2018, tell me all your secrets

“If you can look into the seeds of time. And say which grain will grow and which will not; Speak, then, to me.”

Macbeth by William Shakespeare

“I believe we can rule out anything sinister,” said the radiologist. “Only … there is something rather unusual.”

I wiped the gel off my neck and sat up.

“You have right-sided hemiagenesis of the thyroid.”

I leaned in to get a closer look at the ultrasound screen.He cleared his throat, “Most people have a butterfly wing-shaped thyroid gland on either side of their neck. Your thyroid is flying on only one wing.”

My eyebrows are blonde, therefore harder to detect, but I’m certain he saw them raised in fright, because he patted my shoulder and assured me that I’m just a little strange.

So 2018 began … a little strange.

I don’t believe in tarot cards, palm reading, star signs or crystal balls, but I do wonder what 2018 has up it’s sleeve. Do you?

In Groundhog Day (1993) Phil Connors (Bill Murray) says: “Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.”

The annus horribilis (with knobs on), 2017 is over. And despite our (Hubby and my) challenge not to fall back into the trap of all-work-no-anything-else, despite the chill in the air and the grey days … and even though I spent the whole morning of my precious at-home-Tuesday on the phone to BT, I cannot shake this feeling of hope. I so want to trust 2018.

I want rain for Cape Town, I want to be fit and healthy this year, I want some of our BIG deals at work to succeed, I want husbands for my single girlfriends … I want, I want.

Incidentally, Mama used to say, “I want gets a smack!”, so maybe that’s not the best approach?

Apart from the rather strange revelation about my thyroid, another piece of good news is that our South African building plans were approved by the Great Kei Municipality this week. Looks like we are building our house in Morgan Bay THIS YEAR! Exciting times ahead – and possibly a lot of building / decor-related blogs ahead too (apologies in advance). My dear Mama has offered to be our on-site manager – actually, I don’t think she was given much choice.

I wish my Dad could have been part of all this excitement. Still maybe he is. He will certainly be there in the braai place, in the nguni skin ‘carpet’, in the HagMorKei magazine tide table and in the warm starry nights.

And so, 2018 rolls on in hope.

I’ll leave you with one more from Groundhog Day:

Phil: Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?
Mrs. Lancaster: I don’t think so, but I could check with the kitchen.

SMALL PRINT:
P.s. Here’s another word for your lexicon. My thyroid is euthyroid – functioning fine. Also, your thyroid develops in utero so looks like I’ve had this strange little lop-sided thyroid all my life. You could say I’ve always been a little strange.
P.p.s. ‘With knobs on’ is not a phrase I grew up with. When we were dating, Hubby used it with me. He got into a lot of trouble! I was rather suspicious of him for a while after that. Sounds rude, doesn’t it? I think so. Look at the image (left) for the meaning, but I’d be careful when using is – EEEK!
P.p.p.s. Though I spent the morning on the phone to BT, it was not a quality time call. Funny story (probably apocryphal): British Telecommunications changed its trading name to BT in 1991 (along with a change in logo) because many Brits found the name a bit of a tongue-twister to say and to spell. They called it rebranding.
P.p.p.p.s. I’m going to the gym now because I’m told you actually have to make some of these hopes happen. Apparently you can’t wait for 2018 to just deliver them to your door.
P.p.p.p.p.s. Below is a clip from that favourite of mine, Groundhog Day, when Phil realises he is reliving yesterday – seriously recommend this film!