Besides
making me chuckle and making me feel like I am looking into a mirror
(she is born one day after me, after all) Anne Lamott's books always
make me evaluate my life. They always make me ponder upon such things
like “where am I?”, “where am I going?”, “have I made the
right choices so far?” (in case you are wondering, they are all
“right” choices), and “are my thighs the right size?”. You
know – the important stuff.
But
this one time in particular, recently, I was reading an Anne Lamott
book (“Some Assembly Required”) on a flight from Montreal to
Toronto and I was not only forced to ask the questions, as usual. I
was forced to answer them, too. After all, I had plenty of time. That
plane was not going anywhere.
So,
by now, you probably think I am crazy, because the flight from
Montreal to Toronto should not be long enough to ponder one's
existence. Oh, but you are mistaken. Pilots and airports lately can
make the shortest distance seem never ending. The Toronto airport, as
big and international, and “key” as it might sound, had only ONE
(it calls for all caps here) runway open. ONE. That was it. When we
arrived in the Montreal airport, several flights to Toronto were
canceled because of early morning fog. Then, later flights (ours
included) were being delayed, because they could only fly one
airplane in at one time, and let one fly away, after that one. Given
that Toronto is a super busy and super international airport, there
were tens of planes queued up to land and take off.
We
boarded the plane in Montreal and waited for the go from Toronto that
we could leave. We waited for an hour, I think, on the ground, in
Montreal. Then, the pilot let us off the plane because there was no
sign that we would be given the OK to approach Toronto any time soon
(the flight is about 35-45 minutes, if that!). We waited at the gate
for another hour. Then, we finally boarded and we flew towards
Toronto. We're all giddy with life and anticipation by then.
And
we make it, we are told, to the capital of Ontario, but we cannot see
land. We are all en-wrapped in clouds, and we are hovering. We can
really feel like we are not moving forward, but just going around in
circles, or just hovering. And we hang there. For another hour and a
half, or more. A flight of 30 minutes took about two and a half hours
from gate to gate. I have flown over the Atlantic many a times, but a
flight never seemed so long as this one. When you're thinking you're
there in a spell and you're not, the seconds linger and extend like
balls of warm chewing gum between a finger and a thumb … So, then,
during this time, with nothing to look at but sleeping people all
around me, I am forced in mandatory confinement, just me, myself and
Anne Lamott. Pondering life and meaning of it all.
Many
a things came to my mind. Things I am happy about – like the fact
that I made it on this other side of open heart surgery and I lived
to tell the tale with only two or three maybe brain cells missing;
like the fact that I have shelter, and a job and food good enough to
eat at the end of every day; and the fact that my husband is there to
catch me every time I fall, on my face, or otherwise; the fact that I
had just visited my nephews who take my breath away with possibility
and unbounded dreams; the fact that the war has not started just yet.
But
then, there were the dark thoughts, too. Things I am not so happy
about. Like the fact that some days I feel physically exhausted with
putting up an appearance anymore – to live in Utah as an 'outsider'
will do this to you after seven years. For those who know me well,
you'll wonder why I bother with the appearance, since I never seemed
to get the hang of it before. I am not sure I do now, either, but I
have to earn my living, so putting up an appearance it is; or at
least trying my damnest to do that. Some other things that I
questioned during my confinement were: I miss my friends, I miss
North Carolina, I miss the Ocean, and life is too short to not have
what you want nearby, especially when you could, theoretically.
I also am tired of having no friends, no real friends, close by …
you know the ones you could call in the middle of the day on Sunday
and just go out to the drive-in for ice cream, or something …
I
never live for regrets, so being here in Utah for the past seven
years has not been a bad thing at all, but it's like a circle that
never completed. It's missing a big chunk of it, and it's starting to
collapse into itself.
Then,
I questioned my job, my role on this planet. I have felt a book,
maybe several coming to me over the years, but now, that I have
literally seen death, I should get the memo and the ultimatum that
time is precious. And books are not written from the grave. Lots to
think about it here. Huge sigh!
Like
any Lamott book would do, it made me reconsider and redefine my
relationship with my parents. As always, there is a lot of
complicated “stuff” there. Lots and lots of love, with many a
disappointment mixed in. But to quote my mom “it's a sad day when
your kids judge you.” But what if they don't leave you any choice
but to judge them? What if they can't see that? I know, I know …
there is always a choice … blah, blah, blah – it does not make it
easier, because we're human and they raised us smart and questioning,
so we judge them … I know now not to let their lack of care for
themselves make me cry and make me lose sleep. It's still hard,
because, like I said, there is lots of love and lots of wanting them
to live forever, but … I cannot pity them anymore. That is just it:
my pity meter has gotten stuck on empty. And the refill station has
closed for business. I hope for the best, but I have a life, one
fragile, solitary life of my own to live, too … so I won't poison
it with my frustration to their disregard of theirs. But it hurts,
and it bleeds, and it makes me sad …
When
we made it to the other end of the runway, I felt like I used to feel
after confession: like all my worries were left behind me, washed
away by some divine hand. And it's only going to be the straight and
narrow from here on out.
Doubtful.
But one thing I know for sure now: when in doubt about your life,
impose some kind of confinement on yourself, and focus on something
that centers and anchors you. Leave those waves alone to wash you
clean of good and bad. And just remain solid, pure and unmoving –
like the Gibraltar rock. Just cleanse your system and restart. With
all the thoughts cleansed, your mind, your heart, the core of your
being will be ready to fill up again with new possibilities. And just
like that: restart.
After the smoke starting clearing - above Toronto, ON
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