
Hello, my friends. I have been quiet of late — very unlike me, I know. It has been a hell of a couple of years weeks. First, strep throat knocked us all to our knees. One by one, we fell. Despite hand washing, Lysol wipes and new toothbrushes, we were coated with cooties and all swilling shots of penicillin. Strep is literally, like swallowing a brick. Not fun times as an adult — I can only imagine the pain for my kinder (children). Gatsby was literally, the last man standing. Vey iz mir (OMG, but worse), it was bad.
What followed in the aftermath was tougher to bear than the bacteria-baked bricks… Our, my journey of late has been tough. No harder than the next person mind you… of that I am well aware. Still difficult, nonetheless.
I have been living the plight of the salmon. (Not the delicious kind that ends up atop your shmear (cream cheese) on a toasted everything bagel…) I’m talking about the astounding event where the momma fish like any other but the mother would do this leaves years of comfort in ocean dwelling, genetically alters its very form to seek out and return, upstream, against the tides, waterfalls, bears, and all odds, to the roots of their birth. Without google maps, these salmon, they locate the exact freshwater stream of their birth, to lay the eggs of a new generation on the gravel river beds. And then they die, knowing the kinder are well-tended and will carry on.
These salmon, they are fighters. They are filled with courage and defiance to do what they must do — to follow their core. They are the definition of #rebelgirls and #strongwomen. They defy all limitations and persevere, despite obstacles, predators and sheer exhaustion. They do this because they have no other choice but to be true to themselves and those they love.
This Yiddisheh momma has been #livingfearlesslyauthentic, much like the salmon. I swam hard and long. I reached my freshwater riverbed, and I spoke my truth. I did so for injustice and all that is unfair. I did so for my Mrs., my Big, and my Little. I did so for ME. And I truly believed that:
If you lie on the ground, you cannot fall. Az mi ligt oif der erd, ken men nit fallen.
What I learned, was that you can still fall. That the truth is not always enough. That there are so many who can easily look away from truths. That so many can label, misrepresent, smear (very different from a nice shmear), and lie. And that the latter group that can win. And that in itself can be mentally and physically crushing.
My silence is over. My quiet has passed. I still grieve the loss, nurture my courage. I will become whole again. After all, I have two shayneh maidelehs (sweet little girls) that must know that despite everything, it is always an obligation, to tell the truth. That we must always stand tall and respectfully fight, not only the injustices that we face, but those of our fellow humans too. I have learned in no uncertain terms that the battles that surround us are much larger than we know. That the work ahead is complex.
And despite my loss, I would stand up again, and risk the same fall. My Mrs. and me, we will raise two mighty girls with voices to engage and take a stand for their sisters and brothers who need them.
Injustice won this time, a shonda (crying shame). But this particular salmon, I am not rolling over and playing dead.
A liar tells his story so often that he gets to believe it himself. A ligner hert zikh zeineh ligen azoi lang ein biz er glaibt zikh alain.
Plus, I know karma is a bitch for all nogudniks (someone on the wrong side of the law).
I hope your house is well on its path to the road to recovery. I am sorry to hear you’ve had a rough time of it recently.
Keep swimming with your salmons and we’ll come up fighting! #bigpinklink & #Globalblogging
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Mrs Mummy Harris, you have the exact answer. Glass half full and come up swinging! The truth will win, somehow.
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Popping back from #TriumphantTales. Thank you for linking with us, I hope to see you back next week.
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You are so kind! I hope to be back too! ❤ #TriumphantTales xoxo
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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You are amazing! And you are not fighting alone! We love you 😘
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❤ I feel the love Heather, and I feel all of you along in the fight! Love you too! ❤ xoxo
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yes you have been quiet and I have missed your strong, beautiful voice very much! You are stronger than you know and have such beautiful heart. We do all fall, sometimes we need to recharge and take a break, sometimes we need to all, and cry, and scream really loud! I hope you all feel better and stronger now, sending the hugest love!! keep living your truth, keep living fearlessly authentic and always know you are an inspiration!! Love you xx #mg
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Thank you, beautiful Mackenzie! I did all of those things you mentioned, and I do feel better. We are feeling better. And that which hurts us ultimately makes us stronger. I am so thankful to you and you can bank on the fact that I will continue t live fearlessly authentic! Love you xoxo #mg
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Hope you’re all better now. Keep swimming in the right direction. Truth and justice will prevail
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Thank you so much! And I will keep up the good fight too! This world needs it! Have a wonderful day and thank you for coming by! xo
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Popping over from #TriumphantTales to say hi.
Sorry to hear you’ve been unwell, hope all is back to normal soon
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Thanks! Time to swim in an easier direction, metaphorically. Thanks you for coming over! ❤ #triumphanttales
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There have been times when I too have thought I’ve been swimming in the opposite direction to that of those around me. All I can say is stay strong and keep believing in yourself. #mg
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Thank you so much! I take your words to heart and will do just that! #mg ❤
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Oh sorry you’ve had such a rough time of it. I’m sure the tide will turn! Thanks for linking up to #TriumphantTales 🙂
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Turning the tides is the plan in action! TY! #TriumphantTales xoxo
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Glad your all on the mend. A truly honest blog, thanks for sharing your swim. #thatfridaylinky
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Hopefully the next few laps will be better! Oh to be a salmon! TY Lovely! #thatfridaylinky xoxo
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Hope you’re feeling better. Keep up the ‘fight like a salmon’ 🙂
#ThatFridayLinky
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Thank you, Suzanna! I will always fight for justice! We must! ❤ #ThatFridayLinky xoxo
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It breaks my heart to think of
Your struggle but come up fighting you strong, beautiful Mumma. The truth will out! Much love ❤️ Thank you for linking up to #ablogginggoodtime 🎉
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Thank you so much! I am counting on that, Catie!! Karma and love must win! Thank you for your kindness, always! ❤ #ablogginggoodtime xoxo
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You area beautiful writer Lisa. Everything you write is filled with passion, thought and truth.
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You comment is music to my eyes! Thank you Kristin! xoxoxo
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popping back in from #fabfriday
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M’wah to you! ❤ #fabfridaypost
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I’m sorry you’ve been going through a tough time lately. I too have been feeling a bit like I’m swimming upstream. It’s good to be reminded that the bad times don’t last forever and we can keep on trying. Thanks for linking to #EatSleepBlogRT. Hope you join again next time.
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Thank you, that is good to know. I hope things get better for you as well. Happy weekend! #eastsleepblogRT
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Life has a habit of kicking us when we are down sometimes but you are clearly proof that you only ever come back stronger as a result. I hope you have had time to restock, recover and recharge your batteries and your journey now will be smoother or at least clearer. #mg
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Thanks, Jo! That is indeed my plan! Emotions do amazing things to us… #mg Have a lovely weekend and thanks for coming by! xo
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So sorry to hear you’ve been having such a rough time of it lately. I hope you’re all feeling better now, and yes karma will have its day x
#FabFridayPost
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Oh, Karma! Thanks for your kind words, Alana. #fabfridaypost xoxo
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I hope you’re all starting to feel much better now, it’s awful when everyone gets ill at once. I like the strong women and salmon analogy. I’m a big believer in karma too. Thanks for joining up with the #bigpinklink this week.
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Thank you, my pink host! So sorry about El. We will all miss her! But we must carry on for her! #StrongWomen! #bigpinklink
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Thanks for sharing your post on swimming upstream to the blogger’s pit stop. Very informative.
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Thank you, Julie! Hope your weekend is a good one! xo
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I’m so impressed by you for speaking up and doing what needed to be done. Hopefully the truth will somehow get out…..it usually always does. You’ve got this! Thanks for sharing with #GlobalBlogging!
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Thank you! Karma will rock this one, somehow. #globalblogging 💕💜😘
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Sorry to hear you’ve had a tough time of it lately. I hope some smoother times are on their way to you. Thanks for sharing with #globalblogging
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Rach, I am counting on it! Things have to go up! 💜💕😘 thank you, lovely. #globalblogging
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I am so sorry that you’ve had such a tough time. It’s so hard when you’ve put your heart and soul into something but it doesn’t pay off. But we take a break, be kind to ourselves, assess whether we want to keep fighting or not, and keep going. I hope you’re able to rest a little too, though, and give yourself time to recover properly #blogcrush
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Thank you, Lucy. I appreciate your kindness and thoughts. #blogcrush xoxo
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Aw that picture of the worry dolls brought me back some memories. I used to have some when I was a kid! Thanks for linking up to #ThatFridayLinky
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Sleeping on the whole gang! 😊#thatfridaylinky 😘
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Sorry for your tough times recently hope things improve Thanks for linking to the #THAT FRIDAY LINKY come back next week please
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Oh they will improve! They have to! Ty, Nige! #thatfridaylinky
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I hope your household is well now. Sorry you’re having a tough time
Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next time.
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I am trying my best to move forward! Smile applied, so it can be contagious like a yawn. #KCACOLS xoxo
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I am sorry you all were hit with strep on top of already downward days. Glad to hear you are feeling better all the way around. I am really counting on karma right now too. As always thanks for sharing on the #FabFridayPost
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Thanks so much B! I know a lot of us waiting on the big K! ❤ #FabFridayPost xo
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It is incredibly cloudy over at your side. I really hope they will come to the realisation one day. Don’t let go of hope yet. Big hugs my friend. xx #FabFridaPost
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Never letting go of hope! No worries there. I will fake it till I make it! Those are words you can count on! Thanks Su! Big hugs back at ya! #FabFridayPost xo
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I’m sorry to hear you have been having a bad time and I too believe in karma and this is what has helped me in bad times too #kcacols
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Thank you Tracy. I am doing my best to turn my frown upside down! It’s a long weekend coming and the sun is out! That is a great start! Thanks for your comments. #KCACOLS xoxo
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