Jerrys Yo-Yo

The blaring sound leapt under Jerry's skin and strangled him awake in an instant. His eyes popped open in terror and for a darkened moment he forgot where he was.

"Oh, Jeeze," he exclaimed in sudden realization-"the freekin' alarm."

He slammed his wrist on the snooze button and flopped back on the bed.

Nine minutes later the blare cried out again though the awareness came much quicker. Jerry smacked the clock and rolled his feet off the side and out from under the sheets. Slug-like, he dragged his sagging carcass into the bathroom and looked at the face that stared back at him in the mirror.

"Ugh," he muttered. "Nice breath," he added as he frowned and reached for a crusty toothbrush.

Only the growling in his paunch kept him from crawling once more beneath the covers, coupled with the painful knowledge that without a paycheck the cupboard would stand ever more bare and stay that way indefinitely.

"Life blows," he mumbled, scratching peanut butter onto the last nub of bread from a week-old loaf.

Throughout the day, as he most often did, Jerry ran the gamut of emotions, up, down, high, low, from the heavens to the depths, like a yo-yo.

His burst of creativity left him giddy only to morph into a morbid employment dread when the boss shot down his idea.

Jerry rode hard, dominated by one feeling after another, unable to separate or manage or compartmentalize-a black and white tango that left no room for gray.

Upon arrival at home, Jerry walked straight to the mailbox and stood in ritual, leafing through the daily arrivals.

"What?" he exclaimed, a sudden burst of exhilaration.

The envelope read U.S. Treasury across the top.

He ripped it open and began a disjointed funky chicken on the sidewalk.

"Pay to the order of ME-you know that's right," he grunted as he spied his income tax refund.

His bliss came to a jarring halt as he recognized the handwriting on an oversized card beneath the check.

She hadn't returned his calls in several days and though he had tried not to over-analyze, the sinking torment in his gut spoke volumes of his suspicions.

He tore the flap.

Dear Jerry,
This is the hardest thing I've ever done?

He sank to the ground, sat on his front lawn with his head in his hands, frozen. Numbness turned to anger turned to denial, to sorrow and into frustration, to a desire to regain numbness and a quest for his favorite bottle. The unexpected funds mattered little if at all.

Jerry found himself on the couch, alone, with no more company than his misery and his muse.

"Why does this always happen to me?" he questioned.

"Why can't I catch a break? Why can't I spend some time in cruise mode-live a normal space, mellow, stable, even keel-for at least a minute?"

He knew himself well enough not to expect an answer.

He had made this query many times before.

"Why can't I balance better? Why can't my pain and pleasure co-exist? Not like she hasn't discarded me before-why does the rejection so over-shadow my good fortune? Why don't I have any control?"

Still, he persisted, like a dog on a bone.

"If I'm me, then I need to accept me, feast or famine Jerry, the good and the bad, over the top to rock bottom-that's me."

A slight smile returned.

"Yup. That's me," he reassured himself. "In my sorrow, I'll find joy. In my hurt, I'll dig up some love. That's me, yo-yo Jerry."

He stopped nursing the bottle, set it on the coffee table and picked up the stack of mail, all except the card.

"Yup," he repeated. "Not bad, not bad."

He grinned and started laughing.

"Yeah, baby. Pay to the order of?"

That's A View From The Ridge?

About The Author

Author Ridgely Goldsborough invites you to subscribe to The Daily Column, a heart-felt collection of stories that inspire hope and courage. Please do so at www.aviewfromtheridge.com.

ridge@aviewfromtheridge.com

---

Have a Green Day, Every Day!

Green symbolises growth. Growth requires change and transformation. This article will help you reach your maximum potential. You can have a green day, every day!Have you ever... Read More

The Amazing Power of the Human Will

The human will is the most incredible thing. I believe it is the human will that keeps us going, when everyone else expects us to sit, or... Read More

What an Artist Experiences When Working With the Angels

I am an Angel artist on a passionate spiritual journey and I would like to share my story of what it is like to work with the... Read More

Money or Faith?

I've been to 64-countries, and yes money comes in handy, and goes quickly (and is useful and has its influence), I've had a ton of it at... Read More

Words Of Wisdom

Carlos' Words of Wisdom1. Today is your day to exceed, so why live in yesterday.2. You're way beyond your expectation: so why not go a little further?3.... Read More

A Dream is Just a Dream ... Or is It?

Some people dismiss dreams as nonsense, thought patterns running amuck as we sleep because we are not conscious and in a position to control them.Others believe that... Read More

Tim McGraw had it Right - Live Like You Are Dying!

Chorus: An' he said: "I went ski diving, I went rocky mountain climbing, "I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu" "And... Read More

Flaming Fire Within Our Bones

Jeremiah was certainly one of the most distinguished notables of the Old Testament. To read his messages and experiences is to become acquainted with a great servant... Read More

Bad Blood

Direct Answers - Column for the week of August 26, 2002Recently my father passed away. My problem is he never filed a will through the court, but... Read More

As A Caterpillar

"Happiness can be as elusive as a fluttering butterlfy but as easily attainable as a crawling caterpillar. Put aside the net, and let it happen." Brain G.... Read More

To Thine Own Self

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 6, 2004Someone gave me a bit of advice, and I'm doing my best to get my head wrapped... Read More

Your James Bond Fantasies Become Real

The problem with this is that fantasies usually don't come by chance. You have to plan them yourself. This seems to kill the very idea of a... Read More

The Power of Inspiration

INSPIRATION can be a powerful thing. It can keep you going when all around you cries out "quit!" It is even more powerful than motivation,as motivation... Read More

Financial Freedom Blues

Steps to Financial Freedom, roadmap to financial freedom, achieve financial freedom?Financial freedom seems to be the current buzzword in the world of self-improvement. This has spawned a... Read More

Anamchara - Living a Meaningful Life

At some stage of living your life you will ask the question "What does it mean to be here?"You may phrase the question in different ways but... Read More

Leading a World Class Life

Every four years the world is given the gift of the Olympics. For a few weeks nations lay down their arms and come together to let their... Read More

Look To Trees To Help You Keep Balanced And Focused While Achieving Your Dreams

Do you remember looking up through the branches of a beautiful, leafy tree, on a warm sunny day? How the sunlight filtering through the lush greeness, seemed... Read More

Life Lessons I Learned from My Cat

Even if you are not a cat person, bear with me, as this story goes far beyond cat mania. Our little tabby cat was frightened and highly-sensitive... Read More

Keeping Your Attitude Up When Circumstances Are Down

Everyone knows that a positive attitude is key to the successful life. But what happens when things go wrong? What happens when circumstances deal us a blow?... Read More

Product Testing

Direct Answers - Column for the week of June 24, 2002I suppose there are worse problems than having two men who want to share their life with... Read More

A Plan Of Attack

Direct Answers - Column for the week of October 28, 2002I feel I am at the breaking point. I work at a small school and run the... Read More

Lifes Purpose

To every life, there is a purpose; a purpose of will and a purpose of choice. A choice to make the right or wrong decisions and the... Read More

The Information Age

Direct Answers - Column for the week of December 1, 2003My sister and I are very close, and we don't keep things from one another. Recently she... Read More

Beluga Whale Hits the River

Wonders never cease. Just when those in our area of the Delaware River were beginning to recover from the recent floods, a whale arrives to shake things... Read More

Create 10 Delightful Daily Habits

Practising extreme self-care in our life involves practising good "daily" habits. Daily habits involve more than just exercising and eating right. They include all the things that... Read More

Blessings and Art of Living

My perception is that universe infinitely blesses us every moment. Why we do not acknowledge is that we are not consciously aware of it. For example you... Read More