That being said, I suppose some would say I am being a crazy old lady when I close the door, turn off the phone, shut the curtains, and do nothing but meditate, think, and stare out the window amidst stacks and stacks of books.

I think you’re onto something. It is what makes us unique that comprises at least a part of our gift to the world. (And giving our gifts was the subject of the post before this one.) Thanks for that reminder. As for becoming the male equivalent of a crazy old lady, I can predict that, but I have an advantage since I knew you when you were still in your twenties. I think you qualified as a crazy young man, so there is hope for you as a old men (though you are nowhere near it yet), at least if you have managed to avoid having it socialized out of you.

Thanks for your comment!

Melanie

…Just don’t forget the crackers.

Bless you child! And you’re so young for the moniker. But there seems to be a pattern here, at least as I review the comments. It would seem that crazy old ladies were probably also crazy young ladies, at least in the eyes of a well meaning but fundamentally unconscious society. As Rosemary put it, we’re fully engaged in our lives, paying attention, and dreaming. I believe you, and the others who have commented, are part of my tribe.

Melanie

Recently. Boyfriend rearranged the bedroom (I leave this up to him since he has a great and artistic eye). Before he finished, he called me in and said, “Now, I know how you are and what you believe so just tell me if this is ok or if anything needs to be moved to a different corner.”

I had to giggle. Yes, I am the strange old lady who believes in feng-shui, who adores Halloween because it will be perfectly acceptable to wear faerie wings that day, and who has a special place in her garden for night sprites.

I was 51 this summer. And I, like you, am much relieved to be a crazy old lady. It suits me well.

Thanks for another great read !

I think you have said it exactly. Or at least I hope so. If I am a crazy old lady, there’s no way to be sure. But I have long been a practitioner of full-throttle living and the older I get, the more that is the case. Life is short. Fully engaging in it is the way to live it full-throttle.

And you are the Road Goddess, after all. You should know. You don’t just travel through life. You do it in style.

Thanks for your comment!
Melanie

And your reply made me laugh. Well, when I was much younger and had cats, I stopped at three. I’m not homeless yet, though anyone could become homeless these days. Smell? Hopefully it is usually the scent of something good I’m cooking.

Thanks for your comment, Drea. It’s good to have a young woman weigh in on this.

Melanie

You may be a crazy old lady, but you are a beautiful, brilliant, funny, wise one. And that might be the point.

You’re an inspiration–and my truth sayer (in Dune terms)–my friend.

Melanie