We
did the Revlon Breast Cancer Run/Walk on Saturday May 5, 2012. Some participants did run-they would be like the elite runners
in the marathon... They had to shoot them off first or we
would all have ended up in a tangled pink heap. Times Square is the
start-felt like New Year's Eve without all the barriers and
rules. We meet up at Planet Hollywood on Broadway and 45th. We have leis, hats, water and I have a grande non-fat latte. Had to. The day is one of many events and celebrations. It is Cinco de
Mayo http://www.history.com/topics/cinco-de-mayo a holiday passionately celebrated in the US- there are teams with sombreros. Though later will be "the Run for
the Roses"-Kentucky Derby-I do not see any teams on horseback-there are the
Central Park buggy horses--they provide some
savory along the route. We are revved up with some stirring speeches, poignant song (Hallelujah) and a rousing wild sendoff by Jimmy Fallon Our team is -We're Half Way There-Captain Lori
Phair
LORI LEADING, SIGN ON BACKPACK SAYS IT ALL
chose the title because she is an avid Bon Jovi fan
and the line "We're Half Way There" is from the Bon Jovi song-Livin' on a
Prayer, which follows
We
are walking at a 40 minute pace when we reach the first mile post. We do gain some speed
down the stretch as the road widens and we angle through the walkers and strollers, pushing aside some children (only kidding) Our team sign is adorned with lei flowers, a brilliant touch, as it
is always visible to help keep us together. At the finish, I think
we are on the west side near Columbus Circle. I even had summoned up a visual of the west side which included the Dakota. Central Park has a way
of turning me around, I sometimes think I am crossing the park and end
up back where I started. Two of us say our goodbyes and trek towards what we think is Columbus Circle.
HOW DO I GET OUT ON THE WEST SIDE OF THIS PARK?
While in the park what I imagined as the tall building on Columbus Circle turns out to be the Plaza. We emerge onto Fifth, not Columbus and race to Penn for the next leg-a drink at
Tracks-http://www.tracksbargrill.com/about.html
this would be the nod to Cinco de Mayo and Ireland. We are fully draped in leis, hats, medals, pink. The bar is lined with a group of Revlon finishers who had cabbed
it back-and we toast with margaritas and a Guinness. Then it is
on to LIRR, with another Starbucks latte chaser- I ride the train covered in Revlon attire.
Once home, I settle in with some chips. Kentucky Derby coverage
starts at 3PM . Liam is out looking for some roses as he has seen the blanket of roses carried in for the Derby winner-only azaleas at our house.
WHERE ARE THE ROSES FOR THE WINNER?
My horse is Dullahan -I have bet him to place-he is Irish with Donegal connections. http://www.kentuckyderby.com/contenders/dullahan
After 3
hours of background stories and jockey and horse bios we are ready. I
love all that up close and personal. Paul is just waiting for the race.
The field is faster than our walkers-but there are only 20 of them and
were thousands of us. Anyway, the winner is- I'll Have Another-Dullahan-third. In the Derby there are winners and losers. I lost.
In the Revlon Walk -all are winners.-everyone gets a medal., We all win.
Our team "We're Half Way There" collected over $5000.00 in pledges.
Lori's message-
"Never believe that a few caring people can't change the world. For, indeed, that's all who ever have."
-Margaret Mead
SHILOH (LORI'S PUP) SHOWING SUPPORT
And don't tell Liam but there were dogs walking in the Revlon walk. Must be city dogs. Liam wants to know if that little cutie Shiloh walked? "No," I tell him- "no dogs walked with our pack."
HAVE TO KEEP TRACK OF APRIL DATES ON iPAD (BTW THIS IS NOT A POSED SHOT)
I am not through with April yet. It may take a while to recover from the enormity and scope of important April dates.
April 2012 was a month of celebrations, commemorations, anniversaries, birthdays, appointments, opening days, concert tours, parades... It was epic. April's important dates were so numerous that anytime I was asked to do something, I would stop and say, "No, I think I am busy." Then I would realize that though April 15 was the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, I was still free (not booked on the commemorative voyage) this same confusion happened quite often. A date would sound familiar. Oh, I must have an appointment. I would check my schedule. Tricked again. I was remembering someone's anniversary, birthday or Bruce's concert dates.
MY PARENTS' WEDDING ANNIVERSARY IS APRIL 24
Birthdays-almost every day was a birthday of someone I knew. April 29, the biggest day, followed by April 24 (includes-Kiera Grace my great niece) then April 15.
Wedding anniversaries- In the last week of April I know of 8 couples celebrating anniversaries, that includes us. The royal couple, Kate and William, share April 29 with my nephew Tim and wife Grace, who picked that date way before the royals did....Theirs will always be just as royal.
Death anniversaries- popular belief is that folks pass away in greater numbers in the spring. In the month of
April many friends commemorated death anniversaries. My father's was in there also- April 30.
Then there were very public anniversaries of beginnings, endings
The Titanic-100 years http://news.discovery.com/history/titanic-shipwreck-anniversary-110415.html
More April 2012 Events
Bruce Springsteen Wrecking Ball Tour- MSG dates April, 6 and 9 see blog story http://liamlicks.blogspot.com/2012/04/bruce-is-back.html
Annual physicals involving 4 appointments for the two of us.
Passover and Easter
Baseball Opening Days
Tax Day
April 7 visit of my McNiff cousins -first time this century
GOTTA WATCH MY BACK, "REVENGE" IS SCARY
Last night we were watching our addictive show "Revenge" whose premise is a daughter seeking to avenge the murder of her father, David Clarke. Last night we learned his date of death- April 22. I know that I will now incorporate this into my April dates and think I must visit the cemetery on April 22. Also, a new character was introduced-Aunt Carol. Her fake death is 4/24. She alive-hiding in Lancaster PA. Guess that is considered close to death. Hope that is Carol without the "e"
I mentioned this April thing in my Meditation class and was offered an explanation. Here it is. One's energy attracts others with similar life event dates, so since I have April anniversaries, I have connected with other Aprils. It is some sort of karmic universe thing. These ideas often float out after my yoga and meditation classes and I seize them as the truth for me, since empirical data does not support My Big April phenomenon.
In my research for this story-that would be googling online- I found that August and September are still the two top baby birth months (April not close) January is the #1death month (April not mentioned), June still most popular wedding month (April # 9)
The following article is about wedding months-http://kenlovephotography.com/?p=13224
There is nothing to show that April is trending.
I know April will continue to expand with important dates (for me, anyway). I am fine with it. I accept that I am an April magnet.
This is the week of our 30th wedding anniversary. April 24. We have not been away since 2010 so we thought this would be a good reason. When we go away, Liam goes away. His celebration of our anniversary is a concurrent stay at Best In Show Pet Resort. https://www.facebook.com/bispr
THAT'S LIAM CENTER AT PLAYGROUP
We then experienced a nor'easter on Sunday and then took off on our trip to our favorite getaway., The Beekman Arms at Rhinebeck. http://beekmandelamaterinn.com/
LIAM STANDING YELLOW COLLAR
Off Liam went to his Inn and then we went to ours. This blog will be photos and links a self guided journey. While away we were able to watch Liam in the posted pix on Best in Show's FB page.
We began the week with Saturday Dog Days at Old Westbury,Gardens, an annual April weekend when
dogs are permitted to walk and sniff around the luxurious Phipps
estate. Do things at trees. Glad we went on Saturday. Met Spencer, the beagle, Samantha's son. Missed her baby girl who was in the car, Guess cause it was Dog Days, not Baby Girl days. No pix of Liam and Spencer. We were all so surprised at our serendipitous meeting that we did not record their meeting, next time.
Sunday
Nor'easter- "April is the cruelest month." Thanks Kevin Grogan ( crazy NYC weather guy) http://nycweatherguy.blogspot.com/ for this special weather gift. Reminds us why we chose this month for our marriage...anything goes, weather wise.
LIAM NOR'EASTER NIGHT COZY AT HOME
Monday
THAT'S OUR BEEKMAN ARMS
We go on vacay for our 30th Wedding Anniversary. Pack up Liam's bag, check him in, he has to be carried in by the staffer. Not a good sendoff. Then off to Rhinebeck. Ferocious storm gone. Cold, rainy grey, raw- perfect Beekman Arms weather- read, eat, drink, sleep, browse, think- in the Oldest Inn in America.
Arielle. http://www.ariellerhinebeck.com/ our Monday dinners.
LAMB OSSO BUCCO
LAMB AND LENTILS
Tuesday
this is the day. 30 years.
and thanks to Oblong books for providing a browsing,welcome respite from the windy chill and a glorious selection of books, media, events. If you love books, check out this store- link here -http://www.oblongbooks.com/ Authors speak here. Reading "Guts" and the author Kristen Johnston is appearing April 29. Bought many cards. Artsy, progressive, friendly-they have ebooks!
LIAM AND BEAGLE BUDS-LIAM IS ONE QUARTER BEAGLE
Then Inn time-we watch Liam on my iPad. Thanks Steve Jobs... and to Best In Show for posting pix for vacationing parents.
I once did sign up for the dose at work (lead by example) and became paralyzed for a number of moments that then morphed into a semi drugged lethargic day. I decided that was it. No more flu shots.
I never get the flu, why should I have poison injected into my body? Flu shots are for the elderly and babies. I would not think of wasting a dose on myself when such fragile beings are in need. What a thoughtful person I am! I have been offered the shot often; it seems folks know I am not a believer and want me in the flu shot cult. And these flu-ists can be zealots. Last fall my internist offered me the flu shot, I declined, explaining, "I don't get the flu." "Okay," she continued, not missing a beat. "How about a shingles shot?" I took that one. I know many more people who have had shingles than have had the flu. In fact, right now, a close friend is suffering from shingles.
I have never had the flu.
I do not get the flu.
I am neither a baby nor an elderly person
I do not get the flu
Last Wednesday we were watching the ABC TV show Revenge -which was a refresher compilation of the action up until now-not a new episode- but welcome. see clip if you don't watch for a taste-
The characters are always at a party, so I poured a glass of cab and settled in to watch.
CANNOT DRINK THE WINE, WHATZ UP?
The wine did not taste right and I had no urge to finish it. This should have prompted an immediate 911 call, as there has never been an unfinished glass of red wine next to me. Within fifteen minutes, my head hurt, I had rocks in my chest, fever, chills, cough, aches, even my ears hurt and I had to pop out hearing aids for fear they would be melted into my feverish head or propelled out as projectiles from my swollen ear canals. And so it began.
EVERYTHING HURTS, CANNOT GET UP
Is this the flu? I never want it again. One minute you are fine and the next whacked and down. Moving hurts, reading hurts.
OUCH
Fever stats of 103.3, 102.5 lowest being 101.5 for 4 days. Last fever, Monday, 99.5.
I think I have had the flu.
I never want it again.
Cannot sit up, walk, or talk
I think I had the flu
Good things that come with having the flu
1-A perfect manicure-
for the first time my manicure lasted all week in perfect shape.
TOO MISERABLE TO MISS ANYONE
2-Did not feel sadness about missing cherished events
like our weekly Friday dinner at Crabtree's-I felt so miserable that I could not reach an emotional level of feeling of loss. I was in some sort of fugue state of fever and pain and my only goal was to feel less bad. Paul said he could wheel me in on a gurney, but even that kind offer did not appeal to me.
NIGHTMARES GONE, HALLUCINATIONS HERE
3-No nightmares
I suffer from two recurrent themed nightmares -one is that groups of people are trying to murder me and I know some of them; in the other one, groups are trying to exclude me and lose me- I also know some of them
during the flu-these nightmares are replaced by hallucinations of visitations by my mother.
NO ANXIETY, NO ENERGY FOR IT
4-No bouts of anxiety or depression-
I could not feel any brain activity other than headache or fever-so no bizarre unruly serotonin to induce fear, weepiness or my normal deep seated terror of daily life.
LATTE TO THE LEFT, LIAM RESTS
5-Liam stayed with me all day and all night never chided me for forgoing the flu shot. Love this dog!
And you thought having the flu was all bad
Thanks Anita, manager at "my" Starbucks, for the wishes and for my grande non-fat lattes, which kept me semi hydrated since I hate water. http://www.starbucks.com/store/15640/
BTW, Liam did get the flu shot. Really. That is why he is upright.
I am better which is why I am writing this blog while Liam rests. Will I now get the flu shot?
I guess so.
Maybe.
We are seeing Bruce at Madison Square Garden. Such an easy trip. We get off the train and do not even have to go out in the street. Just up the escalator and we are in. We are taking the 6:49, for a 7:30PM start. Bruce is pretty timely for a rock and roll icon-having come out at Friday's concert at 8:27PM. This is the WreckingBall tour. I have a concert prep procedure since the seventies (yes, you read correctly) I get ready by listening to the concert title CD, trying to recognize each song without looking at the song list. I also review playlists from the prior concerts. Now there are many videos online from recent concerts so I can put on a song, listen to it, get all psyched. People have recorded the entire concert from Friday. After all these years, I am one of the few people in the arena who cannot recognize most songs until Bruce and the band are into a few lines. Most people in the audience start singing along after a few notes. I don't know how they do it. Many know every single word of every song. I still mess up Born to Run sometimes. When New York, New York starts playing around 8:20- We know the drill. The band will come out of the hole soon. We are looking, standing, clapping, cheering. The first sighting always gives me chills. As the band emerges, some with arms around each other, my eyes fill with tears. This is a first for me-tears combined with the clapping, and rocking. I have been young with them and now older with them. We are all screaming and cheering and then it happens- Badlands- perfect. We are on our feet and will remain standing for the next 3 hours.
STANDING FOR THREE HOURS
The pure joy that I feel at Bruce concerts is almost spiritual. He almost preaches at times, cajoles us to hope, strive for redemption, urges us to party, participate, appreciate. He works in the new somber songs with the old classics and we love it. Though Wrecking Ball is sort of an angry sad collection of songs, the concert is not reflective of that mood. Bruce seems so young again, playing with the crowd and smiling and teasing us.
Some highlights for me
The camaraderie of the band -new and old -obviously enjoying and supporting each other, moving forward from loss to a better day
Bruce's playfulness-chugging two beers from the audience, some going down his shirt, grabbing and picking kids out of the audience, and an extended body surf on his back through the crowd- longest one that I have ever seen. -check it out-stay with it, he comes right by at the end horizontally.
The old songs-Spirit in the Night, Rosalita, Backstreets, She's the One Dancing in the Dark with his mother-Twenty seven years ago it was Courteney Cox up on stage with Bruce. Friday it is his 85-year-old mom, Adele, way
cute-. How does it feel to be the mother of Bruce Springsteen?
The departure-Bruce thanking each band member as they descend into the tunnel and waiting till he is alone, last one out there-then he looks up and waves to all of us-the party host wishing all a good night till next time
MIGHT AS WELL HAVE SOME WINE
Having a Guinness at Tracks with those who missed their trains -
I miss Clarence, first concert without him but we have his nephew Jake on the sax and all band members engaging with intense passion. It is a transporting evening yet a grounded one. I have smiled so much, and feel so connected to every single person here and that is what it is all about. As I write about the concert, I wish I had Bruce's ability to convey feelings with words. I have always loved his use of language, such a gift. A great storyteller. A little blarney at times to honor his Irish heritage.
Bruce introduced the Band during My City in Ruins acknowledging and calling each one out. Then when done, he turns to the crowd and shouts "Is anyone missing?" Is anyone missing?" We are all thinking Clarence, I am sure all are thinking of family and friends who are gone- as we grow older with Bruce we all have lost loved ones. Bruce asks again, "Is there anyone missing?"
He then answers
"As long as we are here
and you are here,
they are here."
Bruce closes with Tenth Avenue Freeze out- a song which has always provided an interplay between him and Clarence see next video where they reenact C joining the band- when we get to that line "the big man joins the band" a montage of photos of Bruce and Clarence comes on the big screen and singing stops, Bruce points to the screen-give a look while we scream, applaud and yes, blink away some tears, we watch the photos of Clarence and Bruce over the years- as the video ends, the song begins again, all of us singing, a united crowd joining in tribute
"As long as we are here, and you are here, they are here" (spirits in the night)
In honor of this celebration, the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) gives us a free ride to the parade and back- a
gesture of good will (often done on Holidays) and much appreciated by its riders. The unused tickets are good for two weeks from the date of purchase, the end date being Friday March 30, 2012. We had not planned a city trip until Easter weekend, which is past the deadline, so we devise a new plan to go in the following Saturday, March 24. We think we will do a museum and dinner but then calculate that in order to use the $29 tickets we will spend over $100-sort of crazy. We decide to dump this plan. I come up with another idea. I will give the tickets away. I see it as my duty to promote more good will by re-gifting our tix to others. Now, how do I do that? There are many places I go during the week where I can ask if anyone would like these tickets-but that does not ensure they will be used. I think the only way to be sure is to go to the LIRR station and select a person (s) ready to buy. That is what I did last Friday.
DO YOU WANT A TICKET TO RIDE?
Tickets to Riders
The off peak trains depart from New Hyde Park at 37 minutes after the hour-10:37. 11:37 etc. I decide against the 9:37, as that is always a crowded jumble of late workers, and early off peakers. My choice for my good deed will be the 11:37. I arrive at the station at 11:15, park near the ticket booth (not a legal spot, but I can jump in and move quickly) and wait by the car. How exciting! I am going to make two people happy. Think mitzvahs, random acts of kindness, paying it forward. Yes, I will share my good fortune. My goal is to locate two unconnected individuals. This way I will enjoy bliss twice. My first likely candidate approaches, a man dragging a small suitcase with one hand and smart-phoning with the other. As I ready myself to pounce, he turns and climbs up the stairs. Guess he already has a ticket. I return to my car. I do not want to look suspicious by
MUST NOT LOOK LIKE A STALKER
standing at the machine. I like the element of surprise. Another rider walks up, a fashionably dressed woman, business suit, perhaps she has a late meeting. Ah, yes! I see her head to the machine, then I follow. I reach her before she taps the screen. "I have an off peak round trip ticket that must be used today, can you use it?" I also throw in the story of St. Patrick's Day. "Yes," I can use it," she says, and thanks me profusely repeatedly. This is good. Just what I wanted. She enters the waiting room. Okay. Still have 15 minutes. There is no one. I am starting to panic. Two men walk up. I have only one ticket but ask them anyway. I explain; they reply, "only going to Woodside, is the ticket good for Woodside? "Yes, I say, "but I need someone to go to Penn, I want it to be fully used." I admire their honesty- they could have just taken it. I retreat to the car. A man pulls his Jeep close, gets out and goes to the machine. I try him. "No, I am getting my monthly pass for April." Oh, I should have figured he was not making a trip; he left his car running. Yikes. Time is running out.
ANYONE COMING TO BUY A TICKET?
I was off to such a rewarding start. I return to stand by my car. Two young men come walking fast; each one looks over at me.
HERE ARE TWO RIDERS
Both smile. I decide I will award my ticket to the second man as he smiles biggest and longest. As the first is buying his ticket, I offer second smiler my ticket-he gladly accepts it. Smiles all around. I am done! I feel as jubilant as the Beatles are singing Ticket to Ride. Enjoy....it follows
Reflections
I repeat my story several times during the day and am met with a great response. At some point though a speck of doubt enters my mind as to the purity of my moral compass. I did in fact got two free round trips. Were these tickets really mine to give away? It is not like I bought them and never got to the city. We did go to the city and back for free. Then I think, well, at least I did not try to sell them-now that would have been bad-not ethical. I did not put them on eBay. I did not hang around the station scalping them. I enjoyed the free trip and re-gifted it to to others. Yes, I can live with that. No sense losing sleep over it. I get so little anyway.
Thoughts,
memories, images, dreams are all flooding in lately; or are they welling up from inside? Visuals of childhood trips, Florida visits to my parents and conversations, snapshots and even videos of my mother, Ruth. All in my head. Are these from my forays into
Meditation, Yoga, and Body Prayer? Am I awakening dormant energy out there or letting out repressed, forgotten events? Or is it both? Not sure. I feel like I cannot stop the thoughts, they just keep coming-Ruth is roaming about in my everyday life. Not surprising as last Saturday, March 24th was the two
year anniversary of her death. I do not recall having Ruth connections
last year- that was the snowy winter. This March was warm, as was March of 2010. Maybe the
similar warmth has been a catalyst. Last week we entered spring
chronologically then leaped into summer temperatures. The week was full of record breaking temps in the
70's, resulting in an explosion of early blooming flowers and trees. Early in the week, I put out Ruth's Rose
Garden sign. Ruth's favorite photo of Liam is etched on the sign-it is the one she kept on her desk. See next photo.
RUTH'S ROSE GARDEN OFFICIALLY OPEN
I wondered if this would produce some karmic energy manifesting itself in a sign from Ruth. Didn't know what I was hoping for, but something that would make me think of her. Nothing out of the ordinary happened all week.
Friday, March 23 was the day for Liam's biannual shots. He does not like even entering the
vet's office.
This time our experience is different. Very shortly
after we are seated in the waiting room (yes, Liam sits next to me on
the bench) we are asked to come back to the examination room. Wait,
this is not the routine procedure. Usually, one of the staff comes out, takes
Liam, endures his kisses and jumps, and disappears with him into one of the back rooms. The
injections are completed out of my sight. Why are we going
inside? and together? Going inside with me reminds Liam of the
annual physical, an appointment during which he cries and groans. We are welcomed into the exam
room by Kenny. As Liam tries to back out, Kenny asks info while making
entries on the PC. Then he says, "Let's weigh Liam." Liam slumps,
stiffens, I cannot lift him; he has made himself dead weight, limp, immovable. There is no "give" here; I will need Kenny's professional assistance.
LIAM AS A DEAD WEIGHT
Kenny steps in, lifts Liam up onto the metal weigh machine. Oh, Liam is upset. I
cannot believe he is only 34 pounds. He felt a stone statue. Kenny
leaves. I am confused. What about the shots? We are alone about 5
minutes. Seems like much longer.
Then Kenny returns with another person,
a woman, petite, smiling, I see a syringe in her hand. She is older
than I am. She verifies with me that Liam is getting two injections, "Yes, a
double dose today," I say. I am still wondering why our visit has been
ratcheted-up to an inside room, to a two person meeting, with a
weigh-in and updates to the file. This appointment is special. Very
caring and nice. Then I see the nameplate. The vet is Ruth. Ruth is here! Liam relaxes with her touch. Here is a Ruth to comfort Liam. And a double dose of Ruth, as her last name is
almost identical to my mother's close friend in Fl. also a Ruth. Two Ruth's represented. Wow. Shots administered by Ruth with Kenny holding Liam. Then we are done. We say goodbye, thank you, all that.
LIAM ROAMS THE GARDEN
I take
it as an "Ruth" appearance for Liam, for me, for the anniversary. I might have asked at the front, if the vet is new, visiting, and why the change in the
procedure. I don't. I want it to be a Ruth sign. If I receive plausible explanations then the magic will be determined a coincidence. No, I want it to be more.
I am not sure if we will see our loved ones again. If we do will they recognize us? Will we know them?
I take what I can get now. The "Ruth " vet is our sign and a double dose for two years she has been gone. I know, a reach, perhaps, a little wacky. I am open to such occurrences/visitations. Trying to be more so.
reflecting
thinking
focusing
on signs, energy, thoughts, memories, premonitions, messages from wherever they come.
