RESET

Reset

I started using my computer this a.m. without my glasses. Big mistake. Didn’t realize how messed up my eyes were until I stepped onto the front porch and the tree leaves were blurred. Sat, reached for my #rosary, closed my eyes and said the #GloriousMysteries.

First time I ever heard the word meditation and paid attention, I was a student at #LSUNO. My #FineArts classmate #MariaBrunies, now friend #MariaBeard led a group of us to a meadow next to #LakePontchartrain. She’d been learning #TM; we practiced with her. After several times, I walked to the lake alone and tried, AND SUCCEEDED. FOR THE LAST TIME. Tripping, seeing myself sitting in the grass as my body rose closer and closer to the clouds freaked me out. Never did that again.

However, years later, thinking I needed a reset, I found a booklet entitled #ZenForChristians. Just the breathing while mentally repeating the chant was relaxing.

Many years later, husband and two children, I went on a #HolyWeek retreat in #SantaRosa California. I know, most people go there for the horses. Every day, I tried to climb a small hill, about the height of two or three #NewOrleans #levees. On #EasterSunday, I was determined to make it to the top. Joy at my accomplishment, I assumed the position. Silent chants, easy breaths, united me with TIMELESSNESS, WEIGHTLESSNESS, BEING AND NOT BEING, #SATORI, THE ALL.

What seems a lifetime later, I find it hard to concentrate, breathe slowly, and fill my mind for more than a half minute before I latch onto one or two pressing thoughts. But, I have rosaries throughout the house, a screened in front porch, fresh air, chirping birds by day, cicadas and tree frogs by night. One day, I remembered that I was taught to meditate on the mysteries. If you have nothing to think about, trying meditating on those. The old fifteen – Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious – will take you on many journeys. Or just reset. I’d known how to meditate a long time before I was introduced to TM.

Easter

This past week would have passed in a blur 70 years ago. There were no days off from school, because classes attended Mass every morning during Lent and students and their parents were expected to be present for the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday. Students were also expected to spend time in church for Forty Hours Devotion, a time when the Eucharist had been removed from the premises.

This left only Saturday for most to shop for their #Easter finery. Stores were not open at night. There were a few malls,  but they kept regular weekend hours and nothing opened on Sundays, not even grocery stores. Canal Street in #NewOrleans was almost as crowded as Carnival. There was no shoving or hysterics. Privileged children ran about the aisles and hid under clothing racks. People waited impatiently in long lines, but were cordial to each other and broached subjects of interests as they waited their turn in the waiting rooms. Women swapped recipes. Everyone wanted to know what other families served on Easter. At home, mothers prepared the dye and boiled eggs. With delight, children creatively colored the eggs while mother prepped for tomorrow’s meal. Late at night, all the beauty salons and barber shops closed. Women wrapped their hairdos and those of their daughters or lounged uncomfortably on sofas and day beds to prevent muss.

In the morning, everyone rose early to go to several dozen denominational Christian churches. They were all dressed to the nines. Shoes were shined and boys were warned not to scuff them whether they were new or old. Girls in flounced dresses, some with balloon slips beneath.  Parents in suits with pastel shirts to match spouse dresses. Everywhere, there were beautifully sculpted hats or pillboxes with netting. Afterward, children rushed to change their clothes and sneaked jelly beans while Mother prepared last minute food items and Father read the newspaper. A few children dared to open wrapped chocolates from their #Easterbaskets. They didn’t have to feign hunger. No one was allowed to eat anything before going to communion. Little children were too young and old people were exempt from this practice. Either company came to the house or the family went to other family residences. It was a festive day.

In a couple of weeks, my mother gave us all #CitrateofMagnesia, so we could maintain our good health.

L.A. ‘71

Politically incorrect to the max - - -not in # The Book

#PineapplePrincess song by #AnnetteFunicello 1960 – one year after our 50th state. I suppose this song is politically incorrect on several levels, but it was in a YouTube music mix and immediately reminded me of #NancyNakoa, a Hawaiian girl I hung out with in the summer of ’71 in L.A. My Spanish was still good after studying four years of it prior to college and my two semesters at LSUNO with #BeatrizCuellar and Senora Patron. The Chicanos hit on Nancy every few blocks and I answered in Spanish, because she didn’t speak that language. They just stared at me. Eventually, she got comfortable enough to laugh with me about it.

FUN(NY) PROJECT

not in # The Book

20th century Louisiana, the #BayouState. #New Orleans in movies and on TV. Leave #CityPark or #AudubonPark, enter a #FrenchQuarter front door and exit through the back onto a bayou. Pirogue waiting at the veranda. And Voodoo, of course.

Fun project for the two of us - I worked with a photographer for a short while. As we tramped around NOLA on a lazy Saturday morning, he lay down on the street to get the perfect shot. I did a bit of writing before I realized, he was still laying there. I told him several times that he needed to get up. We had places to go and things to do. He ignored me as friends are wont to do. As I walked over to him, he suddenly jumped up yelling at me to make it stop. “Make it stop!” he repeated, hopping from leg to leg ang batting his clothes. I was flabbergasted and wondered why he was shouting at me.

When I got close, I saw thousands of agitated ants scattering away from my dancing friend. He’d obviously not felt them as they crawled on his shoes, pants, and jacket, but once they got under the pants legs, he was alerted. I burst into laughter as I realized he’d fallen for the myth that everyone in New Orleans practiced Voodoo.

MALL ‘85

Steve Perry             Oh Sherrie              not in # The Book

Mall security guard Steve was doing his rounds. It was a slow day in the small mall, so I stood outside where he could see me. Most people rarely walked our way unless they were actually headed to Radio Shack, but word had gotten around that we had a desktop computer in the store. We were beginning to attract curiosity seekers and our on call computer expert Mike was contacted more frequently.

“Have you seen that girl in here before?” Steve asked.

“She’s here almost every day.”

“Do you know what she’s here for?”

“Sure, I asked her one day. She was so exasperated, I felt sorry for her.”

“Well, you’re the only one that knows.”

“Nobody asked me. I would have told them. But, you know, I’m the outsider.”

“Once they get used to you, you’ll be the hit of the mall.”

“If we were staying, I would have gotten to know everybody by now. As it is, I gave David my notice today.”

“I thought you were here for another year.”

“We are. I got a job at the factory. It’s practically across the street from our apartment.”

“That’s good,” Steve said patting my shoulder. He grinned, “I saw you pedaling your ass on the highway the other evening. Riding your bike home at ten o’clock at night is not safe.”

“That’s what David said. He wouldn’t let me ride the night we closed together. He grabbed my bike up and put it in the trunk of his car when he found out. He said if he’d known, he wouldn’t have hired me. Fact is, when I got hired, my husband was on a different shift. I had the car.”

A customer walked in the store. “Gotta go,” I said softly.

“See you.” Steve turned and asked, “Why does she come here every day?”

I giggled, “She’s looking for you.”

“Me? I passed her, she didn’t say anything.”

“Someone told her Steve Perry comes here every day. She’s his number one fan.”

“Journey?”

I shook my head.

Steve Perry, mall security, rolled his eyes heavenward and walked away.