The title of that old fashioned song came to mind. At this moment it does feel like I am sitting on top of the world. But to be realistic, objective and fact based I can see that this is only the top of my building – not the whole world that I sit astride. Rather like the painting called Hope in the Tate Britain. At another time must go back and find the photograph and my musing. It took over my life for months.
But back to the song. Off to Google went I, partial lyrics follow
I’m setting
On top of the world
I’m rolling along
Yes, rolling along
And I’m quitting
The blues of the world
I’m singing a song
Yes, singing a song
Glory hallelujah, I just told the parson
“Hey, par, get ready to call”
Just like humpty dumpty
I’m gonna fall
And I’m setting
On top of the world
I’m rolling along
Rolling along
Don’t want any millions
I’m getting my share
I’ve only got one suit (Just one)
That’s all I can wear
A bundle of money
Don’t make me feel gay
A sweet little honey
Is making me say
And I’m setting
Sitting on top
Top of the world
The song is a bit ominous in parts. “Just like Humpty Dumpty, I’m gonna fall.”
Humpty Dumpty is a nursery rhyme and here is the story.
“Humpy Dumpty sat on the wall is one of the nation’s most enduringly popular nursery rhymes.
In 1870, a chap called James William Elliott included ‘Humpty Dumpty’ when he collected together a load of English nursery rhymes and songs, set them to music, and published them in a volume called Mother Goose’s Nursery Rhymes and Nursery Songs Set to Music, with beautiful engravings by London engravers, The Brothers Dalziel.Before that, the rhyme can be traced back to the 18th century, and variations in lyrics have been recorded over time.”
But like almost everything in life it is complicated. “Some historians believe Humpty Dumpty was simply a device for a riddle around breakable things. Others have suggested that Humpty Dumpty is King Richard III of England, who is supposed to have been humpbacked and who was defeated at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485.” The moral of the Humpty Dumpty story is supposed to be: Failure doesn’t come from falling down. Failure comes from not getting up.
Hmmmm. But I am digressing again. You might want to know why I am so happy. Well there are many reasons, all very divergent, all rather disconnected.
First, and most important, is that I jumped ship with the Muslim hidebound purists. To jump ship means to leave (a cause or party). Used in a sentence:It might be better to jump ship tan to stay put and fester.
I have been ‘staying put’ since Day 1 of Ramadan. I live in a Northern Clime so my fasting day is sixteen hours. I was obedient but was daily growing weaker. I was not hungry as I had lost my appetite but the lassitude was overwhelming. Research had revealed that there was, shall we say, minority viewpoint, that Muslims in countries such as mine had alternatives. One of these alternatives was to fast according to Muslim hours. This ‘opinion’ had not won favor with the Muslim purists, insisting that the rise and fall of the sun, no matter where one lived had to be followed, to be observed. There was some question as to the validity of using Mecca hours, moreover it was very difficult for math challenged me to figure it all out. I became increasingly desperate, used my iPad Muslim App. Discovered that, lo and behold, it was possible. Day 25 of Ramadan was doable, was almost easy, was almost a luxury. Joyously texted a new found friend.
Me: I am SO clever. When one lives this far north it is possible to use Mecca hours to fast. Looked it up and I am. So Breakfast at 19:43 ending with Iftar at 19:42. Works much better. I have to pray at 3:21 but I can just wake up and do it.
She: I am very pleased that you found a way to manage your fasting schedule. So you fasting overnight?
Me: Yes I guess. I feel like I have been released from prison!!! Honest.
She: You are very clever to work that out!!!
Me: It took me awhile though. I could have been doing this the whole time. Hahaha
She: You working your fasting is better late than never. And it just means you will be much better prepared for next year.
Me: Excellent point!! Besides I appreciate this humane way of fasting so much because I suffered so much for 24 days. It feels like my life is totally working out right now. FINALLY
She: I am very pleased for you Alexis.
Me: Thank you. I even have a friend in my building. How convenient. Hahaha
Me: Good morning. I had a fabulous sleep. Prayed at 3 but went back to sleep and woke at sunrise. But it is so confusing as day has turned into night and back again. Oh well!! Life is interesting that is for sure. Hope this morning finds you well.
She and I met on the elevator (for the second time) but this time we began to visit with one another. I gave her a copy of my book on the Tate Britain. In Conversation and In Contemplation: Companionship at the Tate Britain.
The next day I received the following text.
She: I use Spotify, The reason I mention it is, I put together a list of songs from your book into a playlist. I thought you could share the playlist with the book or even get stickers printed up with a QR code to stick in the book so people could scan with their phone to access the playlist.
Me: I know not Spotify. Sometimes I am stupid, Hahaha
She: I hope you didn’t mind me doing this. I can easily delete the playlist from my account. I just wanted to show you how easy it was to do.
Me: No I like it a lot.
I do not know how to picture the playlist in order to place on this blog.
It says: In Contemplation and In Conversation – For Alexis. The accompanying music is for the book of the same name by Alexis McBride & Jessica P.
I guess you could find it or maybe I could figure out how to link it, at some later time. I am listening to the Playlist as I write. I am weeping. But it is not tears of sorrow but tears of joy. I shall later speak of the playlist – how it came into being. It is a story of loss, but it does have a joyous ending – the playlist. Those who have the book will know it involves a man by the name of Ralph. Do not think I know how to reach him – wish I did.
The book was self published – only a few remain, The books, diminishing in number, travelled from Vancouver, to San Francisco, to Marin, to the UAE, to Canada. Now that I have found a home there is time and energy to investigate getting more printed and perhaps getting the ‘template’ for the book section of this blog. A company in Vancouver printed the book, their email address must be somewhere. This has been SUCH a long journey, for both me and the books, in, oh so many, ways.
Go to the search engine of the blog (not possible on phones for some reason). Type the title of the book and there are 35 entries. The last one from June 13, 2018. It is SO unbelievable because I did go to London in 2019 and met the real thing. The rest, as they say, is history.
Two photographs follow. One the cover of the book, the other the playlist page.
