Is anyone here experiencing disorientation?
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I often feel disorientation when I listen to the news, so I’ve written yet another verse for my disorientingly long song “I Don’t Wanna Be Late (Don’t Wanna Be Early Either).”
I don’t wanna watch the news,
Don’t wanna be out of touch either.
It’s confusing what to choose
When you’re trying too hard to do neither.
What’s so bad about watching the news?
Even if the news is cherry-picked to give us the blues?
What’s the crime being out of touch?
Although apathetic ignorance can be a crutch.
©️Ann Koplow, 2023
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If you’re used to criticism, compliments can be a source of disorientation, so getting a compliment about my songs from Jon Burr, an incredible musician whom I greatly respect, (“you’re like a friendly Bob Dylan”) recently disoriented me in a very nice way.
Oh, no! I feel another verse coming on!
I don’t wanna critic.
Don’t wanna big compliments either.
It’s hard to make things stick
When you’re trying too hard to do neither.
What’s so bad about a critic?
So harsh critics bring on shame and make us feel like ick?
What’s the crime in believing compliments?
Even if the big ones feel like they’re complete nonsense?
©️Ann Koplow 2023
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Besides the news and getting unexpected compliments, my disorientation has been exacerbated by weird INR results and my son Aaron moving to Halifax. Yesterday, a long conversation with Aaron helped orient me again, and gave me some useful ideas about what to do about my way-too-long song.
Do you see disorientation in any of my images for today?
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On National Punctuation Day, how about some disorientation punctuation???!!!?!!?
Here’s what I find when I search for “disorientation” on YouTube:
… and here are two orienting videos from my old friend Jon Burr.
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Thanks to Jon, Aaron, Katie Mack, kind and creative people on Twitter, Rubato HK Cafe, our cat Joan, the birds that hang around our South Shore home, and (of course!) YOU, for orienting me again.
Your song lyrics are great Ann! I love them!
Thanks, Carol anne!!
Like you, I don’t want to be out of touch but I also don’t want to watch the news. Haven’t figured that one out yet, so I am glad there’s a song about it, now. Thanks, Ann.🙂
I haven’t figured out a lot of things, Maureen, but you always help orient me.
I do imagine that you are friendlier than Bob Dylan, Ann, but I’ve only met you, not him.
Thanks for another friendly comment, Mark!
Thanks for sharing those waterfowl glimpses.
Thank you for orienting me with your presence, Debbie.
I have no doubt that my son will put me in one if I become too hard to handle, so I have to wonder if nursing homes have “disorientation” days – i.e., days when they tell you what to do when, not if, you become disoriented. My favorites would be to stop and shelter in place until someone finds you, or follow the voices, which could present other problems. What would you suggest?
I don’t know if I have any suggestions but I like yours.
I love the birds, who never seem to be disoriented, or if they are, they never reveal it
I love the birds and this comment.
I sometimes wonder if we are meant to be disoriented these days. If it all made sense, what would that say about us? Just a though! 🙃
Love your lyrics!!
Love you!
I know the length of your song seems disorienting but I think it has a nice flow and carries listeners along as far as we want to go.
I also remember having a Sit’n’Spin when I was young and how much I liked the disoriented feeling it gave me. I could even get that way with a spinning chair. It’s been so long since I spun until disoriented. I should do that again.
Thanks for orienting me again, Chris.