Normal?

What is Normal?

‘The new normal’ – I hate that phrase -it, to my quirky mind, implies that what is now new is ok – acceptable, maybe even desirable -maybe even wanted.

No.

A busy morning – doing projects around the house = normal.  An afternoon of feeling agitated, restless, unable to concentrate long enough to read a stupid book = not normal.

So I take a drive to the park. It’s probably 10 degrees cooler under the thick canopy of trees, refreshing after the heat of the day = normal.

I walk over to a glider – like we always did, usually with the pups – only I’m alone =not normal.

The swallows are swooping and diving over the water for mosquitoes = normal.  Watching them by myself = not normal.

There is a family there – boy children playing with their puppies – laughing and giggling – with the joy of it all = normal.

I think to make a comment about what I see and realize that talking out loud to myself in public is = not normal.

The peacefulness of the river is soothing - no matter where we’ve traveled there has been a river or lake or ocean or even just a piddly little pond somewhere close =normal.

Sitting here by myself = not normal.

And so I leave – grab something from a fast food place to take home for dinner – not unusual, almost normal.

Eating by myself for the 22^nd day in a row = not normal.  

Getting salt for the water softener and taking out the garbage = not normal.

Finding someone to mow the lawn for the rest of the season = not normal.

So what is normal? Is it just what you’ve always done? Is it just what you are used to, whether you like it or don’t? Is normal always good?

No. It. Is. Not.

When we get married, ‘til death do us part’ is often part of the vows we speak = normal.  Not really thinking about what that means at the young(whatever) age we are = normal.

Facing the reality of that vow = I don’t know. 

Maybe we can all be like Cher – and turn back time……………..