Care-ousel

Did you know Walt Disney developed the idea for Disneyland when taking his kids on the carousel at the park on Saturdays? I developed the idea for a coffee maker on my bedside table while I was walking down the stairs to the kitchen. Dreams come in many shapes and sizes…

This past year has felt like an endless ride on a carousel. It’s familiar, repetitive, involves ups and downs and is run by animals fixed in their ways. It’s also eye catching, obnoxious, centre of attention and each one is a little bit different – kind of like our media.

This wild ride can have people feeling frightened, sick, excited and thrilled all at the same time. Don’t get me wrong, there are romantic, playful and beautiful parts of a carousel, but remember they’re also in many horror films. 

I’ve never been too fussy about the ride. If you’re the last one on, the horse is too high for these short legs, the category of motion is sickness and Mary Poppins gave me the false impression that the horses could detach and take me for a ride. 

Nonetheless, carousels spin in circles, but the ride does eventually come to an end. So I am going to try to enjoy the ride or at the very least focus on an object so I don’t get dizzy.

I am not certain when we will have the opportunity to ride a carousel again, but I am certain I’m becoming as predictable as one…  

In Ahead of the Game, I was off my game. Today, I was my usual self.

Like a carousel, lately my work outfits have been on a continuous cycle. (A cycle that feels longer than a laundry cycle, which I didn’t think was possible). The changing of seasons has no bearing on my closet since I wear bright colours all year round, so I try to be creative with my top and bottom combinations.  

Although, one only owns so many pairs of business-casual pants (unless you’re the Kardashians) that are versatile to sit cross-legged at a desk, hunch beside a wheelchair, move furniture in the activity room and dodge power wheelchairs in the hallways.

On a side note, does anyone else find the phrase a ‘pair of pants’ confusing? Why is it a pair? Yes, there are two pant legs, but it is all one article of clothing. A sweater has two sleeves and we don’t refer to it as a pair of sweaters. I will continue to use this phrase, but will forever question it. 

I have a pair of green pants that are a weekly go-to work pant. They’re loose, high waisted, have character and are a light material that hides coffee spills well.   

I came home for lunch one afternoon wearing the green pants. As per usual, my cat greeted me at the top of the stairs (partly the reason why I come home for lunch). I bent down to pick him up and heard a familiar sound – the sound of material ripping. My cat immediately jumped down as I examined the very large hole I created from front to back. 

Now I’ve ripped pants before at work and outside of work, but never quite like this. I blame the Mini Eggs sale.

Before heading back to work, I performed a quick memorial for the green pants and changed into a pair of peach coloured pants. (If you haven’t been paying attention, I’m a fan of colour). 

Back at the facility I was walking down the hallway when a resident caught my attention and asked, “weren’t you wearing a different pair of pants this morning?”

I had two seconds to decide how I was going to approach this. Do I discuss my thoughts on the phrase ‘a pair of pants’ or do I answer the question?

“Yes, I was wearing green pants the last time you saw me.”

The resident continued, “spill?”

I sheepishly replied, “not exactly – rip.”

“That was my second guess,” the resident declared. 

I believe her observation is a sign of caring. I also believe I need to take better care of my pants. 

But like Neil Diamond once said, “when you’re on the merry-go-round, you miss a lot of the scenery.” Well when you have large thighs, you miss a lot of pants.