A couple of weeks ago, I wrote a blog post called “LBOT2.” If you missed that post, here’s the story behind the title: When I was growing up, my mom often made meals out of leftovers—not just leftovers from the night before, but from a few different meals. My dad, a lover of acronyms, called these meals LBOT2, meaning “Little Bit Of This, Little Bit of That.” That’s what this blog post is—a little bit of this, and a little bit of that—a hodgepodge of thoughts and reflections. This is another LBOT2 post.
This morning I heard the first bird of the day, singing a solo at 3:56 a.m., about twenty minutes before the other birds started singing. I imagined the other birds whispering about him:
“What has gotten into Jay?”
“Show-off. He has to be first.”
“Well, my friend said that she heard from a friend of his wife that he’s . . . different. Kind of odd.”
“If you ask me, there’s something wrong in that nest.”
Jay doesn’t hear these whispers. Jay sings his best song to greet the morning. No matter what the day brings or the other birds say about him, he’ll sing it tomorrow, too.
I wasn’t feeling well a couple of afternoons ago. Monty told me to go lie down and try to get some rest. I did lie down—with our three cats. Monty came into the bedroom after a few minutes and said, “No. Wrong. This is not restful.” Mackin and Carrick were playing hide and seek under the covers, and Seamus was draped across my neck like a 22-pound scarf. “Come on, boys,” Monty said. “Out.” “Don’t make them leave,” I said. “They’ll think they’re being thrown out into the street.” Monty answered, “Well, it’s a pretty nice street. Filtered water in their dishes and in their fountain, a cat condo so big we can only walk into the kitchen on one side, cat beds every two feet—stray cats probably dream of living on a street as nice as this one!” “Maybe.” I said, “But you love spoiling them as much as I do.” Monty smiled and left, Mackin under one arm and Carrick under the other. He won the argument. But Seamus stayed.
Twice a year, CBS airs two colorized episodes of “I Love Lucy.” On Friday night, they aired an episode about Lucy and Ethel getting involved in a get-rich quick scheme as well as an episode where Fred, Ethel, Lucy, and Ricky are trying to redeem a winning “bonus buck” for $300. These are two of my favorite episodes, so I enjoyed them immensely. And I wasn’t the only one. I saw the ratings the next day, and “I Love Lucy” held its own against the new sitcoms and basketball that aired on Friday night. It gives me hope for our world that sixty-eight years after the premiere of “I Love Lucy,” people still want to watch a good, clean, spirit-lifting comedy about friendship and love and marriage.
I’m part of a sober community on Instagram, and I learn almost as much from the people there as I do in my meetings. Yesterday, one of them posted a meme about Samuel L. Jackson. Wanting to make sure the information was correct, I researched him. At 43, Jackson was an unknown actor with a heavy heroin habit. After a family intervention, he went to rehab, and when he finished the program, Spike Lee offered him a role in “Jungle Fever.” Jackson attributes his long, successful career to his sobriety—a career that includes winning multiple awards and being nominated for an Oscar. He’s ranked as one of the highest grossing actors in the industry, with cumulative earnings totaling over $5 billion. And he didn’t truly begin to live his life until he was 44. That infuses me with fresh hope and reminds me of a quote by George Eliot: “It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
At the Easter cantata on Saturday night, three young girls played violins for the prelude and for the introduction to the choir. I marveled at their skill and composure. Watching them, I remembered the school program that I performed in, back in my glory days. My mom and my flute teacher had conspired to have me play a flute solo as part of the program. I nervously walked onto the stage, stood at my music stand, and nodded for the accompanist to begin playing. I lifted my flute to my lips, took a deep breath, and slowly let it out in a defeated whistle of sorts as I looked at the stand and realized my music wasn’t there. A million thoughts rushed into my head:
Please God, make the music appear. You brought the dead back to life. Bringing my music back from wherever it’s gone should be really easy for You.
The show must go on.
I’m going to be the first flute student ever fired by her teacher.
Okay, Lord, if You won’t make my music appear, will you help me to remember my solo? No? Can you just strike me dead then?
What am I doing with my flute?
Here’s what I was doing: I was standing there, in front of an auditorium full of people, holding my flute to my lips. Making no sound. I stood there for that entire interminable song, holding my flute to my lips. The second the accompanist played the last note, I scurried off the stage. I have never “played” my flute in public again—so it wasn’t much of a glory day so much as an inglorious performance of the air flute.
At the cantata, before the violinists began playing, a new friend waved me over to sit with her. While I was talking with her, a dear lady who I’ve only known through Facebook came up to me and introduced herself. After the cantata, another Facebook friend who has become a treasure to me introduced herself. A precious friend from choir noticed me having an awkward conversation and walked right up to me and hugged me. After most of the cantata guests had left, Monty and I went over to Mom and Dad’s, and we had a wonderful time talking and laughing and sharing memories with some lifelong friends who had driven to Haxtun just to bless us by singing in the choir. Looking at all of the beautiful faces around me, I thought, These are the days I love best—the days when I’m most truly myself, walking closely with God, and opening my heart to the love of friends and family. These are the times I will hold in my heart and remember someday when life inevitably changes. These are my glory days.
Favorite quote of the week:
“I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars.”
Og Mandino
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LBOT2 meals the best meal of the week growing up I loved left over night you got to have all your favorite dishes over again, it seems some of those dish’s were better the second time around, like chili. In the service everyone looked forward to left over at the mess hall left over meals were the they could not mess up as much as they usually did.
The moment without your music had to be a Kodak moment, it seems like these moments are character builders, I have the problem in a couple public speaking situations and had to wing it, never forgot my notes again.
How does one know when their glory are going on, or when they have passed through their glory days. To some extent if one try’s to live this day better than the last. We can’t all be in places were we are in the spot light that we could call our glory days.
Great post!
❤️Grover
Grover–I agree with you about leftovers. Weird how sometimes the food was better the second time around! I like what you said about those moments being “character builders.” I had to take a public speaking class in college, and it was a hideous experience. And I love this that you said–that our glory days are when we finally learn to live each day better than the one before. Thank you for that and for your insight. My love and prayers to you as you continue to heal.
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I feel the same way! “These are the days I love best—the days when I’m most truly myself, walking closely with God, and opening my heart to the love of friends and family. These are the times I will hold in my heart and remember someday when life inevitably changes. These are my glory days.”
Oh, Monty–thank you. There wouldn’t be glory and joy and love in my days if not for you. ❤
Good morning Sparrow. Another solid, from your Heart blog. Your story about Samuel L. Jackson, being an addict until his early 40’s happened to come @crosd Spike Lee, who offered him a “lift up”, a Helping hand. That is a great story. Your own addiction, I feel, has made you much more sensitive to others on crisis mode. That is perfect, Sparrow. You be8ng helped, helping others, That is what Life is all about. Getting a Helping Hand, Helping others. Your Springsteen song, is “cool”, as I remember what I perceive to h@ve been my Glory Days. They are really nothing, as to where I am now, reaching out, helping, in a lot of ways. Not bragging, just doing. I feel you ar3 at peace, Sparrow. I also want to achieve that level of piece. Just using our own gifts, talents, as you say, LBOT. I read a verse from the Bible, Ephesians 2:1-7, If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation…….I will close, God can transform me from broken to new. God can do all this for us. …..Keep on Blogging, Soarrow. ❤️TexGen
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Thank you, TexGen, for your thoughtful words. I don’t know if you realize it, but you just wrote the vital part of our recovery program–taking the help we’ve received and carrying the message of hope to anyone who needs to hear it. I do see that your “glory days” are now–working with your peeps, being involved in your church, still dating your sweet bride. You’re right, my friend. I do feel at peace. Thank you for the reminder of that beautiful verse and for your encouragement. ❤
This is a wonderful “treat” my dear! LBOT2 might have been some of our best meals! And this certainly is great! Thanks so much, again!
Thank you, my perfect little Mom. They were some great meals! I’m so happy you liked this one. ❤
Loved your blog Renee. Loved meeting you after the cantata(which I enjoyed very much). Friends and family really do make life beautiful. Thank you for always sharing your thoughts !! I appreciate it so much!!
Thank you, Jeannette. It meant so much to me that you came up to me and introduced yourself. Now I have a mental picture of you when I read your words. ❤ I so appreciate your encouragement, and I’m so grateful that I’ve made a new friend in you.
I loved this post Renee! You have such a gift of writing! I am so grateful God turned your writing faucet back on! Thanks for blessing me with your words! The flute story breaks my heart. No wonder you didn’t want to play your flute in public anymore. I love your quote, “These are the days I love the best- the days when I’m most truly myself, walking closely with God, and opening my heart to the love of friends and family. These are the times I will hold in my heart and remember someday when life inevitably changes. These are my glory days.” Such a great picture of true contentment! I also love I Love Lucy! I didn’t know episodes were on on Friday nights! I might have to check it out! My heart is so happy that you got to go see the cantata on Saturday night and you got to see so many people that are dear to you! What a great night that must have been for you! Thanks for sharing Little bit of this and Little bit of that! You are a talented writer, my friend! I love you. ❤️
Thank you, Melanie. Yes, the faucet is running well these days. 😊 The flute story is one of the times when I learned to laugh at myself–I try very hard not to take myself too seriously and to find humor where I can. I did NOT know that you loved “I Love Lucy!” It’s on every morning on the Hallmark channel, in case you didn’t know. Thank you for the word you used–“contentment.” That’s exactly it–contentment with my life. Thank you for your kind and encouraging words. ❤