The West Commences: Dec. 15, 2012

I didn’t suffer from postpartum blues, but I think I have Jay to thank for that. He was born after only 7 months, so I hardly experienced ‘prepartum’, and as he was in an incubator for the first 3 weeks after birth, I was too occupied going back and forth from Wakefield to the hospital in Ottawa to be aware of any let down. But today I’m suffering from ‘post party’ blues. I guess preparing for and throwing my 2^nd annual Christmas fete got me more wound up than I was aware of. The evening was a success, and I was really happy to see so many of the people I’ve got to know and like in Vernon. Everyone ate, drank and enjoyed each other’s company. When there were only 4 good friends left, I finally sat down and started to eat, drink and be merry, a bit too much of all three, perhaps, but it was a good laugh. The usual potion before bed, a pinch of salt, large glass of water and 2 ASAs, was less than effective. When I awoke at 7:30 this morning, my head felt like a fog enveloped in an ache. More ‘Life brand’ ASA and some nuked last night’s coffee finally ate through the ache, but the fog lingers. My hangover has manifested itself mostly in negativity. Even though Mo and John helped me last night with many details, like coats, coffee, etc., I had myself close to tears remembering the pre and post party routines, chats and laughs that Jim and I used to have. It was often my favorite part entertaining. Living alone has many advantages, but I still miss Jim’s company, the comments he would have and his wording of them. In the afternoon, I entertained myself for much longer than I usually do with my silent, one woman rant about how relentlessly pedantic and politically correct children’s t.v. is now. This was sparked as it always is by the bit I watch on PBS as I program the PVR each day. Today, in my delicate condition, I actually had to mute the sound as I did the programming. I couldn’t bear the high-pitched righteous lessons being mouthed by the brightly colored creature on the screen. I’m becoming dangerously intolerant. Imagine what I’d be like if I lived with kids who played ‘Angry Birds’ or listened to PSY Gangnam Style all day. Actually, I might be better if that were the case.

I’ve spent the entire day shuffling around doing clean up. The house now looks pretty good, but I still feel muzzy. Tonight I’m going to a local Glee Club production called ‘Across the Universe’. I hope it’s as good as it’s supposed to be because the memory of pain is so fresh in my head it could be revived with one badly rendered Beatles’ song.