Other Thoughts | BulgingButtons

November 15, 2014
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The Losing Battle to Hold Off Christmas

Today is November 15, meaning that we are half way through November, and not yet to Thanksgiving. Also meaning that Christmas is not yet here. It’s NOT.

I’ve been telling myself this since I found Christmas candy at the grocery store in September. SEPTEMBER. That’s not right. I think it may have been left over from last Christmas, but still, September?

In September it was just plain crazy, and easy to dismiss as a fluke. Then October rolled around, and we had Halloween, so signs of Christmas got a little lost behind the orange and black, but once November began it was full-on Christmas all over the stores.

At least the radio stations hadn’t started yet. They would wait with the Christmas music until after Thanksgiving, right? Wrong. I heard it yesterday on not one, but two radio stations. UGH. Too soon!

And tv? Yes, they’re on board with this early Christmas nonsense too. Not only are there ads, but certain stations are actually starting to play holiday movies too. C’mon people, it’s just not time yet!

But then today my son and I took our dog to our community’s annual “Woofstock” festival. It’s a doggy celebration with tons of booths, demos, dog agility, vendors, entertainment, and, of course, Santa Claus. We’ve gone each year, and each year we get her photo with Santa.

Maybe it’s time to accept it. Maybe Christmas is coming whether I’m ready or not. But just in case you weren’t sure, I’m not ready. I want to enjoy the autumn. I want to eat turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes with gravy. I want to ease into the whole holiday season. I don’t think I’m going to get the chance, though. I think it’s here.

November 12, 2014
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Waking Up Afraid

What frightens you? Just about everything frightens me. I credit that to growing up in a household where my mother was just sure that everyone and everything was out to get us. As the old saying goes, “Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they aren’t out to get you.”

When I was a kid I would memorize shifty-looking people’s faces in line at the bank, in case the sketch artist needed my information after they robbed the place. In restaurants I would scope out the exits and calculate the path to the kitchen from our table. I even had a plan for a home invasion- I would hide under my bed. Clever, right?

As I grew up, I outgrew a lot of these fears, but I still startle easily and I still have no problem envisioning worst case scenarios. I don’t dwell on these things, though, at least not during the daylight hours. In my sleep, though, sometimes my fears get the best of me.

Last night, for example, I woke up sweating, with my heart pounding. What was the source of this terror? A bad dream, of course. But it wasn’t just bad, it was terrifying. When I think about it, I’m not sure why it was so scary. Let me tell you the dream, or what I remember of it.

I was someplace semi-public (the synagogue I visited last weekend comes to mind) and I was in a restroom stall there. I saw a pair of legs and feet on the other side of the door that I recognized as one of my nephews. I asked him what he was doing in the ladies room, but he didn’t answer. Instead he walked out and turned off the light. I was plunged into complete darkness. I kept calling his name for him to come back and turn on the light, but he didn’t come. That was it. That was what woke me up terrified. Crazy, right?

In real life I’m not afraid of my nephew, and I’ve been in a restroom where someone has turned off the light. It didn’t incite panic in me. I’m sure I had my purse with me in the dream and could have used my phone to light the way, or even if not I could have figured out how to get out or even waited a few minutes until someone else came in and turned the light on. By the light of the day, my rational mind doesn’t see this scenario as too big of a deal, but in my dream state it was terrifying.

What do you think? Have I lost my mind? Am I afraid of being left in the dark? What does this dream, and my extreme reaction to it, mean about me? Any guesses are welcome. Also, I’m curious to know, what scares you when you turn out the lights?

November 9, 2014
by BulgingButtons 3 Comments

Learning Curve

I’m on the road, so I’m using an iPad to blog. Let me tell you, it’s way different from typing on the computer. For one thing it has predictive text, so I’m typing far fewer letters. Still, it’s slower, since there’s no real keyboard.

Then there’s the issue of not knowing how to add an image. The iPad functions really differently than my laptop, and it’s a Mac! I know how to find images,but putting them where I want will have to wait until I get home.

Finally there’s the issue of publishing. Yesterday I thought I had published my post, but when I looked this morning it wasn’t there. I’m still counting it for NaBloPoMo though.

I’m looking forward to getting home and returning to my familiar computer and routine, but sometimes it’s good to try something new, just to push yourself a little.