SHOULDER WORK AHEAD

I have read and agree to the terms and conditions.

Imagine if ‘checking that box’ were an option when we arrived in this world, and we knew what we were getting into.

What if God warned us that He ’uses Cookies’? I know, silly, since He knows where we are at all times anyway.

But it might help improve His ‘site’ performance.

And He has to “see us when we’re sleeping and know if we’re awake”, but that’s another guy’s shtick; not sure about you, but that was awfully scary to contemplate as a kid.

Checked box approval or not, we are here and what we do about it is up to us.

As my reader knows, I’m a daily beach walker, and part of the fascination is other walker’s reactions to a mouthed “Good morning” or a wave.

The vast majority respond in kind, but there are others who look the other way – and while I’m sure they must be from NY, there is likely more to the story.

My Captor labels it “There’s a lot going on behind those windows” after walking the neighborhood at night: People have more going on than we sometimes care to realize.

Different people respond differently.

Me? I turn to my Ron or Eeyore shoulder.

No comment on who’s affiliated with my other body parts.

A dearly departed friend who I’ll call Ron (which was his name, but didn’t that add a brief moment of mystery?) suffered a brain bleed, and was wheelchair bound as a result.

His speech was affected, forcing us to work hard to understand; but his brain was unaffected – so it was worth the effort.

He’s on my shoulder because he never uttered a word of complaint…

His situation was challenging, but his family provided world-class love and support, he lived nearly 15 years, and saw daughters get married and his grandchildren.

15 years of elegant coping – the bravest man I’ve ever known.

Ron appears on my shoulder during ‘tough’ moments, when I need to get over myself, or get over whatever I think is wrong with me – “I guess I can live with nagging hip pain after all”. 

Our daughter recently broke her right fibula, and she has Ron on her shoulder as she deals with reduced mobility and her inability to drive- among other things… We were there recently to help, and proud of her Ron-like outlook.

As an aside, if you’re ever feeling like your kids could be ‘more’, stop by a Comic-Con convention – you’ll feel much better about your children. And if I saw your child at the convention, I apologize.   

My other shoulder is my Eeyore shoulder: Turn that smile upside down!

For those ‘really’ tough times when I’m convinced that there can’t possibly be someone who has it worse than me – – my hip must be replaced!

It can be embarrassing when the shoulders fight for control during my walk; I alternate between running and limping, and get some strange looks…

And Eeyore is on both shoulders during a tense sporting event; unfortunately, he ‘demands’ beer, which doesn’t change the outcome, but leaves one feeling like the inside of a donkey’s mouth in the AM.

My Ron shoulder delivered the Braves and UGA titles…

Fortunately, on my 3^rd shoulder is me Mother, who slaps me upside the head and alternately reminds “Do you know how lucky you are?” and “There’s always someone who has it worse…”

And then adds that each day is a gift from God, and we honor Him – and ourselves – by making the most of it.

She’s right. Even Eeyore would agree.

For 127 more posts like this –each with a JM Barrie podcast – go to beersatthenifty.com. Your phone will display every post, and you can waste an hour or two.

Or, at the site, leave a comment on this post, and then check the box that says “Please notify me of future posts” and you will be sent the newest Sunday update automatically.

Easier yet, when you read a post, after 15 seconds you’ll be given the chance to become a subscriber: Life gets better and better!

  Or just forward this to everyone you know. Forward it to those you aren’t fond of twice.

TO ENHANCE YOUR ENJOYMENT OF THIS POST, PAIR IT WITH THE FOLLOWING SONGS:

Hopefulessness Courtney Barnett

You know what they say
No one is born to hate
We learn it somewhere along the way
Take your broken heart
Turn it into art
Can’t take it with you
Can’t take it with you

I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna know

Empty bottle blues
Sleep in different rooms
Hardly a maverick, lesser than average

Your vulnerability
Stronger than it seems
You know it’s okay to have a bad day

I don’t wanna
I don’t wanna know

Just get this one done
Then you can move along
Can’t take it with you
Can’t take it with you

You know what they say
No one’s born to hate
I’m getting louder now
Getting louder now

For a pessimist, I’m pretty optimistic  Paramore

Just talk yourself up
And tear yourself down
You’ve hit your one wall
Now find a way around
Well, what’s the problem?
You’ve got a lot of nerve

So what did you think I would say?
No, you can’t run away
No, you can’t run away
So what did you think I would say?
No, you can’t run away
No, you can’t run away
You wouldn’t

I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away

I’m not so naïve
My sorry eyes can see
The way you fight shy
Of almost everything
Well, if you give up
You’ll get what you deserve

So what did you think I would say?
No, you can’t run away
No, you can’t run away
So what did you think I would say?
No, you can’t run away
No, you can’t run away
You wouldn’t

I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away
You threw it away

You were finished long before
We had even seen the start
Why don’t you stand up? Be a man about it
Fight with your bare hands about it now

I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay, well did you?
I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away

I never wanted to say this
You never wanted to stay
And I put my faith in you, so much faith
And then you just threw it away

You’re Only happy when you’re miserable Rodney Crowell

Go sell your snake oil to someone you used to know
I’ve heard your whining till my motor just won’t go
The sky ain’t falling though I know you wished it would
I almost hate to tell you that I’m leaving here for good

You’re only happy when you’re miserable
I’m all amped up, you’re all clamped down
I’ve never seen you with your cup half full
Worst case scenario, yeah, that’s the girl I know

Go tell your mother it was all my fault
Your baby brother, I ain’t worth my salt
Your bold prediction that I’d bail on you
Turns out my nightmare is your dream come true

You’re only happy when you’re miserable
Go on and run it in the ground
Hard time I get it through my own thick skull
Your doomsday fantasy means more to you than me
You’re only happy when you’re miserable

Don’t know the last time that I’ve seen you smile
I only know it’s been a long, long while
I tried to change you like I thought I should
You pulled the wool on me, it ain’t no mystery

You court disaster with a surgeon’s skill
I’ve got good news for you, I’ve had my fill
The sun is shining and you’re pulling out your hair
Too close to crazy to pretend I even care

You’re only happy when you’re miserable
I ramp it up, you clamp it down
You’ve made an art form out of pitiful
It’s raining cats and dogs, you’d rather snakes and frogs

You’re only happy when you’re miserable

Unsatisfied  The Replacements

Look me in the eye
Then, tell me that I’m satisfied
Was you satisfied?
Look me in the eye
Then, tell me that I’m satisfied
Hey, are you satisfied?

And it goes so slowly on
Everything I’ve ever wanted
Tell me what’s wrong

Look me in the eye
And tell me that I’m satisfied
Were you satisfied?
Look me in the eye
Then, tell me that I’m satisfied
And now are you satisfied?

Everything goes
Well, anything goes all of the time
Everything you dream of
Is right in front of you
And everything is a lie

Look me in the eye
And tell me that I’m satisfied
Look me in the eye
Unsatisfied
I’m so, I’m so unsatisfied
I’m so dissatisfied
I’m so, I’m so unsatisfied
I’m so unsatisfied
And if you listen now
You might hear a new sound coming in
As an old one disappears
See the world in just one grain of sand

You better take a closer look
Don’t let it slip right through your hand
Won’t you please hear the call
The world says

Put the message in the box  World Party

Put the message in the box
Put the box into the car
Drive the car around the world
Until you get heard

Now is the moment, please understand
The road is wide open to the heart of every man
A few simple words
So a mule could understand

He don’t want tomorrow
If it’s just crumbling into sand
Won’t please hear the call
She says

Put the message in the box
Put the box into the car
Drive the car around the world
Until you get heard

Until you get heard

The world says
Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your love to me
‘Cause I’m waiting right here with my open arms

She says: “Give a little bit
Give a little bit of your soul to me
‘Cause I’m waiting to behold your many charms”
Is that love in the air? She says

Put the message in the box
Put the box into the car
Drive the car around the world

Until you get heard, until you get heard
Until you get heard, until you get heard

Make Someone Happy Jimmy Durante

A great song about life’s true purpose, and our dear departed friend David’s favorite song – and his life road map.

It’s so important to make someone happy
Make just one, someone happy
Make just one heart to heart you, you sing to

One smile that cheers you
One face that lights when it nears you
One girl your, your everything to

Fame, (if you win it) if you win it
(Comes and goes) comes and goes in a minutes
(Where’s the real) where’s the real stuff in life, to cling to?

Love is the answer
Someone to love is the answer
Once you’ve found her
Build your world around her

Make someone happy
Make just one, someone happy
And you will be happy too

Smile   Covered by everyone, from Queen Elizabeths 1-28 to Elvis Costello, but my go-to is Nat King Cole. Charlie Chaplin wrote it as an instrumental and 2 songwriters later added these lyrics

 Smile though your heart is aching
Smile even though it’s breaking
When there are clouds in the sky, you’ll get by
If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you

Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear may be ever so near

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile

That’s the time you must keep on trying
Smile, what’s the use of crying?
You’ll find that life is still worthwhile
If you just smile