Visiting the Man in Black

While looking to add distance to my daily walks, I decided a couple of weeks ago to walk through a rather large cemetery about a mile away from my house. It's a neat place. My half sister Brandi is buried there. It's kinda nice to walk around and search out her grave. Sometimes I go see her. I have visited her grave more this summer than ever before. I also recognize names on graves sometimes. Really distant childhood memories. The name of a vice-principal, or the name of a Sunday school teacher's younger brother who committed suicide when I was 11. Anyway, you know, it's a very basic, respectable cemetery. The owners don't like a lot of stuff set on the gravestones. There are a lot of rules about the type of (artificial only) flowers you can put on the graves. That is except for one........The grave of Johnny Cash.

I love his grave. He and June are buried together in the front part of the cemetery. Their graves are covered with a large granite stone and surrounded by a small marble wall. All around their graves are large, colorful, and live wildflowers. (More in memory of June, than Johnny, I'm sure). It's the brightest spot in the whole place. Sunflowers, and big purple coneflowers , bright red Indian paintbrushes, and black-eyed susans are planted near the little marble wall. But the coolest thing, is what people leave behind in memory of Johnny. It is ever changing, and fascinating. Giant cans of beer, tons of colorful guitar picks, cds, personal messages, pennies, roses, lyrics to various songs. It is a constant rotating gallery of interesting detritus. (I am sure the cemetery owners are vigilant, and clean the graves off weekly, if not more!) I will try to remember to take my camera with me sometime. And even though I am usually focused on burning calories, it is really hard not to stop and look at all the things people leave behind. I should also mention that Mother Maybelle Carter, and many other members of the Carter family are also buried there. There are more often than not, very interesting things left for them as well. Sort of a small memorial to the Kings and Queens of Country Music.

SO, all in all, not a bad way to add extra mileage.......though I do have to stop and look at least a couple of times a week. Then, I go back on my way, walking hard and fast, and singing "Ring of Fire" as I go!

"The Pill"

by mamie

I have been on the off and on "The Pill (but a lot more on) for the last 20 years. I love "The Pill." I know for a fact that there were several instances where "The Pill" saved my life. I have tried many variations of "The Pill." I have experienced tons of side-effects, both the expected and the bizarre. I have been pregnant 4 times, and have had 3 children on "The Pill." My husband has been on and off "The Pill" as well. Whoa....what? Well, so I am not talking about birth control (although with some of the side-effects, I may as well call it that.) I am talking about nearly every anti-depressant ever produced. And now....I am 3 weeks pill free. Ready for my little white key-chain. My life feels very different without my nightly dose of Cymbalta. It's scary. But I like this kind of scared. I am at the right place to do this. I don't want to be ambivalent about things anymore. I need to feel. I am steady enough to do this at this time. Now, I would never advocate just going off without seeing a doctor first. And I am VERY thankful for anti-depressants. They have helped me through awful tunnels. And if I need them again, I will promptly go and get what I need. But so far, I am enjoying my techni-color world. I am enjoying the energy to follow through with things. And walking is a hell of a lot cheaper than Cymbalta. ( which was averaging $180.00 monthly since we lost our insurance. )

So here's to "The Pill!" I am happily replacing the groggy side-effects with the blisters and sore feet side-effects of walking. But I am grateful it got me to this place. Without it, I may not have made it this far.