Yesterday was an official mental health day; that’s good I needed one. It started off poorly I was late for therapy. I had put off cleaning to the last minute because that’s what I do, and when I went to leave I realized that it was already the time the bus was scheduled to leave. After sitting down and checking something on my computer I checked to see how the next bus was doing and found that the bus I meant to take was late. If I had gone straight to the stop I’d have made it. Instead I just missed it. Then the next bus was late. Then there was traffic. Instead of getting to the train station 15 minutes early, I got there late. I took advantage of that to stop by WFUV; I had a few CDs for John Platt. I love stopping by when they don’t expect me. Linda and Janeen both said, “Is it the 22nd already?” That’s when the next pledge drive is. John wasn’t around so I just left the CDs in his mailbox.
I made the next train with plenty of time. Too much time. It was late. I called my therapist and told her I’d be late. It ended up being by 20 minutes. She gave me 15 minutes on the back end, so I lost only 5 minutes. The session went well. We talked about The Lord of the Rings. Reminds me that I need to buy a copy of it. Even though I can’t read I can do well enough to find references I’m looking for
Then I was off to my next mental health stop, Terre Roche’s Sunset Singing Circle at Robert Wagner Jr. Park. Terre and friends host this almost every Friday in May and June. The only Friday they are missing the rest of the month is June 22. Unfortunately, I had to miss all of them this season till last night.
I got there very early so I walked around the neighborhood for a bit. I bought a spiffy new hat for $6. It’s made of paper and even though it’s a medium/small it’s too big. But it was cheap, looks spiffy, and keeps the sun off me.
I got to Wagner Park early and texted Gen a photo of the secret entrance. Gen was joining me, and this was her first time there. Right after I did that Fred showed up. A minute later David and his wife, arrived. Sorry David’s wife. I’m not the writer of Genesis who felt that the lady that turned into a pillar of salt needed no more identification than “Lot’s Wife.” That struck me as unfair when I was a kid and it still bothers me. It’s also unfair that Lot’s wife looks back and is punished by being turned into a pillar of salt but when Orpheus is punished for looking back it’s Eurydice that’s sent to Hades. No matter who commits the sin, the woman is the one that gets the short end of the stick.
I loved that the only people there early were my friends. Birds of a feather and all that. When they started to hand out the yoga mats and song books we got prime real estate. Here’s a tip, that means extreme house right. That way the setting sun is at your back.
Gen got there during the first song, Across the Universe. People in the audience shout out their choice for the next song. At the start people are shy about it so I always suggest mine then. After people get used to, everyone wants to put their 2¢ in. I suggested the second song, Children Go Where I Send Thee; that was new to the song book. Terre said it was the first time it had been sung at the circle. It works very well in a group sing-along.
There is nothing better for your mental health than sitting in a beautiful spot, on the water, with a view of the Statue of Liberty, with good friends, singing. That is the antonym of anxiety and depression. You sit there and feel the difference in your psyche. It’s magic and it’s a shame that more people don’t do it. All my friends should.
When the show ended Gen and I went to get something to eat. On the way I showed her my favorite piece of environmental art, the drowning merchant marine. It’s in the harbor at the north end of Battery Park.
Then we went to the Beer Garden at the south end; we both had bratwurst on a pretzel roll. It’s pricy but the brats are exceptional, as was the company. We wanted to get ice cream, but we didn’t have time. Gen had to make a train. I went with her up to Penn Station and arrived with not enough time left to get some. I could have gotten some myself, but I felt that would be unfair and headed home.
Let’s recap all the good ingredients to a special day.
- Therapy that included LOTR
- A spiffy new hat
- Friends
- Singing
- A beautiful pastoral location in the heart of New York City with a view of the Statue of Liberty
- My favorite piece of environmental art
- Extraordinary bratwurst. That’s going to be the name of band.
- Perfect timing on the subway and buses on the way home.
Ice cream would have made it perfect but then the rest of my life would be downhill. O that a man’s reach should exceed his grasp or what’s a heaven for.
Wise Madness 