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I awakened this morning with a charley horse in my right calf. Not the smoothest way to start the day. But one that got me thinking about a woman who I used to know who had some fascinating ideas about the nature of reality.
~ • ~
This woman who I’ll call K, was one of the nicest, calmest, most supportive human beings I’ve ever met. She was a mother of 4, wife of a physician, lived in a charming older home that she filled with pets, overstuffed furniture & amazing meals.
K, who was born in the late 1940s and influenced by the 1960s hippie movement, was a nurturing person who grooved on Dr. Wayne Dyer and healing crystals. And it was from this perspective that she viewed reality.
For instance, one of K’s beliefs was that when a person awoke with a pain in his or her body, the pain was a result of the sleeper’s body being used by some celestial force in a different plane of existence during the night. This made sense to her and she shared this idea with anyone who’d listen to her.
~ • ~
Now I cannot conclusively say that K’s idea is totally wrong. Who knows, eh? But I can tell you, my gentle readers, that my father was a small town doctor who had slightly different take on charley horses in the middle of the night.
His simple, straight-to-the-point explanation of why a person had a charley horse was that said person wasn’t eating enough magnesium potassium. And to remedy this situation he’d just say: “Eat a banana.“
~ • ~
And so it is as I sit here this morning typing this story that I find myself eating a banana– and reflecting upon the wonderful people who I’ve known in my life. Some a little more based in my idea of reality, than others.
I wonder what the celestial forces were doing with your leg last night?!? My MIL thinks putting your foot onto a cold floor will cure it (quite how I’m not sure as I imagine a cold floor will cause the muscle to contract still further). Strange ideas some people. My own strange idea is that if I get a cramp, it’s a sign that I’m not drinking enough (water, that is). A few extra glasses and attention to hydration levels generally usually wards them off. Can’t stand bananas, so I’m glad there is another way!
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Polly, those darned celestial forces are quite the tricksters. Who knows what they were doing? Just hope that they [I] had a good time of it.
I like your water idea. That could be the source of my leg cramp. When I get busy I often forget to drink enough water, so today I’ll make sure that I do.
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Are you sure a nice margarita wouldn’t do the trick? Bananas are so….well….healthy but you could spice it up with some ice cream.
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kate, yes, a nice margarita would do the trick! But it’s too early in the day for that kind of remedy. On the other hand, a scoop of ice cream with my healthy banana is quite doable. And yummy.
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I eat a banana every morning, but still manage to have cramps in my feet and toes quite frequently. Maybe water is the answer:)
It’s interesting to hear the ideas from other people. Whatever seems to work for each individual.
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Beth, I try to eat a banana every day, but am not overly enthusiastic about how they taste. Still, I try. I, too, wonder if more water might be the solution.
[You’d adore K, btw. Very creative and positive, but definitely going along to the beat of her own drummer. Sorry that I lost touch with her, now that I think about it.]
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Love this, Ally ~ I’ve always been told the same thing ~ eat a banana ~ and I must admit, I like that much better than the thought of an alien abduction during the night!! By the way ~ I love your entire blog 🙂
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Kim, I know what you mean about the abduction to another plane thing. Not really too keen on it either! 😉 Eating a banana seems so much simpler to me. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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I thought it was potassium but a banana is the answer either way. Meh, probably it’s both. Plus the water. And celestial forces. Oh, and calcium so a banana split with a side of water for breakfast? And a virgin margarita. And was there a solution for the celestial forces? I’m not sure I think clearly enough first thing in the morning to do more than the banana.
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Zazzy, you may be right about the potassium. It’s been a long time since I heard my dad prescribe this for a charley horse! All I know is he was all about eating bananas to make you healthy. Which I try to do. Don’t want those celestial forces to get the better of me! 🙂
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I used to like bananas way more than I do now, so that would be tough for me. I do love the hippie philosophy, although I’m way too uptight to follow it. I would probably be way more relaxed if I did! 🙂
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Margaret, over the years I’ve lost my taste for bananas, too. Don’t know why. I like hjppie/new age-y ideas, too. But when it comes to medical problems I tend to turn to doctor solutions, not alternate planes of existence solutions. Still, K could be right…
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