I Say Ignorance Is Not Bliss

Response to prompt #27,  They say, but I say.

As I pondered the conventional "wisdoms" of society for this exercise, these came to mind:

They say absence makes the heart grow fonder (I cringe when I hear this one after 3 1/2 months apart from John).
They say you can't go home again.
They say time heals all wounds.
They say Karma is a bitch.
They say what goes around comes around. 

I had kind of narrowed it down to the last two, but something wasn't sitting quite right. They seemed too heavy, and I was really trying to keep this light. I needed it to be a tad bit lighter than the road my mind was traveling.* The people in my life could also use some levity. So, I held off.

John suggested we go for a walk. I proposed we take that walk to downtown Windermere, home to a great breakfast/brunch/lunch joint that we've been meaning to re-visit. We would walk, then grab something to eat. At brunch, he mentioned needing to go to Barnes and Noble. Perfect. Walk+food+bookstore=happy Annmarie. We attempted the B & N excursion before dinner out with friends last night, but the torrential downpour made us nix that trip.

I almost grabbed this book, but I got what I needed from the title!

I am so glad it did. If we would have gone last night, I would not have had this prompt in my brain, and I most certainly wouldn't have spotted the book in the bargain section where I took a break from watching John peruse the Microsoft Excel manuals. It gave me exactly the saying I needed for this piece: ignorance is bliss. 

Ha! I exclaimed silently so the other people in the store didn't think I was off my rocker. That is my "they say!" 

While it doesn't seem like a big deal for others, for me not jumping on the first thing I thought of is progress. I listened to the little voice inside, the gut feeling that my original ideas weren't what I needed to write about. Serendipity rewarded my efforts.

*Disclaimer: This did not exactly end up being light, but I am hoping you will see some humor in it.

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They say ignorance is bliss, but I say it's a self-made prison,
the bars of stupidity a convenient excuse
for the clueless to say whatever they want without consequence.
I didn't know they insist as they spew head-scratching statements.
Or worse, joyfully assert their "rightness" in spite of their state of dim-wittedness.
If indeed, ignorance is bliss, then why are the most benighted among us wallowing in discontent?
Why do they spread their uniformed views across social media like a blanket over a bed,
covering us all, smothering us as they tuck the corners and edges in.
Sleep tight, they say, but all the while you're fighting sleep,
kicking to free yourself from their unenlightened statements
that sweep whole groups of people into the same dustpan.
They say if you don't stand, you hate America,
but I say some kneel because they love America and truly want her to be great again.
They say it's our duty to support the president,
but I say it's his duty to have our best interests at heart, if he even has one.

If ignorance truly is bliss, then our "leader" is living the dream.
I say I'd rather be tortured by intelligent nightmares.

They say, But I say

This prompt and explanation is paraphrased and directly quoted from a segment called "Measure by Measure" by David Alzofon in American Songwriter magazine.

Listen to Miranda Lambert's song "The House That Built Me," as she sings:

I know they say you can't go home again
I just had to come back one last time.

This is much like Shania Twain's song "You're Still the One":

They said, 'I bet they'll never make it'
But just look at us holding on

And what about this from another Miranda Lambert song, "Over You":

They say I'll be okay
But [I say] I'm not going to ever get over you 

This pattern of "They Say, But I Say" is evident in many different songs, in many different ways.
Yes, here is Miranda again in "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend";

[They say] Well those pretty girls can play their game
But [I say] they're damn well gonna know my name.

 And "Easy Living":
They say life's a bitch and then you die
But I can't see a reason for their point of view

And lest you think this is just a country female artist thing, consider the following:

From Bob Dylan's "I Shall Be Released':

They say every man must need protection
They say every man must fall
Yet I swear I see my reflection
Some place so high above the wall

And The Beatles "Baby It's You":

You should hear what they say about you, "cheat," "cheat."
They say, they say you never never never ever been true.
It doesn't matter what they say,
I know I'm gonna love you any old way. 

And our good old Dixie Chicks "Not Ready to Make Nice":

They say time heals everything
But I’m still waiting
 

Here is a direct quote from the article explaining this further:

"So what's really going on here? Is it just that conflict attracts attention? Yes, but what conflict?

Turns out to be a big one because on the left side of the comma stands the group, and on the right side of the comma stands the individual and that's the stuff that great art is made on.  Blow by blow, cliche by cliche, we square pegs get pounded into society's round holes. It's called "growing up." But we lose ourselves along the way. The innocent game of "They say, But I say" helps us remember our true feelings, and that's something audiences want to hear, because they, too, want to remember."

CREATIVE CHALLENGE

Write a poem, memoir, or fiction story employing the idea of the individual standing up to the "common wisdom" of society.  Bolster your "I say" part with images, metaphors, and similes that support your stand. This can be drawn from memory or imagination.

As a warm up, consider what you could answer on the right side of the following cliches:

They say you're no good for me, but I say...

They say love is blind, but I say...

They say time heals all wounds, but I say...

They say hope has died, but I say...

This simple exercise may plunge you deep into your own personal truth. Look for examples in your own personal life. Write it. Share!

Additional songs in the same type of structure:

"Quinn the Eskimo" by Bob Dylan

"Everybody's Talkin'" by Nilsson

"They Say" by Common

"On Broadway" by The Drifters

"Revolution" by The Beatles

"Jump They Say" by David Bowie

"Rag Doll" by the Four Seasons

Still need more inspiration? Check out "Like That's a Bad Thing" by Danny Gokey:

How?

How in the world are we expected to go about our business while one of the largest, most significant storms in recorded history is making its way to us? The rest of the country is talking about going back to school, when down here in Florida we're a month in already. Or maybe they are considering the impacts of the unnatural disaster that's already slammed our White House, in the aftermath of the DACA repeal. There are plenty of other things going on in the world right now, but Florida is talking about Irma.

And we can't help it. There are so many things to do. Gas and water are already in low provision. Food for people and pets, hurricane shutters, securing property and less able people, it's all a part of the daily lives of Floridians this time of year. Only we have been pretty lucky in recent years. School closures have been for naught. Water scares were premature. But not this time. Have you seen the radar images? One way or another, if you live in Florida, especially South Florida, impact of some sort is likely.

But how do we stay focused on what we need to do in the meantime. Landfall looks to be the end of the weekend, and local schools have announced closings on Thursday and Friday. But imagine being a school teacher today? G-d speed to all my teacher friends out there going through the motions on a day likely to resemble the day before Christmas Break!

And the rest of us? We're trying to work too. Productivity will probably hit lows the remainder of the week, as people plan evacuations, obsessively check in with the latest reports, and fixate on the other things they need to do to prepare. Here's my dilemma: My husband is the epitome of hurricane preparedness. Boy Scott Motto: Be Prepared. We're ready. And it's Wednesday. And the storm probably won't hit until Sunday. This is something to be commended and to be relieved about. But it puts us in a holding pattern, which is very distracting. It's hard to work. How do we just go about our business, working, and doing what we normally do when Irma is out there preparing for a statewide ass kicking?

It's Florida, and it's hurricane season. It's just what we do I guess. We should consider ourselves lucky in that these storms can be tracked and give us time to prepare, unlike Tornadoes. We may not know exactly what will happen, but we know the steps we can take to be cautious and keep ourselves safe.

If we can get a little work done while we await Irma's arrival, well that's pretty commendable.

By the way, while Irma approaches to kick Florida's ass, notice Jose up next threatening to kick us while we're down.

Sunrise

Prompt #26: Freestyle

There is something about the sunrise

the way little by little the light elevates,

lifting the curtains from the nighttime sky

and creating ever so pale shades of color

An egret flaps its wings seemingly without effort

and reaches the height of the tallest tree to perch

above its head a barely blue sky blended in sheer white clouds

     around it thousands of trees preserved for their green vibrance

          below a quiet lake with ripples of only the smallest creatures

Sounds are of waking birds

chirps and squawks, whistles and trills

two blue herons welcome us to the day

     soaring out from the preserve, across the lake

          over our heads and our home in greatness

All God's creatures know as the sun rises

a new day begins and possibilities are endless

The early bird gets the worm

and the early person gets a show

Nature at sunrise

Lily loves the dawn as much as I do.

Just to Sleep

 Response to Prompt #26 -- Freestyle

 This is a story based on things I know about the early life of my mother's marriage to my father. She has never made it a secret that she felt she had made a mistake marrying him. The church part is something she told me about recently -- I just embellished details of how she got there. I've really struggled to make this story work, to not try to reveal too much, but to evoke a naive girl who had to grow up fast. (Naive is her word, by the way.) I've thought about it and worked on it for about six months -- not sure there is much left in me.  It is time to say it's done! 

 Just to Sleep

The baby had cried all night, like he had for so many nights. Another Sunday morning was here, and any hope of getting a reprieve from it was once again demolished.

She walked little Johnny around their upstairs apartment, gently rocking him, singing to him, and praying her husband would soon return from church. He should definitely have been back by now. It was bad enough she was alone with the child every day of the week, except for an occasional visit from the downstairs neighbor girl; she had thought weekends would give her a break.

Margo had no idea having a child would be so hard. She had no idea life in a small town would be so dismal. She had no idea that being away from family would bother her.  All she had ever wanted was to get away from Columbus, her stern father and nasty mother. On top of that, being married was not all she had been promised.

She was raw. Isolated. She had made no friends beyond the landlady below. And she probably wasn’t really a friend. They co-existed in the same house and shared the washing machine.

Just when she thought she would go out of her mind waiting, Rich came in, shrugging off his overcoat, and she handed him the baby in record time. Margo was tired of explaining procedures to him – she was just going to hope he remembered what to do, and if he didn’t, who knows? Maybe Johnny would stop being so colicky.

Margo pulled her coat around her and walked up Fifth Street.  She didn’t drive, so taking turns going to church meant she had to walk. Before Johnny was born, church was a place she and her husband felt most at peace.  Now, there was no place like that.

The first Catholic Church Margo came upon was St. Mary’s Ukrainian. She was already late for her church, delayed by Rich, and was cold and tired, so decided this church could do. It didn’t matter – the mass was in Latin, so she would be able to follow.  She ducked into the vestibule. Nothing unusual here on this early November morning – just the dark winter coats of the men and babushkas of the women, something she was now used to living in a highly ethnic area.

The mass began, and Margo followed along well enough. The Kyrie elèison. Christe elèison Kyrie elèison and the Gloria and response prayer: Et cum spiritu tuo.  She looked at the iconic statues, the crucified Christ on the cross over the altar, and the Stations of the Cross on the wall: all familiar touchstones from life as a Catholic.

Then the epistles and gospels were read: in Ukranian.  Margo began to lose her concentration. The voices of the readers rose and fell in a rhythm much like when she rocked and hummed to colicky Johnny. Slowly, lulled by sounds she could not distinguish, the darkness all around her, and the sadness in her spirit, Margo’s eyes drooped and then closed completely.

And she slept the most restful sleep.

Even though someone next to her had to nudge her to go to Communion, Margo was not embarrassed. For once her new life in Pennsylvania she had found a place just for herself, where no one was asking anything of her. A place she could relax and forget all the mistakes she has obviously made.

A place just to sleep.

Prompt #26 Free Style--What You Don't Think About

Life is full of new beginnings and do-overs.  I feel as if I'm sitting on a precipice between then and now, before and after, truth or dare.   You never expect a big change, no matter how much you plan for it or know it's coming.  Yes, my daughter is going to school and that's a big change, but I never thought about the "what after".  My life has revolved around her for as long as I can remember.  I can't imagine my life before... before she came into being.  She's such an integral part of my life for, well for ever.

So now what?  Who am I?  What do I do now that I'm not a full time mom anymore?  Where do I go from here?  So many questions plague me because I don't know the answers.  It's as if she and I have the same questions burning within us.  She needs to know what she wants to be when she grows up and I need to know what I want to be when she grows up.

Have I prepared myself for this moment?  NO!  I planned for her a-ha moment, but not mine.  Why would I?  Nobody prepared me for this part.  I can do anything, be anyone... just not full-time mom anymore.  That feels weird, empty.  You hear about people going through the empty nest syndrome, but two weeks later they are on vacation and doing their own thing.  Huh, how do they do that?  I'm certainly not old enough for retirement or rich enough to travel the world.

So now what? Immerse myself in my job?  A new talent or career?  Do I need to change anything or everything?  What is life like after the kiddos grow up... I don't know.  I'm sure I'll figure it out, one day at a time, one new challenge after another.  Maybe.

I've always been the planner, and now I don't know what to plan for.  Such a conundrum, an odd place to be.  Strong I am and strong I will continue to be.  Time to change hats and there are many to choose from.  My next life beckons... what will I become?

Prompt #24
Yes!  I am finally getting around to my Found Poem.  Taken from the Residential Living Checklist that SCAD gave Madison for "what to bring"

Alarm clock
Bed linens, pillows, blankets
Cleaning supplies
Clip light
Clothes hangers
Laundry products
Paper Products
Shower curtain
Throw rugs
Wastebasket
Fan
First Aid kit
Flash light
Memo board
Stationary/stamps




Alarm clock because I can no longer wake you when you ignore the 3 alarms you've set on your phone
Bed linens, pillows, and blankets. Thank god I taught you how to make your bed and do laundry.  You'll do just fine
Cleaning supplies, yes you know how to use them as well... even if you don't like to clean
Clip light. I know you will be up late, hopefully studying and painting... but I know you are growing into a young woman and your late nights are yours.
Clothes hangers... do you know what these are for?
Laundry products.  Please dont leave your clothes in the washer like you do at home.  They will mold just like they do at home.
Paper products.  Now you will know how much toilet paper costs!
Shower curtain.  This too will mold.  Did I teach you that?
Throw rugs.  Ok, you've never had cold feet here in Florida... Georgia will be different.
Waste basket.  They don't empty themselves ya know.
Fan.  You are going to really appreciate the air conditioning at home :)
First aid kit.  I wont be there to kiss your boo boo's any more, but I'm only a call away anytime you need me
Flash light. Think of me... guiding you
Memo board.  I'd love to be a fly on the wall to see all the fun messages your friends will leave.  Send me pics now and then.
Stationary/Stamps.  So old fashioned.  Just snap chat me, or email, or better yet call.  I'll use the stamps to send you care packages full of goodies from home.

I'll miss you so much!  But I am proud of the woman you've become and I'm excited for your new adventure.  Mom will always be here and love you for ever and ever.