Paper Ghost: Musings of a Restless Girl

I am tired of this idea that the holidays are -supposed- to be stressful. they're not. at all. I think more of us need to learn to let go of expectations and learn how to say "no" to things we don't want to do. Yes, we all have obligations and have to do things we don't want to do sometimes, but we CAN limit those things, and we can compromise, too. What is the point of the holidays if we can't do the things we want to do, the things that make us happy? While the holidays are about spending time with family for some, it doesn't always have to be if that's not what you want. Some of us have toxic families, and sometimes they become even more toxic around the holidays. The holidays are a time that we should all have a right to enjoy, and if that means avoiding the people that cause that holiday stress, then so be it. Turn your phones on silent, block their number, do what you have to do.  Take the time to set them aside and say "hey, I have ...

Your reading for Today: More sympathetic than usual, those close to you bend over backwards to understand and support you today, dear REBECCA. Under the benign authority of Temperance, your nearest and dearest avoid difficult conversations, your partner is all ears and copes remarkably well with your changes of mood. Your friends do their best to meet your every need… In short, everyone makes rather a fuss of you, which is all to the good! With your working life under the combined influence of Temperance and the Fool, you’re seeking security and permanence. Slowly but surely, you consolidate what you’ve achieved so far until your position in your post or your field is secure. You may encounter some difficulties, of course, but if you have confidence in yourself, you’ll get through the day unscathed. I wanted to post this because it felt super relevant. I AM seeking security and permanence in a job, which is why I have taken a job at RACC and must leave the SPCA. I also f...

tonight, the new moon is in Scorpio, and it's the astrological Samhain. I did a lot of reflecting the other day for Samhain and my brain has started to prepare for yule and Christmastime.  this time of year always reminds me of my grandma, which is one of the reasons I discussed her in my last post. The new moon in Scorpio also means time for change and new things. It seems appropriate, as I've been hired at two new (one is new-ish) jobs that I'll be starting in the coming weeks, and saying goodbye to the SPCA.  I've only worked there for a few short months, but I have never been so in love with a job.  I have been accepted into the family and it truly feels like home. But alas, money is a real issue for me right now, and I must move on to other things for the time being.   As I've mentioned in previous posts, this year has been a year of newness. I turned 30, I celebrated my first wedding anniversary, we moved to a new city, I've started a new job, and ...

When I was a kid, my grandma gave me brief snippets of what her life was like before I knew her.  I wish that I could still ask her to go into more depth.  I want to know what she would have thought of today's election.  I think she would be proud of all the women standing up.  My grandma was born in 1928, eight years of the passage of the 19th Amendment. She was a firecracker.  I think, in her own way, she was a feminist.  She may not have called herself one, though I really don't recall if she did or not, but her actions and words that I remember lead me to believe that she was a feminist. It's a shame that many of us don't think to ask the important questions until we're older and it's too late. My paternal grandmother passed when I was 19, thus, it's been over ten years.  Though she was aging, it was somewhat unexpected.  We always think we have time, and we really, truly don't. I was different than a lot of kids my age, around me at lea...

Y'ALL. I cannot even express how happy my heart is. While dems were unable to flip Senate, I am blown away by the number of women of color who made historic firsts last night, and the number of lgbtqa people making history in OUR GOVERNMENT. Though resistance is not limited to voting out those trying to strip away the human rights of others, it was such a historic night.  I am literally in tears. AFTER ALL THESE YEARS, two Native American women voted to Congress.  And two Muslim women, the first openly gay governor. I'M JUST SHIT thank you for those of you who went out and performed your civic DUTY and privilege. My heart is truly singing.

Astrological Samhain is coming up in a few days (November 7th).  In appropriate ritualistic fashion, I would like to reflect on some endings and beginnings this year I have experienced. This year, I turned 30 and I celebrated my first wedding anniversary (as you saw from the last post, both were just a few days ago!).  My thesis is nearly complete...just a little bit of style editing to do, and I will be graduating from graduate school this December.  Alex and I also moved to Richmond at the end of July and oh what a wonderful change. I feel so much less confined to the ridiculous social norms our society holds here.  I can walk outside with (gasp!) an arm covered in tattoos and a septum ring, in all black, and not get stared at like a freak. It's such a small thing, and in 2018, I'm sure some of you are surprised that it was a thing at all, but I can't begin to explain the comfort level I've felt in Richmond.  Though I've struggled to find a job that pay...

So this last week, I turned 30 and we celebrated our first wedding anniversary.