The Power of the Senses - Book Excerpt

Sometimes you can identify with events in your life by a smell.

If you close your eyes and catch that scent it can take you right back to that time in your life.

The smell that can suck me right back to the Mediterranean sea in 1976 is a shampoo. Back then it was Wella shampoo, which they don’t make anymore. Years and years have passed since I have caught that scent. I had heard some great things about a brand of shampoo and conditioner so  I ordered some online. The first time I used it I almost cried. There it was! The “wella” smell! It Actually made me dizzy from all the memories that flooded back. I stood there, with my eyes closed, washing my hair in the shower… it was like I was 7 years old and in the shower at the cinder block building on the Mediterranean coast. The memories are a blur, I’m sure there is a reason for that, but the olfactory senses never lie and like lightening can take me back to a moment in time - washing my hair in that ocean front shower and cleaning up before heading back into the mountains. 

The Mediterranean sea is totally different to me than the north Carolina coast. The sun seems brighter and more golden. And even though the sun has been shining the same on both coasts, it feels older, warmer, and clearer. I knew that I was living in the same area of the world that Jesus lived and I would be ok in this strange land because I was somehow closer to him there.

The only reason I had any idea of Jesus, who he was, where and how he lived was because of my grandfather taking me to mass all the time. I bet we went 2-3 times a week. Everything around me felt old and ancient. I could imagine, from the pictures in books, him walking right through the village and things not being too different from the way they were when I was there. The old women in the village would be gathered in the same place making bread the same way. OH! How I loved that bread!!! It was made on a dome that was sitting on bricks over a fire. The women would toss the dough like you see pizza dough tossed and then throw it on that dome. It would cover the whole dome. When it was done they would take it off and throw it in a round basket and then toss some more dough on the dome. It was much like a very large tortilla but thinner. My mother would put peanut butter on it and roll it up for me like a burrito. I wish I could taste that bread again. It would be just like the shampoo smell and suck me right back in time for an instant so I never forget.  

I read this often...

Thank you to Morgan Freeman - who many years ago in an interview enlightened me to this.
I read this often to keep me focused and in tune with myself and the world around me.
I thought I would share....

Desiderata
Go placidly amid the noise and haste.

And remember what peace there may be in silence.

Go as far as possible without surrender, stay on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant.

They too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter.

For always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your career however humble, it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time

Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.

But let this not blind you to what virtue there is,

many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism

Be yourself

Especially do not feign affection.

Neither be critical about love; for in the face of aridity and disenchantment

 it is as perennial as the grass

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.

Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.

But do not distress yourself with imaginings.

Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here and

whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be, and whatever your labors

and aspirations , in the noisy confusion of life , keep peace with your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be Careful. Strive to be happy.

Just Remember This My Friends....

Flash Back Friday - April 22, 2007

Last day in Disney World we had nothing planned or scheduled for the day so we decided to hang out by the pool and just relax. We stayed at the pool all day Sunday and my girl had the best time. My mother started ordering from the bar about 1PM. By 6 I was ready to crawl in the bed. I only had 4 ½ margaritas but you would think I had 20. Something between tequila and sunshine completely toasted my ass. I laid down by 7PM and tried to go to sleep. I don’t think I slept all night that night. I drank a bottle of water but when I woke up at 4AM I didn't have a headache so I thought everything was going to be ok. At 7AM we are getting up and cramming everything in our suitcases so we can get down to the Magic Express Bus to take us to the airport. It was at that time the tequila and sunshine came back with a vengeance. Oh My God… I haven’t ever been sick off of liquor. I didn't have a headache and to be honest.. I only drank 4 and a half drinks! But I am telling you one thing… it was BAD… if it wasn't for my step sister (bless you jess)  and her athletic fit self I would probably still be sitting at the Polynesian Resort. She ran back and forth with the luggage while I was trying to stop barfing and keeping up with my child. I started to the bus and sat there waiting to get on board… after we start heading to the airport I had to get up and go to the bathroom. It is just big enough to sit down in and I was holding onto the walls with both hands praying for the world to stop MOVING. After the second trip to the bathroom we arrived at the airport. Let me tell you… there is nothing worse than being sick hung over in the bathroom of a moving bus.

I then had to get in line and manually check in my luggage at a kiosk/computer.

That was when I looked and saw how far the bathroom was knowing that another wave was coming. I just leaned on my suitcase and prayed HARD. “Dear Jesus, please just let me get through this line and the security area you can start this all over again. Please please please just let me get through all this where I can sit in a bathroom. I promise I will be good” And Ill tell you one thing.. I didn't get sick there and I didn't get sick again. I made it through all that – with Fallon and got to the gate and just sat there .. knowing that I was going to be sick again. But I didn't get sick. Rode the plane home and everything was fine. Got to moms house… hugged everyone and we got in my car and hit the road. Now I will say that driving home was a challenge. I decided to stop and get us something to eat. Brave.. of me since I hadn't had anything to eat in over 24 hours and knew my stomach wasn't right. So I stopped at Chic-fil-a and I managed to eat a chicken sandwich and it was the best thing I had ever eaten IN MY LIFE . Got home… fell into bed… done.

It took me the rest of the week and the following weekend to recover and feel normal again.

Of course it was all my mothers fault… had she not opened a bar tab at the pool bar I would have never gotten the first drink.. And I think she actually brought my first one to me. Bad influence.

7 years later I have not gone down that road again… don’t plan on it either. Tequila is not my friend and hell will freeze over before I ever drink it again. Of course my boss thought it was hilarious… apparently I left him a voice mail telling him how wonderful he was and I just loved him. I don’t remember that… but he saved the voice mail for years just for giggles. Every now and then he would play it for me… “remember this???  Ha ha ha ”” .. No sir I don’t… And that is ok with me.