A Rich, Full Life

Discussion in 'Blogs' started by RightHand, Nov 27, 2012.


  1. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Early one morning last week, I was enjoying a few minutes of tale telling with one of the women who works for me. She's a few years older than I, if that's possible, and has led a traditionally female life ruled by either a father or a husband, sometimes both. She's a wonderful, generous person and I truly enjoy her company.

    She said that some day, we should run topless through the field that abuts the shop. She heard me chuckling to myself and demanded, in that prim and proper New England school marm way, that I fess up! Nothing too dramatic to tell, just that I had run naked through many fields in my life and the one next to the shop wasn't a prime spot for a couple old women with sagging breasts and pudgy thighs that would create the sound of gulls flying over. We laughed at the image and got back to work.

    The next morning she said how lucky I was to have lived such a rich and full life. I was a little taken aback by the statement and murmured agreement although I had never thought of my life in those terms but it was food for thought.

    I've come to the conclusion that my friend was more perceptive than I. I have led a rich and full life. I have know laughter that couldn't be contained, smiles that warmed my spirit, grief so deep I didn't think I would survive, the sound of music, the feel of creating a painting or a sculpture, the satisfaction of a body exhausted by hard physical labor. I have known motherhood by example and by experience and I have been a father when there was no one else to fill that role. I built my life in the same way that I built my home, on my terms. I have swum in oceans and rivers and lakes and felt my body cut through the cool water that surrounded me without letting it swallow me. I have loved, deeply and passionately and have been loved the same way in return. I have know friendship that is like the other part of me, separated at birth. I have been blessed with a spirit that needs to keep learning. I have slept under stars and on boats and in beds shared with a variety of creatures, most of them invited. I have read through the night, great books and trashy novels, until I was forced to reluctantly put the book aside because it was time to leave for work. I have shed tears alone in the bathtub but seldom in front of others, my pride I guess, and my reluctance to appear vulnerable in the eyes of anyone, myself included. I never really noticed when my hair turned to silver, when my blue eyes changed to a pastel facsimile or when my skin began resembling that of my mother. I have written my own rules, created the woman I have become, lived deliberately and tried to carry out my dreams without intentionally hurting others, and I've never looked back.

    Yes, I have lived a rich and full life


    I
     
    Dunerunner, GOG, NotSoSneaky and 12 others like this.
  2. tacmotusn

    tacmotusn RIP 1/13/21

    Beautiful and thoughtfully written open hearted tale. Thanks for sharing RH.
     
  3. Brokor

    Brokor Live Free or Cry Moderator Site Supporter+++ Founding Member

    Couldn't you have just had some chocolate and called it even? :p
     
    Motomom34 likes this.
  4. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    You're such a rascal B. Yes, I've had my fair share of of chocolate, always dark
     
    chelloveck and Brokor like this.
  5. Tracy

    Tracy Insatiably Curious Moderator Founding Member

    You are a lucky girl! :)


    Thank you for sharing, RH!
     
  6. Witch Doctor 01

    Witch Doctor 01 Mojo Maker

    I like the prose but worry a bit about the use of the past tense.... We hope you hang around the monkey for a long time...
     
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  7. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Thank you DW. Just a habit of mine - past tense, often 3rd person. I've been called to task on this before but I always seem to revert to my comfort zone. Aside from a little Lyme disease, I'm a spry young thing and I plan on staying that way until I'm not!
     
  8. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Obviously RH subscribes to the "DeAnne's Rule of Chocolate"
    1. One must consume any chocolate available.....
    2. If there is NO chocolate available, One must go Buy some, Immediately.....
    3. One shares their chocolate, only if they have enough, so they do NOT violate Rule Number 1.....
     
  9. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    I actually buy dark chocolate for those who mean the most to me then share theirs LOL.
     
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  10. cdnboy66

    cdnboy66 Monkey++

    Bravo! well said, and evidently, well lived.
     
  11. Seacowboys

    Seacowboys Senior Member Founding Member

    Gotta warn you about running around naked in fields up there in New England; they are full of ticks! No wonder you gots Lymes disease....New England is full of ticks and they even live in the snow.
     
    Witch Doctor 01 and Bug like this.
  12. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    A veritable infestation of the little vermin. Its made me consider changing from Chanel No. 5 to Eau de Advantage
     
  13. Bug

    Bug Monkey+

    Living life without hurting others is a great quality...I try to do the same myself
     
  14. Bug

    Bug Monkey+

    U do have the gift of gab
     
    RightHand likes this.
  15. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Unfortunately true. I've never used five words when ten would do nicely.
     
    Bug likes this.
  16. GOG

    GOG Free American Monkey

    Well said and thank you.
     
  17. Dunerunner

    Dunerunner Brewery Monkey Moderator

    Truly inspirational and uplifting....
     
    RightHand likes this.
  18. Bug

    Bug Monkey+

    So true
     
  19. RightHand

    RightHand Been There, Done That RIP 4/15/21 Moderator Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Your have sad memories.
     
  20. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    @Bug the past won't change, it's time to live in the present and for the future. We know you can do it.
     
    RightHand and Bug like this.
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