Trust Your Cape

 Obstacles.  Decisions.  Blessings and disappointments.

Life happens.

Years ago I was lucky enough to attend a concert where Lyle Lovett, Johh Hiatt, Guy Clark, and Joe Ely all performed on stage at Merrill Auditorium, one of the nicest concert venues we have in Maine.  Songwriters all, every bit of music was amazing.  It didn't matter whether it was familiar or heard for the first time, every song delighted the audience.

One song stands out when I think of that concert.  It came to mind tonight....
 
The Cape
   by Guy Clark, Jim Janosky, Susanna Wallis Clark

Eight years old with a flour sack cape tied all around his neck
He climbed up on the garage, he's figurin' what the heck, well
He screwed his courage up so tight that the whole thing come unwound
He got a runnin' start and bless his heart, he's headed for the ground

Well, he's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape

Now, he's all grown up with a flour sack cape tied all around his dream
And he's full of spit and vinegar and he's bustin' at the seam
Well, he licked his finger and he checked the wind, it's gonna be do or die
And he wasn't scared of nothin', boys, he was pretty sure he could fly

Well, he's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape

Now, he's old and gray with a flour sack cape tied all around his head
And he's still jumpin' off the garage and will be till he's dead
All these years the people said, he was actin' like a kid
He did not know he could not fly and so he did

Well, he's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape
Yes, he's one of those who knows that life is just a leap of faith
Spread your arms and hold your breath and always trust your cape

Sing A Song A Sign

I came late to compact disc player ownership.  I had a fine record collection and didn't think those small shiny discs would ever replace vinyl.  I held out as long as I could, but the time came when the music I wanted to buy was not available on vinyl because CDs had indeed caught on.

It didn't take long for me to see why CDs were so popular ~ an entire "record" would play with one touch of the finger.  I was soon a fan.  I didn't have to stop painting or cooking or washing windows to turn the record over halfway through.

Imagine my amazement, years later, when we purchased a CD player that held five discs.  With years of practice I have perfected use of the shuffle mode that plays songs from the discs at random. I pride myself on my ability to "mix" music so that the artists and songs complement each other and provide hours of enjoyable listening.

My daughter enjoys a lot of the same music I do.  When she visits, she will sometimes put a mix together.  Other times she starts the music that's already in the player, and tonight that was her choice.

My daughter's last twenty-four hours have been busy.  It is one thing to make plans; it is something else altogether when everything that needs to happen falls into place all at once.  Someone made an offer on my daughter's house last evening, and it's only been listed for four weeks.  Today she made an offer on a house that was listed just yesterday.  And now things need to happen at warp speed....

So tonight's mix of the music of John Hiatt, Maia Sharp, Toad the Wet Sprocket, Van Morrison, and Alanis Morissette was just the right sound at the end of an overwhelming day.  We had a meal of delicious leftovers and plotted all the possible things to do next with no way to know what tomorrow holds, much less what next week looks like.  My daughter and her dog said good-night and as I heard her car door close, Alanis Morissette came on the stereo.  It was too perfect for me not to share.  It really "is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine."  

"Hand In My Pocket"
by Alanis Morissette

I'm broke but I'm happy
I'm poor but I'm kind
I'm short but I'm healthy, yeah
I'm high but I'm grounded
I'm sane but I'm overwhelmed
I'm lost but I'm hopeful baby
What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving a high five

I feel drunk but I'm sober
I'm young and I'm underpaid
I'm tired but I'm working, yeah
I care but I'm restless
I'm here but I'm really gone
I'm wrong and I'm sorry baby

What it all comes down to
Is that everything's gonna be quite alright
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is flicking a cigarette
And what it all comes down to
Is that I haven't got it all figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is giving the peace sign

I'm free but I'm focused
I'm green but I'm wise
I'm hard but I'm friendly baby
I'm sad but I'm laughing
I'm brave but I'm chickenshit
I'm sick but I'm pretty baby

And what it all boils down to
Is that no one's really got it figured out just yet
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is playing the piano
And what it all comes down to my friends
Is that everything's just fine fine fine
'cause I've got one hand in my pocket
And the other one is hailing a taxi cab

[Harmonica solo]

Itchy

Last week started hot and humid.  I don't mind the humidity as long as it comes with high temperatures and sunshine.

Since rain was predicted later in the week, Monday was the time to tackle some much neglected outdoor chores.  I worked awhile.  Then I washed up good before I walked down to the road to get the mail.  On the way I pulled a few weeds from the lower flowerbed, a spot that has been turned over and fertilized so many times that now flowers and weeds share equal real estate.

Once back inside I took a long shower, proud of what I had accomplished and sure I'd get back outside in a day or two to finish weeding.  I had a good crop of mosquito bites but that's par for the course.

It was all the washing up that saved me.

By Tuesday afternoon I realized that the welts on my right wrist and hand were not bug bites but the result of a run-in with poison ivy.  Through years of camping and yardwork I've never had poison ivy, but my daughter confirmed my suspicion that evening.  The secret was not to scratch, which spreads the rash.

That night I started soaping up with Fels-Naptha soap, which I happened to have in the laundry room.  I slathered soothing cream on any spot with a hint of rash and wore socks on my hands to sleep.  I was able to sleep until the early morning hours when I got up to rinse and repeat. 

Wednesday I made a baking soda poultice, held in place with plastic wrap and rubber bands, and that offered more relief.  I was able to sew and iron with a sock on my right hand.  What a sight I must have been.  There was baking soda dust throughout the house as the paste dried, but that was a small price to pay.

Thursday I mixed vinegar with water and kept it in the refrigerator.  I soaked paper towels with the mixture and applied it to the rash, which was thankfully beginning to look better.  I was lucky that I realized what I had gotten into before the rash spread and I was covered in itchy welts.

Saturday night was the first night I slept through without waking with the urge to scratch.  Today I feel almost back to normal.  I had acupuncture this morning, and she gave me herbs which will further speed along the healing.

A quick look from a distance tells me that there's more poison ivy in the flower bed, which I can identify now that I know what to look for.  Seeds must have blown in from elsewhere because this is a new problem close to the house.  I need to get that poison out of there before it spreads or anyone else gets exposed.  Showers are predicted over the next few days and that may be the best time to get that job done.

If you're looking for me, I'm the one covered from head to toe in protective clothing, hat, gloves, glasses....