Relative Something

‘Twas the day after Christmas, and all through my house, I’m not quite sure what has happened or what the heck to do next. I expect it has already been done several times over, but you could write a book about the myriad experiences relating to the day after. I’ve already written about feeling that anticipating an event is better for me than the actual event. I think what that sets up is an even bigger letdown when the day after the event arrives.

There is a component of ‘I should’ in the perceptions I have. I should feel more fulfilled from all the giving and feasting and laughing. I should have given more attention to someone at last night’s gathering. At the same time, there are some really great interactions that do paint the overall experience and provide a pleasing afterglow of the communing with other souls. So I end up with an odd mixture of feeling satisfied, and a bit empty at the same time. Yet, in the end, it’s not so odd. It’s life, after all. Life is not “either/or” it is “both/and.” We get both the highs and the lows in all things we do.

If we are insightful enough to navigate it, the result is all good. Both the highs and the lows. It’s all good. Just gotta discover the tricks of finding it as such. Become enlightened. It’s a pretty good view.

* composed while hearing Joni Mitchell sing “River” in the background.

Lyrics to River :
It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
But it don’t snow here
It stays pretty green
I’m going to make a lot of money
Then I’m going to quit this crazy scene
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I made my baby cry

He tried hard to help me
You know, he put me at ease
And he loved me so naughty
Made me weak in the knees
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I’m so hard to handle
I’m selfish and I’m sad
Now I’ve gone and lost the best baby
That I ever had
Oh I wish I had a river
I could skate away on
I wish I had a river so long
I would teach my feet to fly
Oh I wish I had a river
I made my baby say goodbye

It’s coming on Christmas
They’re cutting down trees
They’re putting up reindeer
And singing songs of joy and peace
I wish I had a river
I could skate away on