Day Ten plus Fourteen

Another good day after a very short night. Woke very early, knowing I had to check bank balance before going into Glasgow. Bank site was down (maintenance at what is usually a slow time) so I did some catch-up work in Gaelic. Ended up going back to bed for half an hour and managed to nod off, waking just at the right time from a thrilling dream in which I "thought" myself out of drowning in a raging river and ended up flying clear of power lines, facing the clouds and being able to see in microscopic detail the tiniest droplets of water in the mist. Hugely satisfying, both visually and emotionally. But I did want to pull out of the journey down to Glasgow.

What emotional pangs did I notice today?

Travelling into Glasgow I started reading Hallowell/Ratey, Delivered from Distraction (see link on right). I felt inspired and recognised, but I also felt sadness that I was nearly 60 before I began to understand what's been going on. Still, to quote Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra, celebrated American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager, "It ain't ovah till it's ovah"!

What went well today?
My very first meeting with Glasgow group of Scottish Adult ADHD Support *). Very productive, stimulating, helpful. What a very nice bunch of people – nine of us there.
I jumped over several inner hurdles to not back out at the last minute.
Also, did a spot of judicious non-shopping, checked out computer situation (something I'd had on the back burner for at least six months), and visited the Glasgow Gallery of Modern Art. 

*) NOTE: 
Until further notice, the Glasgow group of Scottish Adult ADHD Support meet every third Sunday of the month, 2 to 4:30pm, at Costa Coffee, basement lounge, 205 Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow (not to be confused with the CC branch at Waterstone's in Sauchiehall Street).

What strengths have I focused on today?

I can actually focus on others a bit better than I used to.
I can actually keep a promise and be reliable.

At what point did I feel most authentically myself?
Love meeting new people, especially people I know to share some of my concerns, who are willing to share and open up.
Looking at vibrant new art, re-acquainting myself with works by older artists who were at the cutting edge a few decades ago.
Riding a comfortable new bus in a spectacular setting.
Composing and polishing a poem.


May I share it with you? It's just a first draft but I may never get round to polishing it any further, so here goes:

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Leaving Glasgow, Going Home

The setting sun slants rays of light

brightens clouds green hills trees sheep

a hobby-horse's orange saddle glows

incongruous on motorway verge

mist rises from the road as speeding

cars pull rain off the black tarmac

up the road we

ride into the driving rain

between gold cauliflower clouds

a slash of blue

all else is blurry grey

above a mercury shimmer –

Loch Lomond

red glow in the dusk bids us wait:

Rest and Be Thankful landslip

cars rush past us
down steeply sloping road

one solitary cloud as light as cottonwool

floats in a darkening sky

rises out of slate and lead

past Taynuilt the view opens

wide beyond wide sea loch

where does the water end

the air begin beneath this sky

where a pale lemon light still lingers?

© MPJ, 16Sep2012