Reflections on A (Sometimes Absurd) Life – Bigfoot and Wedding China
By Mary Tanck
PHMOmag Columnist
Recently, the Damariscotta, Maine Police Department received several 911 calls about Bigfoot taking a casual stroll through the small Maine town. This was, obviously, not the real Bigfoot; we all know the real Bigfoot lives down by Clinton and does not wear a fedora. It was just a guy in a Bigfoot costume and fedora living his best life. (Incidentally, there is nothing illegal about walking around wearing a Bigfoot costume and fedora, quit clutching your pearls.)
It got me thinking about a resolution of sorts that I made to myself this past spring. I have an extremely demanding job (my regular job, not my volunteer position as the official humor columnist of Pleasant Hill), so I vowed to make my life a little more whimsical. If you know me at all, “whimsical” is probably (definitely) not on the list of adjectives you would use to describe me. I have been described, at various times, as: hilarious, smart, Mother Mary, “nervy and irritated,” confrontational, super good-looking, an excellent trailer backer-upper, irrational, and scary, but never whimsical.
Being whimsical doesn’t have to be expensive or curated for social media. It can be a completely private thing that you do just to make yourself happy.
Last night, the power went out. My husband and I sat on the front porch watching the lightning and, when it began to rain, we slow-danced in the rain to Keith Whitley. Before that, of course, I had to get on our neighborhood Facebook page and take some jabs at our friendly local power company. I may be whimsical, but I’m still me.
I’ve been packing cloth napkins in my work lunch; I even had my daughter make napkin rings. I started putting my iced herbal tea in a mason jar instead of my plastic Tupperware tumbler. I may be eating rice and beans at my desk, but I’m doing it in style! It’s amazing how fancy a cloth napkin at lunch can make you feel.
This past Saturday we traveled to Bolivar to meet our daughter for lunch. Beforehand, we checked out their Farmer’s Market. Some kids were selling peppers and lemonade, and they also had peacock feathers, 6 for $1. Do peacock feathers match my décor? No. Have I ever expressed an interest in peacock feathers? Also no. Did I think they were lovely and buy 12 anyway? Definitely. I bought them and put them in a vase on a corner shelf in my home simply because they are gorgeous and they make me happy. Not everything has to be a fancy curated aesthetic.
Do you think Fake Maine Bigfoot worries about having a curated aesthetic??? No, he’s too busy enjoying small things in life. Or, rather, big things in life.
My husband and I have been stopping at random antique shops we find while out and about. Be careful when antiquing though. You might stumble across collectible ET glassware that you remember being envious of in childhood. The nostalgia may be mixed with alarm at finding your childhood treasures labeled as antiques. If your husband is sensitive to your alarm like mine is, he’ll say something supportive along the lines of, “It’s retro, not antique.”
I’ve also been using my wedding china for regular weekday meals. The meal doesn’t have to be fancy like the dishes. There’s something wholesome and satisfying about having chicken fingers and Caesar salad on your wedding china. I understand that the younger generations aren’t registering for wedding china anymore; but it can be picked up inexpensively at garage sales and thrift stores. Your grandmother would probably even be happy to share a few pieces with you.
The small moments in life are what make it special. Big vacations are fun and I’d never advise against taking one; but there is just something that lowers your cortisol when you enjoy small moments all year long.
I urge you to go find joy today. And, if you see someone else finding joy in their day, leave them alone. You don’t need to call the police to report it. Even if the person enjoying his day is a dude in a Bigfoot costume and fedora. Especially if the person enjoying his day is a dude in a Bigfoot costume and fedora.