The Reluctant Mermaid

one woman unwilling to swim in the same direction as the others

10/14/10

A wolf in sheeps clothing


Just a quick note, I apparently don't know how to count, I skipped day 4. Did anyone notice?
Anyways- what I want to say about today and my attempt at prettiness is this: My grief has been like a hungry rabid animal. Trying to tear me to bits, growling and cornering me, intimidating me with it's claws. Like a wolf. That wolf made me think that I wasn't worth saving, that there was nothing special about me to make it stop attacking. Making me very frightened of it's eventual bite. It was a bite I can't afford to experience because, well, if I give up- if I lay down and surrender, it would break my childrens hearts.
So I kindly asked that wolf one day if it could go undercover in the waking hours when my kids were running circles around me, asking for chips, chocolate milk, a trip to the library, another piece of candy "pleasepleaseplease oh PLEASE!". I wanted that grief to disguise itself as someone who really had thier shit together... who was kind and gentle and understanding. As gentle as a sheep.
For a while we agreed. And I kept it together. And then I noticed something. The more I ignored that freakin' monster- the more I was actually able to start standing taller, more brave and bold and empowered, the more that wolf started looking like just a tamed little dog. Today, I still have moments when I look in the mirror and see that menace hanging out over my shoulder. But not today.
Today I wear this necklace. It's wool! It's made of sheeps wool, rolled into these little felted wool beads. Isn't this amazing? I have to confess it itches my neck a wee little bit... but it's a whole lot more tolerable than a claw stuck in my back.
The end.
xoxo

2 comments:

CindieQuilts said...

The necklace feels joyful to me and I love the way you styled the picture.
You are loved a zillion times over by so many people. We are all rooting for you.
(And yes, I noticed there was no Day 4 entry but I figured you were busy with Life.)

~Kat~ said...

Cindie-love xoxo Did you notice WHAT I styled the necklace on? And WHO gave me those sweet little tiles? hmmm... who could it be?
Also, I wanted to mention to you that I love to see all the things that inspire you (blog post) and I wanted to say it right then and there but you don't have a comments section. So I'll say it now- I love that these things inspire you... now BLOG MORE! I want to see MORE!