Running on Empty!

Life is one long process of getting tired.

                     Samuel Butler

It is twenty minutes to eight and I know Annie is probably standing there in the snow looking towards the house and drooling thinking of that nice warm bottle to be delivered by the cute little delivery girl. Yes that would be me, who else? I must say with those Pink Cadillac Boots, Styling Coveralls and Orange Toque I am a “looker” I do realize Annie only sees that bottle. A girl has to dream that she is noticed once in a while. As I was saying before I started focusing on my looks again, Annie is back there looking to the house anxious for me to come, I in turn am sitting at the table staring back to where she is standing among the cows and wishing I was back in bed. It seems my Mom was right all those years ago when she thought in the spring we all needed a little boost of “It’s good for you.”

I have been dragging myself along for the past couple of days, feeling like my tank was sputtering with those last precious drops of fuel hoping to make it to that energy source, hoping I would make it before being stranded on the side of that lonely back road in the bush. OK I like the thought of the bush part wrong scenario, stuck on the side of a busy highway in the Big City with millions of cars racing by without a sideways glance, that’s better. (sputter sputter………stop).

Yesterday I walked the bush again even though not really feeling like it but you know how it is with me by now, I wanted to see the Deer from the day before and had to check to see if I could surprise them again. To my delight they had been drinking by the stream but without the noisy Crow distraction they were already running, their tails high in the air. I just sat down on the snow near the stream and rested for a while. (sputter sputter) I then lay down on that snow and stretched out. (stop)

I lie there for what seemed like a long time listening to the deafening silence a welcome change from the day before. I could hear the stream babbling near me and that Chick a Dee familiar sound. I could have fell asleep back there had it not been for the fact my mind was racing with that a long list of things to accomplish, I pulled myself up and dragged myself slowly to the tractor. (sputter sputter).

My day was completely filled with visits and shopping and I was surprised that I had more fuel in the tank than I had thought, after finishing I headed back home and then (sputter sputter). I hauled those groceries into the house and put the needed to be refrigerated things away and then sat on the couch, I lay down on the couch (stop).

Back to this morning while thinking about Annie and starting my day again (sputter sputter) a memory I had forgotten pops into my head. Ten little kids lined up in a row dressed for school and waiting for their turn for our Mother to give us that “It’s good for you” tonic. Dreading my turn and knowing it was coming always had me wanting to skip out the backdoor and head to school, Mom held the spoon to my lips and I knew there was no way of getting out of this so I opened my mouth, I could taste the bitter sweet dark brown sticky lump in my mouth and then that familiar grit sticking to my teeth. No matter how hard I tried to swallow, it was stuck to my teeth I still shiver thinking of that. Pearly was next I think she liked it I remember her smiling. “It’s good for you” are the words that remain stuck in my head. I do remember running to school and trying to swish that grit out of my teeth at the water fountain. I wonder if Pearly had a secret, I will have to ask her.

I do remember we were rarely sick or tired when I was a kid; could it be that my Mom was right. She probably was; I look back out the window and think of Annie waiting I pull myself up and head downstairs all the time wondering if I can buy sulphur anywhere, I already have the sweet stick to your mouth Blackstrap Molasses. I do know I will be going to ask Mom today how she made that “It’s good for you” tonic. (sputter sputter).

Did your Mom make you eat this magic gritty tonic with the line “It’s good for you”?

Later