The Days and Nights of Catherine Evermore

eye bolts are in the ceiling
visible to the naked eye
eye bolts two of them
round and strong and heavy
screwed into heavy wooded beams

two chains
hang from the eye bolts
thick metal chains
metal clamps on either end
cold to the look and touch

a three foot bar
attached to the chains and clamps
a cold metal bar
trapeze-like suspended in the air
its presence is surreal

thick straps
on either end
of the cold metal bar
leather straps with big snaps
strong black leather straps

a deep brown leather chair
in one corner of the room
it has an old world smell
deep cushions with leather arms
the leather moans with movement

on the leather footstool is a blanket
wool plaid and warm
tossed loosely across the footstool
ready to be used for comfort
to wrap around the shivering body

a small wooden table is next to the chair
three candles are lit but there are more
a silver ashtray with cigarette box
a coaster for the crystal snifter
a leather-bound book of favorite poems

someone is sitting in the chair
sipping on a glass of cognac
legs crossed to reveal
black leather boots with silver tips
a leather whip rests across the lap

a woman is in the room
arms held high above her head
wrists slipped inside
the tight leather straps
her body is fully exposed

she is draped with white chiffon
as if the material were a snake
winding its way around her body
her eyes wide open
as she takes in the room

the fire in the stone fireplace
illuminates her body
she stretches to keep her balance
standing tiptoed
she does as she is told

“Pet, you please me,” the voice whispers to her.

“Thank you, Sir,” she whispers back.

© Catherine Evermore. All rights reserved.

Earned It
by The Weeknd

There was a time in my life when I thought 1969 was the worst year of my life. That was the year I lost a child and lost my mind.

Nothing, and I do mean nothing, could possibly compare to 2018.

Early in the year, I found out that I had cancer (Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma). The news was unexpected and left me questioning if I could possibly survive everything that was about to happen to my body.

A week of tests to determine the stage of the cancer and the strength of my heart followed. Stage one. Healthy heart.

Then a port was implanted … a way for the poison to be injected into my body every 21 days for six rounds of chemo. I experienced every possible side effect and every possible indignity for six months.

Losing my hair was the least of my worries. It’s true. Bald is beautiful. Pale skin, not so much. Severe weight loss. Frightening.

But, I survived even during the times when I said, “No more!”

In October of 2018, the love of my life passed away very unexpectedly. It was a shock … one that makes me sad to this very day.

December rolled around and a week before Christmas I was taken to the hospital via ambulance because I could not breathe. Two days later and a failed heart catheter, I had two open-heart surgeries in one day. Double by-pass and one to stop the bleeding.

I knew of nothing going on for four days. In fact, my hallucinations were so severe that I thought I had been kidnapped by people pretending to be hospital employees, and they were trying to gas me to death. Once I was fully awake, I whispered to my BIL to call the police because I had been kidnapped. It took a little doing for everyone to convince me that I had gone through surgery and was really in the hospital.

That was how we spent Christmas Day in 2018.

Recovering at a rehab facility followed, and finally, after being away from home for almost a month, I went home but not for good. Three additional hospital stays followed … one to implant a huge defibrillator in my chest, and others to get my heart and medications working properly. I had in-home PT for months with follow-up visits to no less than six doctors.

So … here it is 2021 and I’m alive. Just like everyone else, I’ve done the social distancing thing for a year. I’ve got a supply of masks and gloves that I still wear and will continue to wear a bit longer even though I’ve been vaccinated. I’ve not seen my family in over a year, and we rarely talk. Seems politics did a bit of damage to our relationship.

I hope to make it to 2022 … God willing. I pray you do, too.

© Catherine Evermore. All rights reserved.

 

Seriously …

“The earth laughs in flowers.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of the things that I love best about my family is that we always find something to laugh about. People probably think we are insane because it doesn’t take much to get us going.

There is something about laughing until tears are streaming down your face, and you can’t catch your breath, that is absolutely wonderful.

Laughter is contagious, infectious … one of those “ious’s.” I would rather be stupid in love and full of laughter than all serious and uptight any day of the week. Trust me, I’ve experienced both.

Probably the most embarrassing time to laugh is during a funeral. That happened, just once, and never again. It was my first funeral … a dear friend had passed away. It took two stiff drinks just to go to the viewing, also a first. Somehow, I knew that showing up at the service with liquor on my breath would have been frowned upon.

I can’t remember what it was that set me off, but suddenly I was choking back what could have been called “polite” laughter, if there is such a thing.

Finally, I had to go outside. Someone followed me because he thought I was crying, and once outside, the laughter came out and I couldn’t stop. It was terrible. He looked at me as if I had lost my ever-loving mind, which was entirely possible.

The only other time I nearly laughed in church was when a friend invited me to attend her church. I totally respect a person’s faith, no matter what it might be, but nothing had me prepared for the Holy Rollers.

I remember praying to God to please get me out of the church, and I would never visit ever again. I kept my promise.

The last time I saw my friend, she was face down on the carpet speaking in a language I had never heard before. We never discussed what happened, and I’m pretty sure our friendship faded away.

So, dear reader, keep smiling and don’t forget to laugh … especially at yourself.

© Catherine Evermore. All rights reserved.

to all you sinners
at the bottom of the stairs
saint peter is waiting
at the top of the stairs
i’m one of those sinners
at the bottom of the stairs
thinkin’ i’m not ready
to climb up these stairs
no lord i’m not ready
to meet the man
the man who stands
with outstretched hands
the man who’s calling
from the top of the stairs
to all us sinners
at the bottom of the stairs
can we hear a hallelujah
from the bottom of the stairs
can you say hallelujah
can you say hallelujah
let’s hear a hallelujah
from the brothers and sister
sat the bottom of the stairs
can you try your best
to climb these stairs
can we meet each other
at the middle of the stairs
let’s all get moving
from the bottom of the stairs
amen and amen

© Catherine Evermore. All rights reserved.

Darlin’, here is the list of things you will need when you take up Boat Rowing 101:

A lake
A boat
Two oars
A life jacket
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
A hat
Binoculars
Reading glasses placed inside a Ziploc bag
Cushions to be used as flotation devices in case you capsize the boat
A map
A compass in case the map gets wet when you capsize the boat
A Styrofoam cooler with lots of ice
Canned drinks and bottled water
Snack food placed inside a Ziploc bag
Flares in case you capsize the boat at night
Walkie-talkie or cell phone placed inside a Ziploc bag
Instructions on how to row a boat

These are the things I will need:

A big Adirondack chair with soft cushions set up outside under a big oak tree
A footstool with a soft cushion
A tall glass of iced tea with a slice of lemon on the rim and a straw
A big bowl of popcorn with just a hint of Land O’ Lakes melted butter
Soft music and my favorite book
Binoculars to watch you as you learn how to row your boat

© Catherine Evermore. All rights reserved.