Is there anything you’re hoping for? Are you as optimistic as these children? Were you ever that optimistic in the past? How did it turn out?
Hope Springs Eternal
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Is there anything you’re hoping for? Are you as optimistic as these children? Were you ever that optimistic in the past? How did it turn out?
I think I’m optimistic in the sense that I’m pretty sure my partner and I will continue to get on well and that we’ll have an enjoyable life together.
About the climate crisis I am near to despair. Those in thrall to the vested interests seem to be running the show.
Evan,
Yes, the world is changing fast, and it’s not just climate change. There’s also nuclear proliferation and the growing population with its pressure on the ecosystem and probable battles for resources. It’s time to focus on compassion and courage, not just hope.
When I’m optimistic, everything is going along so swell & then BAM! something bad happens.
When I’m pessimistic I’m delightfully surprised that– it never came about.
Now I don’t classify events. I take them as they come.
bikehikebabe,
I used to assume things would go wrong and be pleasantly surprised. That’s why I don’t believe in the Law of Attraction…I love my life and it certainly has nothing to do with my always visualizing good things. 🙂
Now I’m too busy enjoying the present to worry about the future.
I’m hoping it will rain properly real soon as this region and other nearby regions have either got a drought or have been given the official ‘yes’ to drought…it doesn’t particularily affect the city dwellers other than there will be garden watering restrictions soon but the market gardeners and animal farmers will be in difficulties.
I am hoping that the list I provided by main ‘santa gift’ provider actually read it properly and didn’t do his usual thing of … I’m sure she doesn’t really want it exactly like that! I have got the packages already here and I threw a comment “did you keep the receipts?” – hope so since a couple of years ago he didn’t and I still have a piece of kitchen equipment that will not fit in my current microwave!!
Cathy,
Good luck! It’s frustrating to have things you want and to be given something else…something you can’t possibly use. That’s the part of gift giving I dislike. 🙁
I am with BHB; wish I had her wisdom. I am the eternal optimist. Consequently axed at every corner. How did father of my son say, in one of his moments of exasperation with me: “And then you stand there with your big wide eyes full of surprise [at something else not having quite worked out as expected] …” Yeah, well, better stand and stare at misfortune than being flattened by it.
Do I learn? Don’t think so. As time passes I am becoming more negative whilst unable to erradicate my in-bred optimism. Caught between two opposing poles. I don’t like it.
One of the worst things said to me (I must have been about nineteen) – by my father: “If you, Ursula, heard – whilst driving down the motorway – that there was ONE driver coming towards traffic in the wrong direction you’d say: What do they mean? One? They are ALL going in the wrong direction.”
Funny? Yes. Stung? To this day. Accurate? I’d rather not know.
U
Speaking of being between two opposing poles, I hear one person’s take & agree. Then I hear the the opposite view & I believe that’s true too.
Point is nothing is black or white. If you are in an argument, consider this–you BOTH are right.
Right, not always, Bike Hike Babe. Neither side. Sometimes it’s all grey. Am very down, have been for some time, hate myself for not any longer being able to snap out of it. Doesn’t matter about me; hate son seeing me like this. And my mother – whilst miles away – she is not easily deceiced. Yet am barely able to be my old cheerful self to keep everyone else happy.
As to arguments – have become a virtual recluse, so no more of those. Miss them, in a friendly way.
U
Go seeking a close friend, don’t eat sugar, take a swift walk everyday… The weather in England doesn’t help, but Winter will go away. You’re in a grey funk, but that’s not forever. Get a doctor to give you some pills. (Medical marijuana???) Think of me. I’ll soon be 78 & you are but a little more than half my age.
My dear Bike Hike Babe, thank you. Since I don’t have a sweet tooth there is little danger of sugar. Am eating so little, walking so much I have fallen off the flesh. I am back to a young girl’s outline (running comment: “Mama, you are killing yourself.”) As to age I am much closer to you than people think. Everyone takes me for so much younger. I am 55, the same as the year I was born in; my mother was 22. Always looked forward to my 55th birthday (12 September); seemed special yet turned out possibly one of the worst and loneliest days of my life.
Can only guess why I keep running to you (and the Petri dish Jean): I can’t do this to my own mother. It would break her heart.
Yes, doctors and pills. Doesn’t always work. Sometimes in life there are no pills to fix a blip. Anyway, as the nursery rhyme goes: I am quite contrary – not on purpose. It’s annoying. Give me a sleeping pill and I will be up all night. A few years ago I had some medication and sank into a black hole deeper than the one I had fallen into initially. I became a shadow of myself till I decided to toss the lot. I don’t know, Cynthia, sometimes we just have to go with the flow. Where there is a tide there will be an ebb. Myself being of the flotsome – resurfacing.
U
Looking at the positive, “I am back to a young girl’s outline”, & “Everyone takes me for so much younger.” How many people can say that! Vanity cures all–or can help. More later
Ursula,
Grey, dead and empty… I know that feeling. It sucks! But you’re right, one size doesn’t fit all and sometimes all we can do is function the best we can until things change again. Good luck. My heart goes out to you.
There was attempt by the weather-god to deal with the drought this morning. I awoke to the sound of something dripping but it turned out it was only a trial-run and the drizzle that accompanied on my morning dedicated walk – soon disappeared and scorching hot day evolved 🙂
Cathy,
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for you. We need precipitation here too.
Cathy, “scorching hot day” sounds weird to us because we are freezing here.
Ursula, I’ll always remember your birthday because I graduated college in Sept of ’55, your birth year & month. My 1st born was two years later on the 11th of Sept. (Yours the 12th). Sept 11 was when the planes flew into the 2 towers of NYC, & they burned & fell to the ground killing over 5 thousand. Not a bad birthdate. Millions of people remember that day.
bikehikebabe, I think it’s got something to do with (tongue in cheek): geography
– that you have rather cold stuff and I have rather warm stuff
but I could be wrong!
Jean, no more precipitation – although I note our weather webpage says to expect showers today and tomorrow they will early morning…but then all clearing to a fine one! At this point this morning no showers seen!
Cathy,
Please keep us posted. My husband watches the weather report every evening. The pattern has been a few days of clear weather then a storm moving in. But the “storms” haven’t brought any precipitation to speak of.
we need the compromise – rain!
It’s now 3.30pm and the promised morning showers didn’t drop by
I guess the idea that we write ‘the inhabitants a story would be best under the circumstances’ didn’t quite work out.
remember the auckland and north are in the region is the very narrow part of the North Island – both oceans are close so the weather can whiz past very quickly!
http://www.backpack-newzealand.com/mapofnewzealand.html
this 2nd one is a bit better at what Auckland is on a map width 🙂 http://www.backpack-newzealand.com/mapofnorthisland.html
Cathy,
I looked you up on our globe this afternoon. You’re about the same distance south of the equator as we are north. I figured that you’re so close to the sea(s) that your climate would be moderate. How hot does it get in summer? We sometimes get into the 90’s, but mostly it’s not bad here…our elevation is about 7200 ft.
Our weather can change fast too…and we can tell ahead of time because it depends on the jet stream and we can feel it (it gets very windy) when it passes over us!
I hadn’t realized North Island was so narrow where you are. Thanks for the link to the map. 🙂
well, it appears that your blog conversation starter has worked!
about the time, I was thinking of getting up to go walking I heard the pitter/patter of rain drops and indeed it was something similar to rain rather than drizzle
didn’t go for a walk because it didn’t let up and in fact it is still steadily raining…I don’t think it really has stopped. Because there is no wind it’s stationary. It’s not cold though, quite humid.
we suffer from humidity more than really hot temperatures…the humidity is a bit of a bummer because in the late afternoon it will go very dark, threatening rain clouds but never get around to it OR it will drop a short rain break which we think GREAT…except after it stops it’s more murky humidity SO makes no difference.
if it rains in the summertime…most people don’t even bother with running for cover because it’s a respite and we all know we will be dry quickly – this usually on a lesser humid day! On a humid day we are sticky nearly all day…sometimes all night as well 🙁
if you live directly by the coastline you might be lucky to get a sea breeze but I am about 30mins walk from my nearest coastline, an inner harbour!
my asthma trigger is humidity! So I am more mindful of that in the Summertime and keep a watching eye on daily meds/breathing…
update!
rain stopped dashing down about 10.30am
now at 12 noon – sun is speeding forth, birds are chirping and I think our rain break has gone…
Cathy,
I love the weather updates. 🙂
We’re lucky here because the air is usually dry. It makes a huge difference. We have lived in areas where it was humid and the cold can just go through you in winter and the muggy summers are miserable without an air conditioner.
no more rain – hot, hot and a bit sticky and humid…apparently the humidity is in the mid 90s and above!
and it feels like that, quite draining…think I might have a short shut-eye period 🙂
Well it’s freezing cold here. Maybe better because we can pile on the warm clothes. But there’s only so much YOU can take off without being arrested.
LOL bikehikebabe 🙂
well it is ‘raining again today’ but it doesn’t feel like rain when you are in it – it’s rather windy and there isn’t really any sun but it’s not dark/cloudy
my computer is acting strange today…yesterday it did a lot of things which it does from time to time but now it’s not co-operating in certain areas so my gravatar may have swanned off!!
Cathy,
Your gravatar is coming in just fine. 🙂
Do you get much wind there? It gets very windy here when the jet stream passes over.
bikehikebabe,
I agree with you…I’d much rather it be too cold than too warm. But the nice thing about the dry air here is you can make your own personal swamp cooler by wearing a damp T-shirt or draping a damp towel around your shoulders. I’ve done that many a time. It wouldn’t work where Cathy is, though.
I was surprised to read that in India they sometimes use swamp coolers even when the air is humid. I can’t imagine them doing much good.
jean
I am not sure how much wind we get but when it is windy and you are in town – the street garbage bins are sporting a lot of ‘blown inside out and totally destructed’ brollies. On very windy wet days I prefer my trustworthy full length rain coat…and leave the brolly at home!
nope dam towels are not wanted – something icy is far better down the throat 🙂
Cathy,
The umbrellas blown inside out and in the garbage bins count as strong winds in my book. 🙂
I looked up brolly before I saw your comment. (Does she really say brolly instead of umbrella?)
A wet T-shirt to keep cool is a very good idea. I used to lie down in a stream on a long hot bicycle ride. A very good cool- down
yep, manufacturers and retailers sell umbrellas but locals mostly refer to them as ‘brolly’
lots of things here get shortened, probably slang like but just what people say…