Distracting Myself

For the most part, I have worked my way through yesterday’s anger at my surgery being postponed due to an influx of COVID-19 patients at Huntsman. I am now skulking my way through the deep puddles of merely disappointment and disillusion. It’s funny how much I don’t want to have surgery at all, yet I feel disheartened that I can’t have it as planned. Before I got the news about surgery being postponed, I was already in not-happy shape. A few days ago I had learned that Mom has entered a new phase of her life: she is now on oxygen 24/7 and will be doing most of her remaining earthly travel by wheelchair. She is generally well for being almost-91, and she is still generally her joyous, feisty, old broad self. But her new situation is yet another move closer toward her being reunited with Dad. We know it, and she knows it. Even I get tired of the phrase, “circle of life,” but that’s the truth of what it is. Yeah, I guess you could say this has not been my favorite week of my life.

It’s a good thing I have TIE O’ THE DAY to play around with. It’s the perfect distraction for me— a diversion from all things worrisome, painful, or downright boring. You’ve seen some of my wood bow ties which attach to collarless shirts by way of two magnets. They work brilliantly as bow ties for t-shirts. Today, I did some experimenting with what else I can attach with a magnet to create my own original Bow Ties o’ the Day. Here are a few bow ties I came up with, which I thought you might enjoy seeing.

1. Tiny, pink coin purse Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I find a penny on the ground.
2. Paper clips Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I need to organize some papers.
3. Steak knife Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I run into a thick steak during my travels.
4. Cowboy-hat-and-red-bandana mini stapler Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I want to put up a flyer on a cork board or electrical pole.
5. Rotary cutter Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I get literally wrapped-up in a bolt of aggressive fabric and need to escape.
6. Disposable razor Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I suddenly need to shave my white legs.
7. EpiPen Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I run into a bee’s stinger.
8. Altoids Bow Tie o’ the Day, in case I am afraid of my own breath.