“Don’t cry over the ugly things, baby, cry over the beautiful things.”
This is one of my favorite things that Randy has ever said to me. I remember his words and I remember to seek out the pretty things.
I remember everything isn’t shit, even in this horrific year. 2021 is taking it’s own sweet fucking time getting here.
I do, however, try to seek out things that make me happy.
Or really, just anything that quells the constant outrage and horror at what is happening to us.
The house we bought a little over two years ago is older. It was built in 1952. It’s just a small brick house in a blue collar neighborhood and needs a little work.
One of the things that has happened over the past few months, is the cabinet doors in the kitchen started trying to escape. I have no idea why, but it’s like they’re running away.
Our solution, so far, is to take the worst of the offenders off and stack them in the dining room. I’ll deal with this sooner or later. I will. But honestly, I have driveway issues, water heater issues, deck issues and roof issues which are way more pressing than some stupid cabinet doors.
Anyway, the cabinet that holds mugs and glasses no longer has a door.
Today, I noticed this mug on the top shelf. I hadn’t seen it in a while. Like years. It’s a chipped up Little Mermaid coffee mug.
When he was 4 years old, my son, Zach, gave me this mug for mother’s day. I don’t know that Little Mermaid was the first movie that Zach and I saw together, but it was one of the first.
I pulled it from the shelf and showed it to Randy.
Me: I haven’t seen this in forever. Where did it come from?
Randy: I think Joey had it up in his room.
Me: For what? Like two years?
Randy: Totally possible.
Me: Damn
Anyway, it made me happy to see my mug again. Zach is 33 years old now. This mug might be one of my top ten oldest possessions.
Randy: Why don’t you put that up?
Me: But I just got it back.
Randy: It might get broken.
Me: Yeah, it might.
Randy: There are chips in it, you’ll cut your lip.
Me: I know where the chips are.
Randy: If you put it in the cabinet, then you won’t be the only one using it.
Me: I’m cool with sharing.
Me: You know, if I drink coffee out of this mug in the morning and then drop in and break it, I will appreciate the coffee I just drank. I’d rather use it than fret over it.
And that is true.
I mean, we all have to say goodbye to everything at some point, right?
I want to enjoy the things that make me happy and then let them go when it is time rather than horde them and fret over their inevitable demise.
I know it’s just a banged up coffee mug with a Disney image on it, but it still makes me happy. It is one of my pretty things.
We are nearly there my friends. I know it is scary right now, but soon we can start to rebuild. It won’t be easy, but it will be good.
We’re all going to cry, but try to remember to sometimes cry over the beautiful things.
