What Do the Simple Folk Do?

In the musical Camelot, there is a song sung by Guenevere and King Arthur who are thinking that their lives are unimaginably complicated and depressing. So they ask in song "What Do the Simple Folk Do" to chase away the blues? One suggests that they whistle. So G an A whistle, but it doesn't help. So the other suggests that commoners sing. So G and A sing, but it doesn't help. Then, one says that simple folk dance...so G and A dance, but that doesn't help, either. Finally, it is declared that simple folk "sit around and wonder what royal folk would do". 'Tis one of the ironies of life. In that, I am reminded how envious I have always been of my sister's life, never really understanding that she also envied mine, for different reasons!

Today, with the television on for company, I have been watching a marathon of shows on the Oprah Winfrey Network--a reality show about the struggles between Tatum and Ryan O'Neal to resolve their relationship issues. Geez...give me a break! Tatum wants her father to admit all of his transgressions with her--her perceived transgressions--because he left her behind for Farrah Fawcett. He resists. I'm sorry. This is important because...? They can afford homes in Malibu, psychotherapy, reality shows (that are anything BUT reality), and the rest of us are supposed to be able to relate?? I'm changing the channel!

But seriously, folks, what DO the simple folk do? Show me a single family on the entire planet that isn't dysfunctional in some way, and I'll show you La-La-Land. My parents--eventually both of them--were hard drinkers, but there was never a single moment in my life that I didn't feel loved and valued. They had their own realities. They worked their proverbial fannies off to provide a good life for us. What we made of that was our own choice. In turn, I worked MY fanny off to provide a decent life for my daughter and me, based on what was burned into my psyche as important. I know I screwed up often, but I have learned to give up the notion that I can live long enough to find closure from the past. The only reality is now.

I have nothing but good memories of my childhood because I was an adaptable kid and always felt good about my family. Older and wiser now, I recognize the things that molded me. Some are good. Some aren't. It's all about life, folks! Time to stop blaming one's childhood for one's own shortcomings! It is what it was. Get over it!

What do the simple folk do? They survive because they have to!