1.20.2010

The Epiphany



Last night right after we’d eaten, our Russian orthodox neighbor stopped by to spontaneously invite us to a feast dinner. At the bus stop just now I asked her husband, Peter, which feast were they celebrating?

“Epiphany,” he said.

“Oh, I thought it was a week after ours? Except that we don’t celebrate the Epiphany anyway,” I looked up, trying to calculate. Everything I know about the Orthodox religion I learned from David Sedaris. His mother always complained that her in-laws’ faith celebrated late just so they could buy Easter candy for half-price. But a blogging friend, Alicia, is enthusiastic about the religion, so I’m curious to know more. Any religion that much into gold leaf has virtues greater than half-price Russell Stovers.

“No, it’s the same date, but Julian calendar is 13 days later.”

Multicultural me said, as we walked back towards our split-levels, “Maybe not later, just different.” I’m not sure he noticed.

A flock of robins was peeping wildly outside my house. What the hell do they know? Can spring really be on its way?

What would I give for midwinter depression to roll into some sort of epiphany, an exalted realization of the oneness of everything? A flash of understanding, deep in my soul, of what’s wrong with me?

I’ve had enough of them, lucky me, to know what it’s like to have the bleak grey cloud fall away. It’s not divine, it’s got to be neurological, and I’m sure I always suffer in all the Freudian ways before I get there. But dammit, I want someone to hand me the frickin’ key.

I should be bright, but I'm dull.

Tell me why I’m always behind. Tell me why I frustrate those I love. Why I pick fights and miss deadlines. Why I don’t take care of myself. What did they do to crush me? How I adjusted and survived, why I’m afraid to thrive. These situations I’ve worked out from hardened muscles over the years. But why am I still falling for it? "Tell me?" Do I really want to know?

A few days ago I read Jen Lemen’s Mondo Beyondo ‘zine to my daughter. The new agey language didn’t faze her a bit (Jen, you’re brilliant, it’s just an old thing of mine. Resistance.). Shortie’s wide eyes made my voice earnest. I followed Jen’s process a bit, thinking, maybe this year will be all about forgiveness. Maybe that’s the one thing I’m ready for, that I need, that I can actually pull off.

It’s a big idea. Maybe today it’s manifest in my urgent desire for oranges. "Late coffee and oranges in a sunny chair," it ain't. I’d rather be back in bed right now.

It’s never easy, but it never gets done any other way than One. Step. At a time.

One goddamn step at a time.


* * * Comments * * *

7 comments:

Mary said...

Best lines for me? The last ones. It's all, one step at a time. And no one can truly help us take those steps.

Liv said...

Thanks for following me on Twitter...reading your profile has brought me to your blog. It's been a long time since anyone's writing has inspired me, but you've totally done it. You're right: Everything is one goddamn step at a time.

Supa Dupa Fresh said...

Liv, thanks for your comment! I'm always glad to have any impact on folks. Looking forward to more connection with you!
X
Supa

Abigail said...

It seems to me that Epiphany is simply the power of sight. Or maybe its simply the idea of being able to know there is sun behind the clouds...

Its a slow progression, this tightrope, but you're doing a great job!

Mama_Bear_Sarah said...

LOVE the photo, LOVE the post even more.

I use to only do 10 min. at a time because that was literally all i could handle. Then came a half hour, then an hour, then a half day and now a full day. Sometimes I creep passed a full day but that's overwhelming for a lot of people, even those not in a similar situation so one day is usually good.

it's such a process ...continual, unending. always learning, figuring out how to climb new hurdles.

Thanks for this entry ...LOVED it!

Anonymous said...

Only five months a widow I'm moving so slow you can hardly see me move... but I'm still alive. I see it as victory.
http://www.rememberinggeorge.com

Anonymous said...

Only five months a widow I'm moving so slow you can hardly see me move... but I'm still alive. I see it as victory.
http://www.rememberinggeorge.com

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