I’m trying very hard to normalize my life after all that has transpired this past couple of years, but this Alice, alas, has fallen down the proverbial rabbit hole. I tumbled . . . rolled . . . lurched . . . lunged . . . plummeted and finally crashed. It was truly one helluva drop. I did not land on my feet or gracefully arrive. Rather, I came to an abrupt, teeth-jarring halt flat on my ass. Blessed be an ample and cushy posterior. You never know when you’re gonna need one.
There was a bottle at the bottom tagged “Drink Me” and, as it was not also marked “Poison,” I drank. This served to shrink me enough to get a job. Now, from 8-to-5, I am a wee, tiny version of myself. There was much concern that my significant experience, out-going personality and self-confidence might topple the precarious arrangement of cups, saucers and other china at the Tea Party; therefore, I must regularly spike my tea in an effort to remain adequately small as to be non-threatening . . . mostly.
We all know the importance of appeasing the volatile Queen of Hearts when in Wonderland. I strive accordingly during my daily rounds of Croquet to keep myself and my flamingo out of the way of my personal trio of Red Queens. Despite numerous cries of “Off with her head,” I have to-date managed not to get the axe. I – like Alice – realize common sense and sanity have little to do with surviving in this world on the other side of the looking glass.
My training is by osmosis with the dormouse designated my primary source of information; at least, they keep telling me – figuratively – to “remember what the dormouse said.” When I ask what it is the dormouse said, they go all Mad Hatter on me and can only respond, “I can’t remember.” I keep telling myself there will be an “aha” moment and suddenly Twiddle Dee and Twiddle Dum will start making sense or the Cheshire Cat will solidify. Instead – for now – things just keep getting . . . curiouser and curiouser!
59 comments
Comments feed for this article
May 24, 2012 at 3:12 am
lgkelley
I wish for you your “aha” moment. 🙂
May 24, 2012 at 3:32 am
Miss Demure Restraint
I just hope I recognize it when it happens. Thanks for dropping by.
May 24, 2012 at 3:18 am
prenin
Welcome back hun – you were sorely missed!!! 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
May 24, 2012 at 3:37 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Missed you all too . . . very, very much.
May 24, 2012 at 3:40 am
prenin
Thanks for the visit and comment – I’m so glad you came home hun! 🙂
Love and hugs!
Prenin.
May 24, 2012 at 3:25 am
MisplacedBoy
Curiouser and curiouser indeed. I once asked a friend if he agreed that weird was the new normal. My friend simply answered, “Refrigerator.”
In the midst of it all may you find a measure of grace and peace, so glad to see you back on the blog…and you know where to find me when you need to vent.
May 24, 2012 at 3:53 am
Miss Demure Restraint
“Refrigerator” makes total sense after the month I’ve had. I just keep telling myself it’s going to get better. I just have to amuse myself until I understand enough to start doing more that stare at the compute screen waiting for anything to do.
Thanks for all the support especially when you’ve had so much on your plate too.
May 24, 2012 at 3:27 am
Red
Welcome back, my dear! You have been missed. I will put in a good word with the White Rabbit to deliver a boocachim to you so you can grow back to normal size.
Meanwhile, drop by…I moved 🙂
Much love, chickadee ❤
Red.
May 24, 2012 at 4:05 am
Miss Demure Restraint
My, my how M3 has grown! My ADD kicked in when I got there! I will have to devote some serious time to checking it out further.
It’s nice to see you Red!
May 25, 2012 at 3:29 am
Red
Be sure to stop by the Green Room and leave a link to your blog. There are quite a few in there who love coming by here! ❤
May 24, 2012 at 3:37 am
breezyk
“Now, from 8-to-5, I am a wee, tiny version of myself”
I feel you, sister. Only for me it’s more like 8-10pm… or right now, 11:30… sigh.
May 24, 2012 at 4:08 am
Miss Demure Restraint
I don’t know how you do it! All that work and a great blog too! You have some serious energy and talent, girl friend!
May 24, 2012 at 4:09 am
timotheous128
Miss D, you have no idea how sorely missed you have been! I kid you not, I was *just* talking with a mutual blogging friend about how much I’ve missed your posts and your wonderful presence in the blogosphere, and she agreed wholeheartedly. You bring such a wonderful sense of life whenever you comment and post, and I’m simply delighted to see that you’re back!
*big big hug*
I’ve missed you, my friend. Welcome home. 🙂
May 24, 2012 at 4:17 am
Miss Demure Restraint
My dear, I have missed you all more than you can know. Life served me up a tsunami and I didn’t have a boat or even a good set of galoshes!
I’m going to try baby steps getting back in the swing here. It’s really good to see you!
May 24, 2012 at 4:31 am
timotheous128
I can only imagine, Miss D. *hugs*
And yes, baby steps are the best way to go, and it’s really, really good to see you too!
Oh, and just so you know, the fact that you liked my poem just now has become the official highlight of my week. ^_^
May 24, 2012 at 4:32 am
Miss Demure Restraint
🙂
May 24, 2012 at 4:54 am
timotheous128
http://thecreativejuicer.com/2012/05/23/welcome-back/
🙂
May 24, 2012 at 5:20 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Thank you so very much for your words. They touched me deeply.
May 24, 2012 at 5:23 am
timotheous128
🙂
May 24, 2012 at 9:48 am
k8edid
“Now, from 8-to-5, I am a wee, tiny version of myself” I. Love. This. and it describes my days so well – just tack on a one hour commute each way. I am sorry the tsunami swept you up. I pray it sweeps you to a new and lovely place.
May 25, 2012 at 3:44 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
And I can relate on the commute! I’ve used public transit for over a decade and now I’m driving! AAUUGGHH! Whodda thought I’d miss the busses and trains and boats?
It’s good to see you again. I just love your writing contest and would direct any of the bloggers that visit here to check it out.
May 25, 2012 at 3:45 pm
k8edid
Well, thanks. It has been a lot of fun. Be well.
May 24, 2012 at 12:17 pm
Elyse
Welcome back. You were missed.
As everyone else says, you’re “wee, tiny version of myself” line struck a chord here with me too. But with a little effort and a lot of humor, you will manage to find a lot of fodder there, too!
Stay well.
May 25, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
See the humor . . . see the humor . . . see the humor . . . it has become my mantra! That and “this to shall pass.”
Thanks for stopping by and your support and kindness these last months.
May 24, 2012 at 12:32 pm
philosophermouseofthehedge
Sometimes it’s wise to be a “wee tiny version” in order to survive the chaos. (hey- look how well all the little buggie guys do – no matter how hard others are determined to eliminate them!)
When surfing, you always have to paddle out and battle through the pounding waves (sometimes overwhelming as the waves are ‘way over your head) before you can regain balance then catch that exhilarating wave flying back to shore.
Phrases don’t really help during the chaos, but encouraging wishes being sent to help you float and coast across the troubles.
May 25, 2012 at 10:00 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
I’ll take all the encouraging wishes I can get.
Thanks!
May 24, 2012 at 2:38 pm
Claudia Anderson
Awesome post! It can be taken personally no matter what your situation is. Keep ahold of your sparkle and hold tight — it will burst through sooner or later.
May 25, 2012 at 10:22 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
Well, something is going to “burst” that’s for sure. 🙂
May 24, 2012 at 3:56 pm
societyred
Great post! And great to see you! Don’t forget to keep a can of red paint handy 🙂
May 25, 2012 at 11:17 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
Good to see you too. I’m almost afraid to ask what I should plan to do with the red paint.
May 28, 2012 at 3:29 pm
societyred
For painting the white roses!
May 24, 2012 at 5:36 pm
Jeannette Monahan
I was just thinking about you the other day and wondering how you were doing. So glad your ship is righting itself. It’s nice to see you back. 🙂 Love the Alice in Wonderland correlation to real life–very clever and true on so many levels.
May 25, 2012 at 11:41 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
I have been a huge fan of Alice since I was a teen. It doesn’t matter what is going on in my life, I see Wonderland in it.
Thanks for thinking of me.
May 24, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Anne Schilde
Hey! It’s really great to see you!
This is just beautiful! I used Alice for one of the last Write Wednesdays which, at least for now, stopped at #19.
If you drink too much from a bottle marked “poison,” it’s almost certain to disagree with you sooner or later. It’s better to pass it around so it disagrees with everyone equally.
Congratulations on surviving at your job! Especially with three bosses!
May 25, 2012 at 11:50 pm
Miss Demure Restraint
Only one boss . . . the Red Queens are my “team.” Curiouser and curiouser!
May 24, 2012 at 10:14 pm
granbee
Miss Demure, your “day job” sounds like more than one that I have held—and survived and grew and learned from. Hang in there, dear lady!
May 26, 2012 at 2:01 am
Miss Demure Restraint
If all it’s only a foot in the door, I’ll be grateful. The company is ranked one of the best in the area to work for and the employment package was more than I ever imagined getting, so I’ll dive down the hole each day and have faith it is where I’m supposed to be.
Sometimes you just have to find the “sugar” from within to turn those lemons into lemonade. Good to see you, Sage and Wise Woman.
May 25, 2012 at 12:38 am
kitchenmudge
Good to see you back. You’ll make it to the other side of the board eventually.
May 26, 2012 at 2:27 am
Miss Demure Restraint
I’m sure I will. It’s just logic of it all eludes me at the moment, but as Tweedle Dee said, “Contrariwise, if it was so, it might be; and if it were so, it would be; but as it isn’t, it ain’t. That’s logic.”
May 25, 2012 at 1:12 am
nevercontrary
Oh hi hi hi hi!!
I have missed you so.
I do hope you have returned for a long visit!!!!!!
May 26, 2012 at 2:35 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Missed you too! I’m going to do my best to stick around. You and my other wonderful blog friends are just what I need to keep a smile on my face and soldier thought this crazy place.
May 25, 2012 at 7:22 pm
yhosby
I nominated you for the versatile award. for details: http://yawattahosby.wordpress.com/2012/05/25/the-versatile-blogger-award/
Keep smiling,
Yawatta
June 25, 2012 at 4:22 am
Miss Demure Restraint
I want you to know how very much I appreciate your nomination. I can’t at the moment respond adequately. I do hope to return the favor though . . . some day.
Thank you for your support and recognition.
May 26, 2012 at 3:26 pm
Lorre
Quite fun.
So glad you are back.
June 25, 2012 at 4:31 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Nice to see you too!
May 28, 2012 at 3:56 am
Wayside Artist
Oh! A GREAT BIG HUG for you from me. I’ve missed you. You’ve had a hellish few months and so have I. I keep thinking about you and what you’ve been through, hoping you feel a little less knocked about. But I’m selfish, as I don’t feel so alone. Your job has you corralled, but on your blog at least you can stretch your wings to fly above the crazies! 🙂
Hang in there!
June 25, 2012 at 4:36 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Here’s sending you a big hug back. I look forward to some new posts from you as well. Your art has always lifted my spirits.
Thank you for your thoughts and for stopping by.
May 31, 2012 at 12:39 pm
bronxboy55
This post is clear evidence that you have the capacity to recover from whatever life throws at you, and that you have people around you who care. Be patient and kind to yourself. I hope things start to make sense again, soon.
June 25, 2012 at 5:06 am
Miss Demure Restraint
The White Knight is still talking backwards, but I think I’m starting to sense some reason in what he says. I’m don’t sure that’s good or bad.
Thanks for dropping in and your words of encouragement.
June 3, 2012 at 11:35 am
adollyciousirony
You are loved my dear friend, please accept my gift for you here:
http://allaboutlemon.com/2012/06/03/more-recognition-awards-and-you-are-loved/
Dolly xoxo
June 25, 2012 at 5:14 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Thanks Dolly. You are loved too!
June 8, 2012 at 7:24 pm
theduffboy
Here`s to you avoiding literal and figurative beheading!
June 25, 2012 at 5:24 am
Miss Demure Restraint
Yes and retaining some level of sanity. Daily I’m having a harder and harder time telling myself this is going to work. Oh well, if it was fun they would pay us to do it.
Thank you for stopping in.
June 13, 2012 at 4:34 am
enreal
Nice to hear your words. Missed them.
September 27, 2012 at 1:51 pm
writerdood
GET UP!
September 9, 2013 at 12:28 am
rastelly
March Hare
You live on a rock you think to be flat,
while the moon laughs above you
like a Cheshire cat.
This is the inside,
but where is the out?
Your world is a small one,
and yet you must shout.
Quickly I race
through the loud repetition
and into a hole
in your own superstition.
Your late,
your late,
for a brief chance encounter
with an odd twist of fate.
Should you
dare to venture
around the next bend,
there just might be something
that will make our heads spin.
Like you, I am tired of rushing about.
It’s time
for that clock
to be turned inside out.
How long must we travel
to see something crazy?
The powers that be,
I feel,
have gone lazy.
Look There!
Wonderland waits
through a hole in the air.
Just a skip
and a jump
through a jabberwock’s lair.
We’ll pledge no allegiance
to hope or despair,
for you are White Rabbit
and I the March Hare.
You live in a world full
of order and rules.
It’s time you skipped off
to a party with fools.
Hats shall be worn
and tea shall be swallowed.
I’ll bring extra chairs.
Just in case
you are followed.
September 9, 2013 at 4:44 am
prenin
Good Poem!!! 🙂
God Bless!
Prenin.
September 9, 2013 at 2:21 pm
rastelly
thanks
September 9, 2013 at 12:36 am
rastelly
P.S. Next installment
in the Burlap Cat Series
is up –
Thanks for sharing –
I like your metaphor
about Alice needing to
get smaller – more
humble – and accepting
of the madness around
her – her mission is
learn – Just like the
door mouse said –
feed your head.