranted misery.
“Hello there! I haven’t spoken to you for ages. How are you doing?”
“Oh you know me, nothing to complain about apart from funeral pyre of medical bills.”
“Shall I nip round with a box of matches?”
“No house insurance dearie. That’s the kind of help I could do without.”
Who do you need to phone?
Stumble it!
May 23rd, 2008 at 10:59 pm
My long-lost friend Joan—how we used to sigh over things together!
May 24th, 2008 at 4:59 am
I usually email my friend Jamie. She and I are cut from the same stiff, plain, practical cloth. It might be chain mail, actually. Always understands precisely my mentality.
But I miss my friend Jane, and my friend Karen. I miss their earnestness for the one, and hearty, contagious guffaw for the second.
Women of great intellect, humor and loyalty all.
May 24th, 2008 at 5:05 am
I need to call my Mom in the hospital, I’m supposed to have lunch with her today
May 24th, 2008 at 5:08 am
I have a couple of online friends… my local one’s are very nice… but not if you need to dump on about school etc…. But I find I have a variety of friend and a variety of moods… so it works.
May 24th, 2008 at 9:16 pm
Need to call? Hmm. When I need to be jarred out of my own mopes? Bigger hmmm. Mopes are fairly rare–knock linoleum. But when they occur, I need to call my husband, who is generally standing right in front of me, so I guess I can get rid of the phone.