I am currently watching The Handmaid’s Tale and in the latest episode the poor handmaid is locked in her room as a punishment for not reproducing. She spends time on the floor of her closet, as she slowly loses her grip on reality, and finds a line written in Latin, carved in the wall: “Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.”
DON’T LET THE BASTARDS GRIND YOU DOWN
I’m thankful for my back yard.
For a yard in town, it is a nice size. When we bought the house, there was no place to sit and enjoy it, until we had a deck built and a door out onto it. This was a few years into living in the house.
Now I can sit out there and enjoy the weather, if I don’t feel like the noise I get from sitting out on my front porch. I kept a BBQ from a past relationship and we are having a family gathering out there soon, to celebrate My sister’s birthday, among other things.
It’s perfect, with lots of space for the kids to run around back there.
I’m thankful I could help my sister out.
She was invited to a Mother’s Day tea at my nephew’s school. She could have brought my baby niece along, but it was nice I could stay home with her, so my sister and nephew could have a nice morning together with the rest of his class, without any of the distractions a three-month-old might cause, as cute as she is.
I got my niece to nap as soon as my sister left, but it was a close call to keep her sleeping, with my dog who likes to bark right there and the cardinal who likes to bang against the glass of my sister’s patio door because he sees his reflection and doesn’t understand what that means.
Luckily, my niece was just that tired.
I’m thankful to know that my brother has a friend who is looking out for him.
He messaged me one night, asking if I’d heard from my brother that day. I had and knew he had gone out for the night.
None of us knows when another seizure could strike, so it’s just nice to know he’s being thought of.
It makes me feel better and I thought it was just a nice thing for a friend to do.
I’m thankful to have been interviewed for my friend’s podcast.
I am thankful for a phone call on Mother’s Day.
I am not a mother and I don’t know if there is a day for us aunts.
I was on my way to see my nephew and his parents for dinner, when I received a phone call as I was getting dressed and ready to go.
At first I heard no voice speaking, but I did hear a background I guessed right away. Then, a little voice spoke to me.
My nephew was calling. His father told me after that he just said he wanted to call me. I don’t receive a call on Mother’s Day usually, but I like to think my nephew could sense that and was calling to lift my spirits.
Sure, he mostly asked about my dog, whom he usually loves, but I prefer to think of it that other way.
I am thankful for my mother and all the warm and wonderful mothers out there.
I’m thankful for my mother’s help when my television goes silent on me.
These days, it’s not just a television. Then you have the cable box and the surround system speakers and DVD and I can’t possibly use all of these with only one remote.
A lot is visual about it and when one wrong button is pressed or if you don’t aim straight at the cable box when you turn it on, all hell breaks loose. I guess it’s too much for a blind girl to be able to figure it all out, use it without running to her mother every week.
Luckily, she helps, no matter how often I request it.
I’m thankful for a delicious Mother’s Day meal.
It’s BBQ season and everything tastes better cooked that way. One of my favourite parts of warmer weather.
My mom also made a taco salad for the occasion, because she wants to bring something. It was a meal in itself.
My brother-in-law and nephew made the cupcakes for dessert.
I’m thankful we don’t live in The Handmaid’s Tale.
I am completely creeped out by this series, but this week I just had to mention that Latin bit.
Everyone keeps comparing the story to today’s times, or where we could be heading, even though we like to think of women’s rights as improving a lot in the past one hundred years.
I do hope we never do go as far as they have gone in Atwood’s story, but you never know. I do feel better to watch, with curiosity and horror, and then go back to my real life and feel how lucky I have it, to be as free as I am.
This story should be a lesson for us all, but it is scary when I think that there are a number of people who might want some of these Handmaid story elements to be true.
There is some mention, by some of the repressors, of the UN and Toronto Star. Is Canada still free, but the US is the one so messed up? It’s strange, as Atwood is a Canadian writer. I wonder why she set it like that.
I’m thankful my violin teacher is back.
It has been almost a whole month, since she went on her trip to South America, teaching violin. I am happy for her, that she got such an opportunity, but my violin playing has stalled as I’ve been on my own with it.
We will see what we get out of that. Though, after I was in Mexico, upon returning my skills weren’t as badly effected as I’d feared they would be. (Update next week.)
Not letting the bastards grind me down…a work-in-progress.
Her Headache 
Hi Kerry! Your deck sounds awesome, the perfect place to enjoy some fresh air and quiet, and for family gatherings too! I love that you got to spend a morning taking care of your sweet little niece, how nice for all concerned! The Mother’s Day call from your nephew was extra-sweet too. Children are instinctively caring unless someone teaches them to be otherwise. It is a comfort to know that your brother has a friend watching out for him. When people live alone and have medical concerns we always worry, I was glad you knew why he was unavailable.
How cool that you got interviewed for a podcast, I’ll be by to check it out! I smiled at your mother insisting that she bring something for the Mother’s Day dinner, she just wouldn’t be a mom if she wasn’t like that! I always tell my daughter that such behaviors are “in the mother’s handbook”, like when I remind her to dress warmly for her drive to work… and she’s 42 years old! LOL 🙂 It is awesome your mom is able to help you with the tv remote problems. It is complicated and easily messed up for anyone to use, and I can understand how difficult it would be to keep all the buttons and menus straight without vision. I tend to hand it to my husband when I get frustrated and don’t want to deal with it anymore!
The Handmaid’s Tale does indeed sound creepy. The things going on in this country are pretty creepy at the moment too, and I wish it was fiction, rather than a warped reality!
I’m glad your violin teacher has returned, I’m certain you won’t have that much difficulty in getting back up to speed with her. 🙂
I hope this week is going great for you, keep writing, my friend! XOXO
We had our family day on the deck yesterday. I’m glad the sun decided to come out, but I did burn. My brother had to help with the TV this time. My teacher returned and lesson did go quite well. Thanks Josie. Once a mother, always a mother.
Aunties are honored, too, on Mother’s Day and I’m so glad your nephew called and you took care f the sweet niece. I almost purchased Atwood’s book the Handmaid’s Tale in the grocery the other day, on your recommendation. I will look for it at the library. The woman starring as the handmaiden played a part in a series I enjoyed called Madmen. She broke the woman’s stereotype in the 1950s NY advertising world. This is quite an opposite role. I’m glad there is a support system for you and your brother. And there is nothing better than bbq and warm weather. I swear shoe soles would taste good on the grill. My husband cooks outside all year long, and I so enjoy it. Have a good week.
I loved Mad Men too. This role isn’t that different. She is again a character who is living in an oppressive world and she remains strong in spite of it. If you do read it, let me know what you think.
totally agree ( with that thing about the grinding and the bastards ).
BBQ season is something to be Thankful for… we have started the summer phase of our year in that we usually cook the Sunday meal on the grill on the deck. (I’m still searching for the way to replicate the grilling of youth* there was a certain smell/taste that I can’t seem to get… of course, back in the day the BBQ was a charcoal grill so I was probably tasting/smelling the carcinogens from burnt charcoal lol)
good that your music teacher is back… back to lessons, I assume.
*surely that is a title waiting for someone’s short story
Sometimes I manage to find the perfect quote to start off these TToT posts. Haha. Thanks Clark. Lessons commenced and all was well.
Having choices of porches or decks is a blessing. Sit where you want according to your mood.
I’m sure your sister was happy to be able to have 1-1 time with her son while you tended the baby.
Silly cardinal. Your niece must have been really tired to sleep through a barking dog and a tapping cardinal.
Yes, knowing that there are people watching out for people with known health situations is another blessing.
Thank you for sharing the link to the interview of you. It is good to hear your voice.
Mother’s Day is definitely for you too. You display so many of the characteristics of a mother as you are a loving aunt to your niece and your nephew.
What a lovely tribute to your Mom!
How nice it would be if there could be just one remote for all those things we watch and listen to. I’m not even blind, and still I frequently need my husband’s help to undo what I just did. HaHa
When my niece is sleeping deep enough, she can sleep through almost anything. That cardinal drives my sister nuts though. I wear my aunt title proudly, thanks Pat.
Ah yes, one disadvantage of living alone. My brother helped me fix things yesterday.
Hi Kerry! Such a lovely list, this is ! That quote from the handmaid’s tale is very impactful. I am happy to hear about the your spacious house, i live in an apartment here and miss open spaces like that- great for a family time and a great playing area too.
was so nice of you to look after your niece , so your sister could be a part of the mother’s day tea. Its really nice when friends look out for each other , strengthens our faith in “a friend in need is a friend indeed.” Happy for your brother.
Congrats on your podcast interview . Will check it out soon.
Like i had said earlier, theres a wonderful mother in you and i am happy that your nephew called you on Mother’s day to tell you that you are thought of as a mother.
I loved your tribute to your mother on Mother’s day.
So happy that your violin teacher is back. Please record a little something of the violin for us when you get the time, so we can listen to it.
Best wishes always…
Thanks Moon. I lack confidence with my playing. Not sure when a recording will be showing up here, but I am working hard at it, to make that a possibility. Perhaps soon.