Can pain and discomfort glove the hand of plenty bearing gifts?
Joy exists not in spite of but because of obstacles – I assert this morning.
What do we have in the end, after bouts of illness and love, but just ourselves?
And the gift of this self is won in a simple marathon.
Outlasting our every thought, we still exist –
and in the ending miles,
we learn to be there in whatever way we are,
accumulated skeletons,
in need of nothing,
ready for any errand,
sitting in dull evening light,
a raging sunset escaping in rays between our ribs.
Life as Improv 
smiling to that calm
balancing between
Himalayan valleys
above & below, Marga 🙂
I had almost forgotten
how it is to be given
a reflection back
from such a fine friend.
I can see now the rope one can walk
with a parasol
from valley to mountain top and back again.
Beautifully written, M. The closing, about the light escaping between our ribs, felt exquisite and haunting all at once. And I think you are on to something here with the whole idea of whittling down to all that can truly be left– to all that is worth keeping– which is just who we are. That and nothing else. We are always resisting being brought to this true accounting, where we find so little, and all that we need.
Sending joy!
Michael
Receiving your joy in my expansive yet still narrow corner. I feel I’ve had a crash course this summer in this whittling down that I’m just now coming to appreciate. True Accounting – I like that – wanna join me in a start up by that name?
Yes, please.
We don’t’ seem to be receiving all of your post but when we do, they’re a delight to mind and heart. You certainly nailed down the essence of understanding with this one my friend and we thank you.
Dr. Mike! How’s the desert view? I’ve not been posting in a long while, so to receive your visit so immediately upon returning feels a miraculous blessing on my head today. 🙂
Poignant, Marga, and I was reminded somewhat of Dennis Potter’s “blossomest blossom”, which he described when he looked out of his window into the orchard, and knowing his cancer would take his remaining life within a matter of weeks:
“. . . at this season, the blossom is out in full now, there in the west early. It’s a plum tree, it looks like apple blossom but it’s white, and looking at it, instead of saying “Oh that’s nice blossom” … last week looking at it through the window when I’m writing, I see it is the whitest, frothiest, blossomest blossom that there ever could be, and I can see it. Things are both more trivial than they ever were, and more important than they ever were, and the difference between the trivial and the important doesn’t seem to matter. But the nowness of everything is absolutely wondrous, and if people could see that, you know. There’s no way of telling you; you have to experience it, but the glory of it, if you like, the comfort of it, the reassurance … not that I’m interested in reassuring people – bugger that. The fact is, if you see the present tense, boy do you see it! And boy can you celebrate it.”
H –
I so enjoy your skill at connecting “things”. I spent some time exploring Dennis Potter after your post and I liked being able to see him and hear him speak the words you’ve pasted, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WFaQ-I9pYYI
For several days, the is is has been giving moments that blossomest blossom glow! I even found a band called Blossomest Blossom and I started to wonder if Mr. Potter created a stir with this interview. So nice to see you again, H!
xmarga
I’d love to watch that, but it’s restricted on copyright grounds for playback here in England. He was seriously sick during that interview, and drinking liquid morphine. It was such a great encounter, and Potter died just 60 days later.
Melvyn Bragg: “[I] dislike, and I can understand it, the use of this word controversial, but there were many times when you really seemed to bump into opinion in this country. Can we talk about Brimstone and Treacle, the vision of a devil …”
Dennis Potter: “Ah, Brimstone and Treacle was … Can I break off for a second? I need a swig of that – there’s liquid morphine in that thing. I’ll keep going but I … Can you unscrew that cap? I … this is not agitation about Brimstone and Treacle by the way.
Melvyn Bragg: “Are you feeling OK? How much … how much time?”
Dennis Potter: “It’s better to go on.”
*the interview continues for two minutes*
Dennis Potter: “That’ll have to do. I’m done. I need that thing again, I’m sorry. I felt OK, you see. At certain points, I felt I was flying with it.”
Melvyn Bragg: “You were.”
Dennis Potter: “And so … I’m grateful for the chance. This is my chance to say my last words. So, thanks.”
Absolutely incredible!
everything is! 🙂
Hahahahaha!
I don’t know why it took me so long to read this post. Maybe it was the similarity of your title to the title of a film I despise (I will restrain myself from explaining why) “Peggy Sue Got Married.” Anyway, I just want to tell you that I love what you wrote. It’s progressively surprising in a way that wakes you up, that builds and builds until you get to that last line and the surprise breaks into full-on wonder. Thanks you.
Peggy Sue, ha! May we both experience the glow from within. Hope you are doing well!