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By SUSAN DROMEY HEETER,
Joyful Musings

When I was exceedingly overtired, my mother used to remark, “You don’t know if you’re on foot or on horseback.”

And as I write this week’s Joyful Musings, I feel as if I am not entirely sure if I am riding a horse or walking on solid ground. It’s a little disconcerting, the unbalance of life can be a bit unsettling.

But, like anything else, there is some joy to being a bit fatigued, a little punchy, a bit weary I laugh easily and giggle at the most inappropriate things.

I began this week listening to Bernie Sanders at the Strafford County Democratic Committee fall fundraiser.

I arrived early to the Rollinsford American Legion and was able to meet many of the behind the scenes workers at this event, the orchestrators of food, of seating arrangements, of sound systems.

I find that the most intriguing part of any event and enjoyed talking with a worker who sported an orange vest and was making sure Congressman Sanders’ parking spot was available as he drove up.

Courtesy

Is that Sir Luc with Susan Dromey Heeter?

We wondered what kind of car would arrive carrying Sanders; I thought most definitely a Subaru, he thought a Prius for sure.  In the end, we were both wrong, it was a simple, nondescript Ford sedan driven by his son.

And we laughed at our wonderment.

I observed Sanders as he sat in the car while people gathered to ensure all was ready for his speech.  As this little car had no tinted windows, I watched as the former presidential candidate sat, looking to see if he would pull down the visor and check himself out in the mirror. He did not.

Instead he grabbed his manila folder with his notes and simply went about his business, taking selfies with a couple of high school students and a few of the organizers. What you see is very much what you get with Congressman Sanders – no fanfare, no adulation, no primping.

And, boy, does he work hard – off to Puerto Rico this weekend, to Canada.

I wonder if he knows whether he’s on foot or on horseback.

Following Sunday, my week was busy, as life can be full – my nights were filled with some angst over details of days that will, undoubtedly work themselves out – I worked with my students learning Spanish vocabulary, verbs and culture; I dealt with teenagers I call daughters.

And as my weariness grew, I did enjoy the question one of those teenagers asked when I arrived to my classroom sporting new earrings.  “Hey, those earrings are nice,” he remarked, “but you should get gauges.”

And I laughed and said, “Well, maybe I will – after a neck tattoo!” And I just giggled punchilly at the thought. Gauges and a neck tattoo.  On me. Who knows? Maybe I’ll support a new look for my second act.

Am I on foot or on horseback?

And, indeed, today I am musing joyfully on Bernie Sanders not admiring his countenance, on the possibility of a gages and a neck tattoo, on catching up on some much needed rest this weekend.

May you giggle if you are weary and silly…and muse joyfully whether you are on foot or on horseback …or both.

Susan Dromey Heeter, a writer from Dover who recently let her hair go au natural white, writes “Joyful Musings” for InDepthNH.org. Dromey Heeter is a secondary Spanish Teacher at Dover High School and the mother of two teenage daughters.  Writing has been her passion since her English majoring days at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.  Dromey Heeter has lived in The Netherlands, Alaska and currently basks in all things New England, including the frigid winters. An avid swimmer, Dromey Heeter’s great passion is to bring back body surfing as most children have no idea how to ride waves without ridiculous boogie boards. She also writes about thrift shopping and all things frugal  in a column called “Budget Vogue” for the New Hampshire Union Leader.