I’ve loved this expression ever since reading it in Truman Capote’s classic, Breakfast At Tiffany’s…what he called his version of having the blues.
In the book, Holly Golightly, our famous heroine, goes to Tiffany to chase those blues away. Even the 1961 film starring Audrey Hepburn opens with her tooling by early in the morning looking in the windows for peace and solace (see picture).
We all have different avenues we take when we’re not feeling up to par. I go to the Park or visit Carmela, the basset hound. My mother used to cook.
I knew right away things were not too well when I’d come home from school and find a cake, two pies and a slew of cookies cooling on the counter. She’d have that forlorn look on her face with a highball glass in her hand that by the looks of things, had been refilled quite a few times.
I have several friends who take medication, something I’ve unsuccessfully tried. The first time I went on Prozac for eight months and yes, it took the mean reds away. As a matter of fact, it took everything away. I felt wrapped in cellophane my feelings squished down not even able to cry. I decided numbness wasn’t what I was after. I wanted to feel, but still function, something I work on daily.
Then I tried two others that made me sick finally deciding nature would be my drug of choice.
Sometimes animals are given Prozac to calm them down. I knew a pit named Oscar who was on it his whole adult life after a very perilous puppy-hood. A Beagle named Sam also takes an antidepressant or he can’t even leave the house, poor pup. There’s a French bulldog called Alouette who also takes something or else she moans in her sleep.
Sadness affects us all at one time or another, doesn’t much matter how many legs we have.
Depression has been very much in the news lately, starting with Robin Williams who sadly lost the battle. From someone who intermittently suffers, this still greatly disturbs me. If only he rallied and were still here to talk about it…help others find that side door….but alas, that was not to be.
Whether we combat it making pies, taking meds or strolling by Tiffany eating a Danish like Holly…we need to fight those mean reds when they appear.
Life, however it comes, is just too precious not to.
SB
I completely agree with this post!
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The person who finds a real cure for depression, rather than just treating symptoms, will be a hero indeed. It seems to me that medical science has made precious little progress with this so far. Sure, we understand things better, and we have “paper over the cracks” type solutions, but real root cause corrections are as elusive as ever.
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It certainly appears that way Mick. I hear too many stories. I don’t know what the answer is. I just know I have bouts of it and it’s leveling…I’m always grateful when it lifts.
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Like you said…we can’t all rely on medication and the ones who don’t are, in my opinion, better off. Who wants to be numb – not feel? I wonder sometimes if it has something to do with age, especially in women. About five or six years ago I started having bouts of anxiety. It didn’t last long…a few minutes…once or twice a day. Medication was not the answer. I breathe deeply and keep on going.
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Right foot…left foot 🙂
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I drown myself in cats which is the good news and bad news. Retail therapy even without buying often helps. I have a lot of sympathy for people who have a deeper depression. We can fly to the moon but we know little about our bodies.
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Very well put…maybe NASA should get on the case…might not be a bad idea.
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So true. Everyone needs their own coping mechanisms to deal with things. I used to climb mountains in Korea to deal with stress and other things, but now in Iowa, there aren’t that many mountains to climb (none). But there are always walks in the woods.
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So that’s where you are…in the land of cornfields in that Field of Dreams. Yes, nature is a great soother…the trees…the squirrels. I go out and watch how they conduct themselves and feel instantly better. No creature or flower seems too worried about anything…those lilies of the field that neither toil nor spin…
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I thought you knew where I was. In any case, I’ve only been here a few weeks and before that during the summer, I changed locations every week or so. It seems like a peaceful area though.
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I just knew you were in flight…it’s great you’re home again.
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That black cloud of depression can be a very heavy one, and if the likes of the wonderful Robin Williams can’t feel the love and support of all those adoring fans his cloud had to be very heavy. Winston Churchill suffered from depression but he always referred to it as his black dog, thankfully his black dog didn’t get too big, me I have a black cat, my husband can always work out how bad things are depending if I’m nursing a kitten or a roaring lion. Hopefully one day someone will be able to help with this horrible mental illness. Brilliant thoughtful post as usual 😀 x
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I did know that about WC, but had forgotten so thank you for bringing it up. So many people suffer. I do know animals are a wonderful elixir. They calm and soothe…even Carmela knows when I’m having a tough day. I notice she sticks closer to me. They’re all about instinct, aren’t they. Always nice to hear from you.
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Love this so much. I know too may people who actually had their medications convince them that nothing, including their children, would ever bring them happiness.
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That’s so sad. I know it helps some people, but not all. There’s something so wrong about having to numb yourself to get from A to B.
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