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Most days rock along. But, some days, my life seems to be swirling around in another dimension, even making the “Twilight Zone” pale down to a “Waltons” television re-run. When this other dimension is on warp speed, it seems to be determined to keep me wondering if I will land in OZ on top of some old hag, or keep blowing around like a Mary Poppins, but, holding an inside out umbrella and trying to keep my skirt from flying up. And, I don’t think I am alone in these feelings. SO,

When stuff is hitting the fan, and I mean a huge turbo charged airplane hangar sized fan, I have to decide to make a choice in the midst of insanity and despite Murphy’s Law book being slapped upside my head. I choose to find some type of normal. Somewhere. Anywhere I can.

Normal is:

1.  Accepting door frames and walls as your friends. I bounce into them or use them as props quite often, so it would be rude of me to not speak. Therefore, some of my walls and doors have names. Wally is my favorite wall today. Elladoor is a very nice doorway.

2. Embracing the fact your bathroom mirror does not lie. Especially, to your age spots or saggy and bagginess in bizarre places. 

3. Not tearing up the AARP card mailed to you right after you turn 48. Put it in your wallet and act “normal”. flashing it as you grin at the little kid in Starbucks who gives you a senior discount.

4. Forgetting stuff. Lots of stuff. Annoying at times, but can be fun. Why am I writing this, uh, well, I forgot. Use your imagination.

5. The ability to overlook the compulsion to clean the dust piled on lamp shades and the tops of candles.

6. Noticing the little stuff despite the big fan- splattering stuff. Like how silly squirrels look. How awesome dog kisses are. How much a hug from a friend means.

7. Finding a new hobby like neighbor watching. Painting bras for a charity. Researching new “super foods”, then go on a scavenger hunt in a store for them. Writing. (Self explanatory) Volunteering somewhere. Even in your chaos and insanity, you can help relieve someone else’s, if only a tiny bit.

8. Gaining experience in dodging the “it” slinging from the fan or, if possible, turn the breaker off to the source which makes that blasted fan work. Sometimes, a smile is the switch. Sometimes, faith can pull the plug. Sometimes, knowing how to dance, in your own way, can keep a lot of life’s “it” from plastering you. Never under-estimate the power of movement. I moon walked and backed away from some rather unsettling drama a while back and boogied past an offer, which if I had taken it, would have re-loaded the fan.

9. Understanding why your parents probably had the urge to give you to gypsies and why, for some reason, they didn’t.

10. Live knowing normal is not ever normal, really. Finding ways to be positive in grief. When washing machines break before payday. Find ways to breathe when you are scared “it”less. Seek fun and fun people. Those things and people which can pull you out of the way of the dreaded fan. And, vice versa. Also know, should the fan be aimed at the un-fun, it’s rather cathartic to know that is not you.

Normal is…coping. Healing. Problem solving. Laughing. Normal is different for everyone. Your normal will not be mine. You probably wouldn’t want to swap, anyway. As you define your normal, do it in style. Your style. And, always, be kind.