November Blues… at least the first notes

I get down for diabetic reasons. Cold, wet weather doesn’t help either. But I am a veteran in the war against depression.

I have a hundred and one tricks for avoiding a fall into the dark blue depths of the tiger traps of self-loathing and bummed-out-and-perpetually-in-bed depression.

Radasha, my faun, makes fun of me relentlessly when I am depressed. Being able to laugh at myself is a defense against the dark arts. Eating chocolate can help too. And sleeping is useful if you can avoid too much of it.

I talk to other imaginary friends when I am depressed and have the blues too. I have an imaginary granddaughter who is very playful and makes me laugh. I have to remember, though, why Susu is only an imaginary granddaughter, and avoid dwelling on the tragedy of the situation. She’s precious, even if thoughts of her origin are traumatic.

I also have a real daughter still living at home with us. She’s an artist and writer too. Her ambition is to be a cartoonist. Talking to her about such things brings me joy.

I have also often used music as a way to conquer the blues. But November is a blue month. I listen to sad Classical music like Barber’s Adagio for Strings in November.

Do you remember… that time in November…

Yes, sad songs, sad music. It’s difficult to explain how that can help the November blues. But it can. I wrote a book about it called Sing Sad Songs. Sweet, sad songs recall lost love. And lost love is sad. But it is better to recall than seasons without love.

November is a blue month. And blue is a good color… if you don’t let it overwhelm you.