Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Pronounced Healthy



The doc listened intently to my lungs today while I took so many deep breaths, I got a little bit dizzy. Her diagnosis? "Your lungs are perfect." What a relief! I've felt completely healthy for about a week, but was still nervous while I waited for this morning's exam. What if? I asked myself over and over again, sitting in the reception area, pretending to read my book. You never know.

On the walk home I was almost skipping with happiness. The day was resplendent, overflowing with ample gold sunshine, interesting cloud formations, finch and cardinal song and fluttering leaves. The day was, as always, a perfect reflection of my inner state of being.

The Dead were pressing close to me as I walked home. It's their time of year, which makes them especially vivid. I try not to get annoyed with all their moaning, chain rattling and dragging of limbs, try not to stare at their grey, hollow faces too much. I try to make room for them. But this morning they were really in my face, probably because I was feeling so fine.

Most ghosts don't remember coughing, congestion, earaches, sore throats, or upset stomachs. They can't recall how a broken bone or sprained ankle feels, nor do they have even the vaguest memory of chills, fever, headaches, toothaches, or other awful sensations like real hunger, real thirst. All they seem to remember about life is the sensual pleasure of it all. They yearn to taste something delicious, have sex, stop and smell the roses - literally. In fact, ghosts are stuck in a romanticized fantasy of what life is, or what life was for them, oblivious of the fact that they could move on, any time they want to, to a place of healing and renewal, not to mention reunion with their own beloveds.

It reminds me of the way we living humans romanticize our ideas of a perfect life in which we would be rich, famous, thin, gorgeous, brilliant, perfectly safe or secure, confident, happily married or whatever. It seems a human trait, whether living or dead, to long for perfection.

As much as they were bugging me this morning, I can't blame the Dead for wanting to experience again the intensity of the five senses. Being alive - especially when healthy! - is a precious existence, particularly on a glorious fall day like today. It won't last forever, so don't take it for granted, OK? A toast to life! Cheers!

16 comments:

Tess Kincaid said...

Cheers to life and a healthy you! :)

tut-tut said...

Wow; evocative photos. those shimmery shadows . . .

You are so right about perfectionism. We're here; sometimes it's just enough to have the ability to clean the bathroom.

A Concerned Citizen said...

I'm so glad that you've officially recovered. (: )

Barbara Martin said...

Good to hear you've recovered. Now make certain you get enough rest daily, eat right, exercise and keep writing these terrific posts.

ArtSparker said...

It looks as if the hand of the statue is making a ripple of light in the sky - reaching through the veil? Glad to hear your health is good. Be sure to stock up on that emergen-c stuff for the winter.

Val said...

so glad you are back on form :-)
interesting stuff about your pals from the other side. how many reminders do we need that life is good and we should live in the day - savour each moment? is it a human trait to forget that too?

Angela said...

Cheers from Germany! I sent you the original tango music you asked for (from Buenos Aires)! Now celebrate your day dancing!And send us pictures!

Lynne said...

Hear, hear, Reya! to life! Cheers!

Yes, the statue looks as if he is creating that pool of light in the cloud. Gorgeous!

Reya Mellicker said...

It's a statue of Lincoln freeing the slaves. It's such a bizarre statue, one of the first of Lincoln after his assassination. The slave is still shackled, wrapped in a loincloth, kneeled at The Great Man's feet.

I find it completely weird. Sometimes I look at it and wonder, "Is this what it felt like at the end of the Civil War?"

I do like the way the pool of sun is right behind his hand. What I was looking at when I took the pic was the straight edge of the cloud mass across the sky.

But it's true you can almost see the ghosts in the pic. They're everywhere!

Anonymous said...

Reya -

It is so good to hear you have a clean bill of health :)

Love,
Salima

Merle Sneed said...

I'm glad your health is good. All my best.

Anonymous said...

cheers!
and i agree chasing perfection instead of enjoying little moments ...is the folly of many...
xoxo

lettuce said...

amazing light in that picture

i'm so glad you're fully well reya.
xx

mouse (aka kimy) said...

yeah to healthy lungs...

that bottom pic - WOW! so fitting with the whole ghost topic thing.

was that snapped by of the LofC building perchance? profile of the statue looks a little familiar...just trying to place it in my mental map of dc statuary...

Reya Mellicker said...

It's the weird "Emancipation" statue in Lincoln Park.

Gary said...

Great post.

Cheers!