Do you need a hug? Has the isolation of sheltering-in-place taken its toll? As a human being, I relish social interaction. I heard someone say this week, “I’m suffering from hug deprivation!” Me, too! That describes it perfectly!
Yes, I get ample hugs from my dear husband daily, but I’m accustomed to hugs from a variety of people: we hug when we square dance, we hug at recovery meetings, we hug at church. My family hugs a lot! I’m used to an abundance of hugs, so the social distancing has been a real trigger for me! Yes, I agree a necessity, but my spirit and soul thirst for a hug, and this lack has zapped me!
On top of the restrictions, I filled my March and April with the final production of my newest book project, Just Another Square Dance Caller: Authorized Biography of Marshall Flippo. I focused on it and was able to add some special features I wouldn’t have been able to do if I had rushed the production. But the consequences: I felt drained!
Come Back Tomorrow and I’ll Have More April 17, 2020 I’ve run out Empty No More But come back Tomorrow There will be more! More of me My humor My expertise My talents I’ve used up Everything today Ran desperately out! I spilled me Wide-open Nothing left. But I rejuvenate Refresh And start again With a full tank! So don’t ask me When I’m on empty To give more! That’s selfish! Ask me about The level of Availability Ask me if I’m full Or empty Don’t assume! I know me! I can tell The meter’s hanging Dangerously low Near empty I’m zapped Nothing now Today! But come back tomorrow, And I’ll have more! More of me More joy More compassion More energy! Totally more!
I did get the book done, but the publisher has delayed the delivery of the paperback and hardback copies, so I’m waiting impatiently right now. I want to get my book into the hands of readers everywhere!
I currently focus on promoting Flippo’s book on Facebook and have assembled a gigantic database of over 600 square and round dance Facebook pages for groups and clubs with a count of 176,000 contacts. I realize many people “Follow” several Facebook pages, but what an amazing number of dancers!
So at this point, my hugs are of the virtual variety from contacts all over the world.
The coronavirus continues to attack people across the world. Lin and I watch the daily numbers increase and worry about the outcome.
I continue to wrestle with the lack of hugs! I’ve heard it said in my recovery years it takes ten hugs a day to stay centered, so needless to say, I need a hug or ten!
All this combined makes me wonder about the future!
Indefinite Future April 20, 2020 Always The future looms In front Of me Full of intrigue Mystery An unopened present It lures me forward Beckoning me To come To participate To enjoy As I gaze on What’s to come My heart clenches My throat constricts Dread fills every cell! What does it hold? The uncertainty now 2020 Scary Horrendous illness Rampant Across our world Death cries swell In volume Bodies sit in stacks Never have I seen Anything of this size So do you plan? Will June arrive safely? What about the annual Branson-Trinchera Reunion? Its 62th event Will July 4th be cancelled? Will our summer be tainted By the smell of Rotting corpses? Projection Fear Alarm All color the future! Will we get a respite? Will it stop? Will it return If we open back up? The uncertainty The drama The insanity The horror Pain Suffering Can we ever have Normal again? The future holds the key!
Today, the future continues to look dim! Over the last several days, the Covid 19 case world count has been well over 100,000! Several states have seen a surge in cases here in the United States. My husband and I still choose to limit our exposure by staying close to home and only going out for the essentials. We will not participate in any group activities this summer.
Besides the horror of the coronavirus, over the past few weeks, the murder of George Floyd has influenced an awakening for the need for an honest look at racial prejudice in our world. It reminds me of the Civil Rights movement in the 60s, but here we are sixty years later with some of the same injustices present. We need a major overhaul.
So, can we return to normal? I doubt if that ever happens. 2020 has been a year of major disasters and major changes. I yearn for a hug from you, a hug from you and a hug from you! The future truly holds the key to a new normal.
Will you participate or hold on to the old?
~DO YOU WANT AN PERSONALLY AUTOGRAPHED COPY OF THE FLIPPO BIOGRAPHY? It’s available NOW! I am experiencing a delay from the publishers—sorry about that! Go to my website and pay for it there: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~ALL FOUR E-BOOK FORMATS OF FLIPPO’S BIOGRAPHY AVAILABLE NOW. Apple Books (US) – https://books.apple.com/us/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id151164203 Kobo (US) – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/just-another-square-dance-caller Apple Books (CA) – https://books.apple.com/ca/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (UK) – https://books.apple.com/gb/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Apple Books (AU) – https://books.apple.com/au/book/just-another-square-dance-caller/id1511642036 Amazon Kindle (US) – https://www.amazon.com/Just-Another-Square-Dance-Caller-ebook/dp/B088QS9RH8 Amazon Kindle (UK) – https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B088QS9RH8 Amazon Kindle (CA) – https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B088QS9RH8 Barnes and Noble Nook (US) – https://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/just%20another%20square%20dance%20caller
~ RELEASE PARTY of Flippo’s biography streamed on Facebook Live — TBA! Be ready! Door Prizes, the inside story, Flippo song bytes & interview clips and more!
~Visit my web site for all the information you need about me and my books: https://www.laradasbooks.com
~Whitey & Gladys Puerling, playful friends of Flippo’s, created a Fan Club. I thought it would be fun to recreate this group. Would you like to join the Marshall Flippo Fan Club Facebook page? Read interesting posts about Flippo’s life. https://www.facebook.com/groups/328325644382769/