Magenta

“Magenta…that’s what I call it when I get that way. All kinds of feelings tumbling all over themselves. Well you know, you’re not quite blue, because you’re not really sad. And although you’re a little bit jealous you wouldn’t say you’re green with envy. And every now and then you realize you’re kind of scared but you’d hardly call yourself yellow…I hate that feeling. Just hate it. And I hate the color magenta. That’s why I named it that. Magenta. No way to really explain it but, fortunately between friends you don’t have to.” ~ Blanche Devereaux, The Golden Girls

For me, The Golden Girls was one of those tv shows that delivered life’s messages in nuggets, kind of like listening to my grandmother’s stories or reading something my mother wrote.  I would get so hooked on the intricacies of the silly details that the learning would only come later, with the remembering.

Today is a magenta day.  This quote has been running through my head on and off for the past few weeks as I’ve tangled and wrangled with the injury to my hand and trying to feel better.  But today it fits.

I went back to the surgeon this morning for my post-op follow-up.  He delivered the good news that in terms of healing I am exactly where I should be –if not a slight bit ahead of schedule– and that the physical therapy is off to a good start towards recovery.

So why magenta?  Because the wound is once again flirting with infection, so another two-week course of antibiotics begins again.  Because after four weeks away from work, I have at least three more to wait to return (and silly optimistic me had hoped to be back ages ago….. ).  Because it is one of those days where all I can see are the things going undone or half-done, instead of those things that are good and healing and getting better each moment.  Because I’ll admit to being tired and a wee bit grumpy to boot.

So magenta it is.  Tomorrow will be blue skies and sunshine again, I know that.  I’m counting on that.

But today is magenta.  And, as Blanche said so well, “fortunately between friends you don’t have to explain” why.

What’s your color today?

Note:  Here’s a link to the clip of the conversation about magenta on The Golden Girls:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZQskFZFuPE

A Pox Upon This House

Wow.  Where did that week…. um, two weeks go? The short answer: there was an evil pox upon our house!

After a late July working vacation, we began moving into our new place the day following our return in early August.  By late August, I finally thought we were getting our feet back under us.  The empty boxes were disappearing.  Three trips to IKEA and a weekend of putting bookshelves together helped that process a lot.  It was the magical moment in late August when summer is winding down, fall is on the brink but not yet here, and school is still a holiday weekend away from beginning.  That was one reason we picked August 31 as our wedding date lo those 13 years ago!  Okay, it also was Labor Day weekend that weekend and, with families arriving from two different states, we did the whole weekend wedding thing.  But we also like the season.  We love traveling after the kids are back in school, mostly because we don’t have any!   But that last week of August is a golden week in our household.  We celebrate not only our anniversary but also mourn the end of a summer free of regular work/school routines and the passing of county fairs, local festivals, and Mondays off into memory.

So much for peaceful, though.  On our anniversary, my husband came down with a wicked infection, eventually diagnosed as cellulitis, so the following week was one full of doctor’s appointments, antibiotics, Sharpied-on leg tattoos, and eventually a  consultation with a surgeon!  The measly cold I ended up with by the end of the week  –all coughy, sneezy, and blowy– was nothing in comparison.

But via the magical power of antibiotics, this week he got the all-clear from the surgeon!  Huzzah, Hurray, and Hallelujah!  Now, school has started, fall has most definitely arrived, and we lost that last precious week of quiet calm because some irritated gremlin hexed our house. But I will not complain, but rather focus on the good – he’s well, and that trumps all.

Hope September is off and rolling for you!

Catch you later.