g-l-o-r-i-a

No, her name is not Gloria.

Actually my journal entry today has nothing to do with the image posted at all. It really doesn’t have anything to do with the name “Gloria”. So it seems that nothing is related to anything else…….it’s all just random thoughts and images fluttering about in the same space without connection or meaning.

Or is it?

I woke this morning with a rather “gray” mind. A lot of stuff I’m currently trying to assimilate and work through. Plus the date itself is such an historic and solemn one…….gosh, I can’t believe it’s been five years.

So I’m lumbering around the house very early this morning doing the things that need to be done in a most lackluster way, when I remember that the gas tank in my vehicle is nearly empty. When I say nearly empty I mean barely enough fumes to get me out of the neighborhood empty. I am the worst procrastinator in the world, pumping gas is among my least favorite tasks, and this combination has resulted in getting myself into some pretty precarious situations. I’m not proud of this trait at all, but boy could I share some stories of my running out of gas escapades!

One thing I won’t do is subject my kids to my risky “driving under the influence of no gas in the tank” behavior, and thought I’d better run to the gas station while everyone slept so I’d be able to get them to school today. It was still dark outside and unusually foggy, and being on the quiet disguised roads gave a sort of eerie feeling, as if I was driving somewhere completely unknown without a map. I liked the feeling even if it was a bit unsettling……there was a surreal dream-like beauty to it that made me forget for a moment that I could very soon find myself stopped on the side of the road at 5:45am with not a drop of gas.

As I pulled into the gas station I experienced the exhilaration one gets when they know they’ve put themselves in a chancy situation and come through in one piece. I got out of my vehicle to music playing over the loudspeakers at the station……this place always plays the best music. My gray mood gave way to a much lighter one, and in the early morning fog as I pumped gas I suddenly imagined myself to be on a road trip. (I happen to love road trips.) And then the song began. “Gloria”.

What it is about hearing songs from the past that ignites such……I don’t know……jubilation? I was only a young girl when Van Morison’s “Gloria” was a hit song, but I can still sing along with all the words, and it still makes me want to dance. What an awesome song. What had begun as the most dismal morning suddenly turned, and there I was, having the best time pumping gas in my jammies, singing and dancing along to “Gloria”. It was so great, that tiny carefree moment that only spanned the duration of one old song.

The name “Gloria” obviously comes from the word “glory”. One of the definitions of the noun glory being: “A position of exalted widely recognized importance“. What my early morning gas station adventure reminded me of on this September 11th, is the power of our minds to turn anything around. To turn tragedy into triumph……to turn grayness into brilliance……..and to turn hopelessness into glory. Our thoughts really do create our reality. We would do well to remember always to choose wisely.

With much peace and love,

~Cynthia

PS I’m so regretful for what the scan has done to this image……if I have time I’ll try to scan it again later and see if can come to a closer representation of the print. (Excuses, excuses, and more procrastination.)