This blog category is the journaling and journey-ing of my quest to say (with cautious sincerity) “Hello, Anxiety” and to take a look at the condition from my “me-andering” views.
A blog category about finding “art” in unexpected places and situations.
So I was walking down the hall, mindfully minding my own business, when I looked over and saw Boopers perched in what seemed to be a deep transcendental meditative trance.
I looked closer, behind the meditating cat, and saw … this.
Her? Him? They? A … being, with two eyes, both upper and lower noses, a tongue-y mouth, not to mention hair that could use a shampoo.
I waited impatiently until Boopers finished with a Downward Dog and an ardent “Namaste!” and asked if he knew who that was behind him.
“All I can tell you,” Boopers coyly purred in Zen-like calmness, “is that her name is Cordy and I find her smile electrifying.”
I walked away, satisfied with his answer, then turned around to see Boopers standing intimately close to Cordy, staring into her eyes.
1. Realizing that some broken things CAN be fixed.
My special wooden “N” (for Neal) that I somehow dropped and splintered.
But now it’s back on the top of my Desires Board, next to Mr. Happy and down just a bit from my Yes Stick. (Okay, I can see your furrowed brow. During the pandemic, HR and I traveled to a bunch of Georgia State parks, where we went on many a hike. I would often see a Y-shaped stick or tree branch on the trail and tell Robert it was a Yes Stick, to pause and think of something to say “Yes!” to. On one marvel-ous hike at Tugaloo State Park, HR saw this Y Stick, brought it home and shellacked it for us. Yes! TMI?)
2. The incredible ability to walk (which I usually just take for granted). To be able to put one foot in front of the other … and go forward! Try it!
3. Finally finishing with Robert this week the eye-, mind- and heart-opening A New Origin Story: The 1619 Project.
A difficult but so important read about the role that slavery and racism played in our nation’s founding—and continues to play in the U.S. today.
I wish its meticulously documented truths could be taught in every high school.
For some reason, I have always appreciated “the view from behind.” As a child, on the first day of each school year, I was a nervous wreck waiting for the teacher to announce our seating arrangement. Front of the class? 😢 Too much exposure! Far too much responsibility to “be.” A nice, comfy seat toward the back? 😁 Perfect. I get to observe, to “see.” To breathecalmly.
In this blog category, “The View from Behind,” I invite you to join me, somewhere in the back.
I have not always been proud. As a matter of fact, it took most of a lifetime to come to terms with being gay. That designation, that reality, somehow took a hidden back seat.
But in my … EARLY senior years, I am attempting to embrace the gay joy of being gay.
NealEnJoy 