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During these last couple of weeks, little songs, ditties, and snippets have popped into my head at the strangest times. One day I was leaving to an outdoor meeting with a couple of friends, and I plopped my hat on my head, and all of a sudden, I was singing, “Put my hand on my head, and vas is das here? Das is my kopfende, oh yeah, mama, dear. Kopfende, kopfende, don’t you better watch your mouth. Das vot ve learn in my schule. Ya. Ya.” While driving, I recalled telephoner (ear), nose blower, eye peeper, lip smacker, chinwagger, and rubbernecker. I researched the song and found a version attributed to a German folk song, with a few different words. But I had it. My memory was almost complete.
Then next a song surfaced that I learned in elementary school. A friend and I hid behind the corner of a high school while she taught me a naughty song. “Oh, you can’t get to heaven in a rocking chair ‘cause a rocking chair won’t take you there, I ain’t gonna grieve my Lord no more. And a couple more verses included roller skates because you’d roll right by those pearly gates, an old Ford car because an old Ford car won’t take you that far.
When I learned these songs, I risked the knowing, and that is what caused them to remain deep in my memory. My parents spoke their German dialect with their parents and siblings and, of course, when they didn’t want children to know certain things. The Catholic traditions were important in our family, and the rocking chair song seemed dangerous to know and repeat as a young child.
Situations about risks may be surfacing because I have sent novel number 5, Oranges for Miranda to my reader/editor. She will return the manuscript with more suggestions, and I will go through and add more polish to the story. When this process is completed, I will submit and wait and wonder if Soul Mate Publishing will contract this novel for publication.
This past week I took part in a program that taught me to communicate with readers and friends on Facebook respectfully. My first live Facebook video to our workshop group was posted sideways. As a writer who revises, I kept recording and deleting. I forgot that live Facebook recordings do not allow for revisions. It is immediate.
Only those who will risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go.
– T. S. Eliot
Wishing you remembered times when you risked and may you have the courage to risk again. Until next month, take care of yourself and those around you.
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I am a designated visitor and allowed into my parents’ lockdown suite due to the virus. I can visit for one hour on two days a week. I’m ecstatic for this opportunity; however, now more than ever, I worry about bringing the virus into a place where there are many vulnerable residents and care workers. With great gifts comes greater responsibility.
