Dagmar Corales,
Argentina
September 27, 2008



Folks, friends, countrymen… I’m “shell-shocked”.

No, I don’t have “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”, because I didn’t make it through a war, an earthquake, a flooding, a fire or any other natural disaster.
But, yes, I survived a lot of man-made disasters. And that’s why I’m shell-shocked.
I insist on it!
It sounds… important!
It doesn’t really matter, that I’ve never seen one of these “shells” that I’m supposed to be “shocked” about.
I’m still shell-shocked!

And what am I supposed to do with my “shell-shockedness”?
Am I supposed to crawl up in a corner and cry?
Become hooked on gummibears?
Lock myself up in a room and watch my favorite… hm… well, I don’t even have a favorite soap opera…
Let’s see… open a bottle of… of… hm… mineral water? Well, that’s the only thing I insist in drinking straight from the bottle.
O.K. now, let’s see again… I got it… turn up the volume, make the walls tremble and shout:
“I can’t get no… ba BAM… satisfaction… but I TRY, oh I TRY, yes I TRYYY (hey, can’t you see how much I’m TRYING!!!)
Hmmm, nice dream but… my kids!
A crazy mother… nah… I’ll never hear the end of it…
Ah well…
So what’s a good girl supposed to do, when she’s “shell-shocked”?
Hey, of course, the all-time-helps-in-all-situations-remedy: GO SHOPPING!
Yes!!!

There’s just one itsy-bitsy-problem: How do I know, if I can still wear this? …or that? …or this one here?
Why don’t these things come with an age-recommendation: “You must be THIS YOUNG to wear this outfit!”
Ahhh… this may drive me just into another anxiety attack.
Now here’s a solution: Get a pet!
They’re supposed to have a healing effect…
Well, just as long as your cat, dog or canary doesn’t pretend to be smarter than you. Sometimes I’ve got the distinct feeling that my cat watches me and thinks: “I’m so beautiful, can’t you see that…and, anyway, why can’t I sleep on the bed?”
Wait, wait, wait… step outside and smell the roses!
I… don’t have any roses…
Yes, well, but I DO have plants in different stages of… eh… life, or…well… survival.
They might need a helping hand.
Come to think of it… lot’s of people need a helping hand!
And they might just live in front of me… or around the corner… or around the next corner…
Come to think of it… I have a lot to offer… yes I do!
Why?
Because I’m unique!

Well, yes, maybe I’m somewhat crazy, but I’m also unique!
And I’m rich!
Well, maybe not exactly rich in terms of money, but I’m rich with experience!
I have a lot of things to give, to share, to talk about, to laugh about, to cry about… all of a sudden I will feel much, much MUCH better…
In fact I will feel so good, that I will have totally forgotten, that I’m supposed to be “shell-shocked”.