It’s worth a nickel
Time for vodka tonic
I always say, “when life gives you lemons, make a vodka tonic.”
I say this, despite definitely preferring lime in my vodka tonic. But you know what I’m getting at.
It’s been sort of a terrible couple of weeks.
Some things aren’t really appropriate to share here, because they could get me in trouble if I wrote about them so publicly.
But a few things I can share.
With the economy in its current state, working in corporate America really stinks right now. We are all working under a cloud of fear, and Paul has been pretty much in constant fear of losing his job since November. So far, so good, but it’s tough to live that way for so long.
In the last week, two people I care about very much were laid off from IBM. For no good reason … or at least not for any reason we can divine or understand.
And that’s just scratching the surface. So as I sit here, sleepless and wallowing in self pity, I wonder: why not make a vodka tonic?
(That’s figurative, in case you were wondering.)
2 Responses to Time for vodka tonic
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A few thoughts…
> No point worrying about something you have no control over and that hasn’t happened yet
> Trust me, unemployment is not all that bad!
> Everything happens for a reason, even if the reason is not obvious at the time
> Be thankful you and Paul are healthy and have each other
> Someone else always has it worse than you
> Instead of vodka tonic, try a lemon drop!
> You’re my cousin…how bad could life be???
The perspicacious poster above me has issued some very sage advice, but do permit yourself some time to grieve, fume, or shut down/shut out when the going gets tough. For some reason, Westerners don’t allow themselves that. Even at funerals, we tell ourselves that “being strong” equals “not crying.” Sometimes you need to take a day or three to curl into yourself, mope, sit around watching Judge Judy all day unshowered in your pajamas and festooned with Cheetos crumbs. As unpleasant and selfish as it feels to “wallow,” sometimes we need that introspection and isolation, to process what we’re facing, get in touch with how we feel, and to work out a self-rescue from that darkness. Though the adage is a nice sentiment, I wish it were true that every dark cloud had a silver lining, but some don’t. I don’t mean to say you shouldn’t put things in perspective (though things could be better, certainly, things could always be much worse) and try to stay positive and forward–eventually, the sun will break even the darkest thunderheads–but I think too quickly we try to shoo away darkness, grief, anger, and pain because they’re unpleasant, instead of allowing ourselves to unabashedly unpetal before we get back to this tough thing called living. Life can be extraordinarily unfair, insane, irrational, hurtful; it’s only natural to crave that drink in the middle of the night, a brief respite from the chaos. Fuck, that’s why I’m a poet.
After all, you can’t pick your chin up without first having angled it downward. It is said that if you find yourself going through hell, keep going: eventually, you’ll get out the other side. At the difficult times, maximize the facets of life that bring you the most comfort, pleasure, and strength, remember to breathe in and out, remember that the end of every chapter yields a new chapter holding the potential for plenty of light and positivity. You’re a strong, good person with a backbone of family and friends stronger and more enduring than any vodka tonic. You will be okay. For now, sleep until noon and leave the phone unanswered if need be, but do take care of yourself. You’ll soon be ready to tackle any obstacles in your path. You will be okay. In short: there, there, my friend.