I almost missed the anniversary! It was a year ago (October 17th, 2008) when I first decided to post only the good on Fridays. I can’t believe it has been that long, and I’m flabbergasted that I stuck with it. I am NOT a “goody two shoes” and optimism does NOT come naturally to me. My theory was that if I practiced seeing the good in the world, it might become easier to spot it.
I was right. Yesterday, my practice paid off.
I awoke in a hotel room in Killeen, Texas. I had a horrible case of indigestion, because the night before I had eaten at a Denny’s Restaurant. It was the first time in twenty-five years that I have entered a Denny’s, and I think I can go another twenty-five years before the urge will hit me to enter another. On the good side … because it’s Friday, and I must find good … the restaurant was clean and there was a very nice waitress. Her husband was serving our country in Iraq (Fort Hood, one of the largest military bases in the nation, is in Killeen), and we talked a bit. She was the best thing about Denny’s … the food, on the other hand, caused me grief.
Although I felt awful, I rolled out of bed. I had no choice. I was being filmed telling stories that day. My Muse (that creative voice that speaks inside my head) was in a snit. When She is in a foul mood, people, it’s a good idea to stand back … waaay back.
“I don’t wanna tell stories todaaaay,” She whined.
“You have to tell, anyway,” I told her.
“But, my tummy hurts, and it’s raining cats and dogs out there” she whimpered.
“The good news is that we will be inside, and it will be over in an hour,” I replied.
“Yeah, but it’s so cooold! We can’t wear that blue outfit that makes our eyes look so good.” The Muse said.
“We look fine in orange, and we are going to be under bright hot lights, so stifle yourself.” I snapped.
I was able to subdue The Muse well enough to get dressed, put on makeup and roll my hair. We packed the car in the pouring rain, checked out of the hotel and stopped at Starbucks on the way to the studio. I mistakenly thought I could placate Her with coffee. She started whining again.
“What was the point in rolling our hair and putting on makeup? The rain washed it all awaaaay.”
“I have more makeup in the bag, and we can pull our hair back.”
“Then, all our CHINS will show!”
“Hush!”
“And, YOU said we were gonna see sixth graders! That’s the kind of stories we rehearsed for months, and NOW you tell me it’s third through fifth graders. I wanted to tell sixth grade stories.”
“We have been told these kids are mature. You love that age group, and it will be just fine. It is what it is. Drink your coffee.”
“It makes my tummy hurt.”
We got to the studio, and The Muse balked about going inside.
“Think positively!” I said.
“I’m positive it’s gonna be awful,” She replied. “I don’t waaaannnaaaa!”
I pulled out my best threat: “If you screw this up, Muse, I’m going to make you work at WalMart!”
That’s all it took, really. When faced with the bright lights, The Muse finally stopped whining. Our audience arrived, and we forgot that our stomach hurt when we looked at their faces. As we told our stories, those children were “with” us all the way.
In the car driving home, The Muse finally admitted, “That might just have been the most fun gig we ever had.”
“See,” I said, “I TOLD you that we had to think positively.”
“I’m positive that my tummy still hurts.”
The Muse and I are back home, now. We are still suffering from that meal at Denny’s, but we are also still exultant about the audience we had. I truthfully believe that if I had not been practicing finding “the good” for the last year we might have made a mess of it.
I’m not Pollyanna. Optimism will never come easily for me. But, I think I’ll give Only The Good Friday another year … at least.
I hope your day is going well. Join some other folks who try to think optimistically one day a week:
RV Poetry; Candid Karina; All My Great, or Not So Great Adventures; Inside Mo’s Mind; Thorne’s World; Down River Drivel; Duward Discussion; Ramblings of an Unstable Mind; Insightful Nana; Newbie Lifeline; Everyday Tarot; West of Mars; Life’s Journey; Round Circle; Barbara’s Travels; Blog of Revelation; Desert Diva; Blogjem My Life As It Is
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
Isn’t it amazing how often practice and preparation masquerade as Good Luck. I’m glad it went so well for you. We will get to see the finished product won’t we?
Congrats! on a year of encouraging us all to look for the good.
Mine is up.
Hope the tummy is better.
Oh and I am sure you wowwed them with your storytelling.
Take care
Frances´s last blog ..Only The Good Friday October 23rd 2009
Congratulations on the anniversary…and on taming your Muse. (I call mine “the Beast”…maybe that’s why we have ‘issues’. *lol*)
LuAnn´s last blog ..Lucky Not-a-Stroke
A belated Happy Anniversary! I laughed at the Walmart remark, I can just see the customers surrounding you by the front door ( you would be a greeter, I am quite sure). Not much shopping getting done as they would be raptly listening to your newest story – or perhaps an old favorite. You, of course, would gently remind them why they were at the store, to get Aunt Shirley a pair of stockings or their Dad another tie, or that toilet paper they were desperately waiting for at home….. Only the Good.
Marcia´s last blog ..Little things and Free Software for Mac – Only the Good Friday