Dear Cath,
You’re really not having it great are you? You’re a great wallower, you. The dying swan act you do so well gets you nowhere, remember?
That said, your Martha Plimpton from 200 Cigarettes impersonation is outstanding.
Which is why we decided to play that funky soundtrack for you.
So you see, whilst you were standing there in your tulle prom skirt and bjork hair, a song played.
It was the start of the 80s soundtrack you needed. George Michael really did say it best when he said “you gotta have faith”.
He probably also says alot of things like “you gotta have nice public bathrooms” too but, hey, we’re not listening to that part today.
So, when you finally cracked a joke and made an ABBA song into a good commentary on how winners really do take it all (but, where is the exact question…hah) we knew we had the start of your shell cracking. Just a little peek.
True, you’re not doing fabulously. Sleep is evasive and work is very consuming right now. But, you’ll get by.
Like Will said to you last night – “i’m so proud of you. you’re still doing things”.
You’ve refused to stagnate, even though that’s all you feel like doing.
You’ve a new home, a new and beautiful tattoo upon your arm to remind of your grace in life.
Your grace in life, hard-won and fiercely protected.
Your grace in life that you find in the friends who buoy you and hold your hand even when your fist is clenched tightly into a ball of steel.
Your grace in life that you find in people who still think you’re funny when you’re crying.
Your grace in life that you find when you wake up to see your beautiful daughter smiling at you and saying “mama, i love you so much”.
When you realise, time and again, that there are some essential tunes missing from that grand five-disc cd set of Will’s of 80’s classics… it doesn’t detract from it’s awesomeness.
Sure, Wham is not imprinted upon it’s silver surface and there is no Human League to be found, but, it’s still a brilliant collection of songs that will get you through.
Songs that will make you smile, sometimes even when you don’t want to.
So, you see, Cath. Maybe your grand five-disc cd set of life right now does not have every song you think should be there, but it’s still good.
So good. So good even when you do not realise it.
Those songs don’t stop playing just because that Alison Moyet solo number is not with it. They keep playing anyway. And they’re just as beautiful.
In just the same way, your grace in life continues without skipping.
No matter where you are, or whatever you’re missing.
Stay proud. Stay open. We know it’s hard but stay open even though your heart is closed.
Remember, Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush said it: “don’t give up, you have friends”.
With feathers,
The Universe
***
Dear Universe
Thanks for being the dj. Keep sending the feathers. 🙂
Cath