Little Victories

I'm never going to win the war...what war you ask....to answer I will borrow a phrase from a  early,  pre -Godfather Marlon Brando movie..."whaddya got?"  I bet most of you know what I am talking about. The War - The daily war with banks that screw up your account, insurance companies that screw up you policies, Tim Horton's employees that screw up your coffee order...seriously it's just black coffee...no milk, no sugar...BLACK-it can't be that difficult,   I  know I am trying to stay positive in the coming months and  I will.... just bear with me. There is always going to be that war so I am here to tell you to celebrate the Little Victories.  Ah yes, the little victories- even if they are only important to you- enjoy them.... I do. Some days are tougher than others to find them, you have to really dig... but they are there. ( I didn't hit one red light ...take that Town Highway Department!)

Now I have to admit that many, many of my little victories are what one might call "imaginary". That being said let me take you back to the early  90's.  I just plopped down a big bunch of money to get floor seats for Elton John.  I have always been a fan ...since Tumbleweed Connection...before all the crazy get ups and glam glasses. So I was very excited and wasn't disappointed by the awesome performance.  Now about 3 or 4 months later they announce that Elton John is touring with Billy Joel ( another fav...although I have seen him a few times).  I was furious!  Why didn't they announce this sooner.  I would have loved to see them both together.  So do I now plop down another big bunch of money?  The guy just played here and now he's coming back with a better show for more money.  NO ...I said.  I am not going and I didn't and I don't regret it.  This is coming from someone who has seen Bruce Springsteen 14 times....but that's  not the point.  I thought it was shitty so I didn't go.....I felt like I won a small imaginary, even demented battle-----little victory?----why not

I was and still am a big letter (email now) writer. Surprise Surprise.... I wrote letters to Dog Food Companies when I found little bugs in a bag of food---FREE DOG FOOD...victory!   When my oldest daughter was a baby, she got her finger caught in a little Winnie the Pooh toy...APOLOGY FROM SEARS + GIFT CERTIFICATE- --victory! One year our school was closed because of a huge  ice storm in October.  Some of us didn't get paid for about a week or so (not to mention property damages and generator costs)  and our school district refused to compensate us---I wrote a letter to NYSUT, the union we are affiliated with, and received a BIG CHECK right around Christmas time----fa la la la laaaa  victory!
 Now it doesn't always work  and here's a big FUCK YOU  to HOTWIRE.COM

I had a couple of little victories this summer....although this one may fall under the "imaginary" category.  The beginning of last year when we started our last first day of school, our superintendent came in to say how smooth things were going to run and our placements will be handled by seniority which seemed cool ( especially since I have 20 years of it).  Something told me to be proactive...so I  (wait for it) wrote a letter.  I wrote the superintendent a letter on behalf of my fellow employees.   I wanted to make a plea to consider people's talents and strengths, along with the seniority, when deciding where to place them.  I knew it was a complicated process and in a school district with huge money problems, our jobs were not priority one....we HAVE jobs...a lot of people didn't.  He answered me, he thanked me for suggestion and said he would do his best.  Two words came to mind...Bull and Shit....but I don't regret writing it...I don't regret!   A few weeks ago, we got our placements.  Hello, I am the new Career Center Coordinator at the High School.  After 20 years in elementary school...I finally made it to high school! I was told by my new principal it's not that different...they are just a little bigger ..but he noticed that they were bigger than me by 3rd grade anyway. ( I think I'm gonna like this guy.)  But my new job, I like to think, will allow me to finally use some of my public relation skills (30 years since college but still) and my technology abilities and was told to use my creativity to make the job my own.  Not too shabby...and I'm not saying that the letter I wrote last year led me to this position.  Coincidence....probably....   luck of the draw ...maybe...Victory .... hells yes!
In my mind...it's a victory ....the same mind that says look about 20 pounds thinner and 20 years younger...the mind that says everyone thinks I am as funny as I do.....the mind that says no one notices the food stains on ALL my shirts nor do they see the newest little hair on my upper lip.

Another victory this summer was getting my whole family together for a mini vacation.
It was  Me vs. Six Busy Schedules  but    I   WAS   VICTORIOUS!   
It wasn't for a long time at all, but there we were, all seven of us together ...that's all I wanted.  We came up at all different times, some of us stayed longer, some left early to go to work. some of us got to go to the pool (by the way having that imaginary extra 20 lbs. makes you freaking fly down that water slide....take that skinny bitches), but we all had a great dinner and got to lay around the hotel room laughing and enjoying each others company.  I say that was quite a victory indeed.  After a crazy summer of rehearsals (our show made money this year...another not so little victory) and our upcoming "fresh Hell" with doctors and hospitals, we must grab these victories and hang on to them tightly with both hands.

We met my mom and dad at the office of her new doctor ( a man, I'm told, that does not mince words or give false hopes)   I accompanied my mom in to the examining room where the doctor said "this doesn't look too bad".  Our first little victory.  He explained what the next steps were. Surgery, but she is going to a great hospital where she will get great care (same one my husband was)another little victory.  I AM feeling positive and not as scared as I may have been in the past when I was afraid to say that word out loud. Now I say it with ease and a I find that I can yell it at the top of my lungs if I want to ....take that cancer
Because this conversation happens (more than once)

Mom:  I hope they don't find a tumor ....
Me:     Mom ..it's CANCER remember CANCER
Mom:  Oh yeah

I'm not sure she totally understands what this all entails and maybe that's a little victory too.   When I left the doctor's office with my sister and daughter, we agreed we are absolutely going to get through this- it was as positive a visit as it could be.  I think my mom and dad got that and I said it out loud.  "I think they get it" . Ironically at that moment, my daughter pointed out that my parents were passing us going the wrong way down Main Street..... doh! ....well at least they were in the right car ....little, little victories, just sayin'