Post-Valentine's Day Uplift

Dear Reader,

Okay, I'm feeling better than my last entry expressed. I've had a week to digest everything that was happening then: the computer guy came and did some helpful work (though not much more than I could have done if I'd wanted to really work harder at it); the ceiling didn't cave in when he saw the place, and Big Guy's friendly presence helped; the computer is working again, though AOL is still down which really irritates me, as I'm paying for it and they have given me no helpful advice to date.

And, despite the fact that this was the first Valentine's Day in a long time when I really missed having a "Valentine," I don't feel as bad as I might. I'm keeping the weight off, I have some new clients, I've discovered "The Sopranos," I got my music straightened and organized (except for my big scores, which placement I still have to figure out), I think I'm getting a handle on other issues, and best of all, I made "Valentine's Day" cupcakes for my chorus the other night, and they were quite well-received! I had one woman stride up to me with an empty "cup" and another half-eaten one and say "Did you make these; they're DELICIOUS!" So, I was pretty pleased with that.

I've discovered over time that one of the best things one can do for getting out of a deep depression is to do something for someone else. Sometimes the more "someone elses" you do it for, the better. So, I figured I would try to do something special for my chorus members. Our rehearsal was on February 13; I decided to do a "Valentine's Day Warm Up." It worked out very well, too. The cupcakes, my first baking effort in years, were a hit; the candy and minimal decorations brought enough cheer on a really crappy weather evening to help everyone feel a little better as they left rehearsal. Putting something out there, even as simple as a baked good, can be a risk, but this time it worked.

I had no specific Valentine, but in my chorus I had many friends. That helps me feel better.

I'm also looking forward to having an entire weekend to be able to get out into the gardens at last, and get started pruning and hauling woodchips. I'm in the midst of a debate with the Park Fund over the rapidity with which the woodchips should be distributed. I maintain that, as a volunteer, I should not have any time constraints put on my work. Apparently, the Parks Department (not necessarily the Park Fund) thinks otherwise. I'll keep you apprised as the debate progresses, but this is typical of Parks. They have absolutely no appreciation of the work volunteers do in their Parks, nor of the time constraints that volunteers work under. Generally, the Parks Department is poorly run, and ineffective. That's why all of the parks in New York City have volunteer-based organizations to keep them operating. If it were left to the Parks Department, there would be no usable parkland left in NYC; it would all be homeless encampments and trash heaps.

So, I'm feeling better. I'm also grateful that one of my old friends, who reads this column occasionally, offered to help with the computer issue. And, putting out a "shout" like that also got the attention, if only momentarily, of my family. It's sad that it's the only way to get their attention, and get them to initiate communication, but if that's what it takes, so be it, I guess.

No worries. There will be plenty of Catbird to come. Hopefully of a more entertaining nature, but more, none the less!

Best,
Catbird