Any Tom Petty fans in the room? "The Waiting" is stuck in my head:
The waiting is the hardest part
Every day you see one more card
You take it on faith, you take it to the heart
The waiting is the hardest part
When holidays approach, waiting really is the hardest part. Whether it's Mother's Day, my mom's birthday, the anniversary of when she passed away, or this time of year for Thanksgiving, the emotional roller coaster begins. Here's the pattern:
2-3 weeks before: Excitement!!! This year, it's going to be fine! I'm older, wiser, more mature, [insert any compliment here].
1 week before: Oh no. Oh no, oh no, oh no. I'm still just a kid, and she still won't be there.
2 days before: The blues.
Day of: Totally fine.
Sounds pretty nutty, huh? It can feel that way, too. If grief comes in waves, then holidays are total riptides. Luckily, most of us have found lifesavers: friends or family member who are always there for you. Tomorrow, I'll tell you about two people who lift my spirits on Thanksgiving. For tonight, Tom Petty's my buoy. I'll just keep listening to "The Waiting" and reminding myself that by turkey time, I'll be feeling fine.
Here's a funny video of Tom Petty from the '80s! What song comforts you? Help build my playlist!
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When I feel like I am having a Thanksgiving day nutty I just eat enough turkey to put myself into a nice tryptophan induced sedation. That normally does the trick. Also, most holidays my father and I form an alliance, let's call it "team sarcasm". That usually makes things fun.
ReplyDeleteAnything from Graceland, Paul Simon. Also, The Bird And The Bee. They're so sugary sweet I can't help but get distracted.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, I will admit it... Oxford Comma, Vampire Weekend. G'head, make fun.
P.S. My verification word this time is "guess". This is the first time I've ever gotten a real word!
I'm so glad to have found your blog through the Glamour article. My close friend lost her mother when she was 18 (now 28) and I made sure to pass this on to her. You are doing a great thing for other people --- sharing your personal story; giving them a place to help them cope. I'll be following your blog in Google Reader. Looking forward to more excellent writing from you!
ReplyDelete