{"id":18140,"date":"2017-10-22T00:10:02","date_gmt":"2017-10-22T04:10:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/?p=18140"},"modified":"2017-10-22T10:41:54","modified_gmt":"2017-10-22T14:41:54","slug":"is-it-time-for-another-saturday-night-live-moment-or-can-we-smile-again","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zeezoey.com\/blog\/is-it-time-for-another-saturday-night-live-moment-or-can-we-smile-again\/","title":{"rendered":"Is It Time For Another Saturday Night Live Moment, Or Can We Smile Again?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Is it time world? Is it time to be funny again?<\/p><\/div>\n

It was the season premiere of the 27th season of Saturday Night Live (SNL) on September 29, 2001, 18 days after the horrific September 11 attacks that took place in New York City. The show featured an opening with Rudy Giuliani, then Mayor of New York City, along with the firefighters and police officers of New York, declaring that despite the terrorist attack, New York City would run as normal and SNL would go on as planned, with producer Lorne Michaels asking Giuliani, “Can we be funny?” and Giuliani replying in perfect sync, “Why start now?”<\/p>\n

It was a bold move. Our country was mourning, feelings were raw, and it was highly questionable whether funny was even remotely appropriate. I will never forget that moment \u2013 for me, it worked. It wasn\u2019t a light switch whereby the pain and anguish of the attacks went away, but more a nationwide watercooler moment of giving ourselves permission to get on with our lives, when it seemed like we\u2019d never be able to think about anything else ever again.<\/p>\n

While the circumstances are different, I feel a similar sense of malaise weighing me down. Devastating fires, mass shootings, tornadoes, floods, typhoons, earthquakes, hurricanes and more have ravaged our world of late. Politics are explosive and social media is rife with tragic stories of illness, death, and heartache. Yes, this has always been our world to one extent or another, but it seems lately everything is bombarding us all at once, with no breaks in between.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m not asking for permission, and I\u2019m not asking for answers, but I find myself wondering \u2013 is it okay to smile again when there is so much tragedy in our midst? Is it okay to laugh again when so many others are crying? Is it okay to feel happiness and joy again when some don\u2019t even have a place to call home? Will there be another SNL moment giving us the green light to move on, or have we already done that and I just haven\u2019t caught up yet?<\/p>\n

I suspect we all have a different perspective and tactic as to how we handle the world around us and that\u2019s okay. I\u2019ve always been quiet and reserved by nature and for me, pulling back from stress as best I can while I try to find my center is how I cope. Right now I can\u2019t reconcile in my mind posting funny cat memes or quirky complaints about the little things in life like I used to with regularity on Facebook and Twitter when I know so many people are suffering. I\u2019m also struggling with blogging with any clarity, as my mind just isn\u2019t cooperating with me creatively.<\/p>\n

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No matter how difficult circumstances, as long as I have the love and companionship of my kitties, it can’t be that bad.<\/p><\/div>\n

But I will again. Expressing my feelings in writing helps me forge my way back to a happier place and this post is part of that. I enjoy my cat blogging\/social media life and while there is hardship in this world, I also know my cat pictures, posts and comments have the ability to inspire, to bring joy, and to make people smile. I know my cats bring me joy and make me smile and I don’t think I’m meant to feel guilty for my own happiness. And honestly, my life is not bad. I have nothing to complain about and I\u2019m grateful for every blessing I have. I’m just taking a different direction at the moment and I\u2019m spending more time doing things out of my norm. I\u2019ve taken up some crafting projects that have been lots of fun (I\u2019m making designer cat ears, something I\u2019ll share with you in an upcoming post) and I\u2019m continuing my path of cleaning the house of clutter.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m retiring to the couch earlier at night to watch TV with Dan and the kitties and one of my hidden pleasures \u2013 now that I finally have a new iPhone with a bigger screen \u2013 I\u2019m back to playing FreeCell, something that is wonderfully mindless for me! I believe all of these little joyful moments are heading me down the path of my own SNL recovery and in that spirit, I felt compelled to share a montage of some of the other little things in life that bring me happiness.<\/p>\n

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I’m very blessed to have a gorgeous backyard to connect with nature and enjoy the serenity life has to offer…<\/p><\/div>\n

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There is never a time popcorn doesn’t make me happy…especially those odd times of the day when you traditionally don’t eat popcorn!<\/p><\/div>\n

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I love having a family that indulges my inner cat lady! This was my brother and his family in 2010 when I visited them up North.<\/p><\/div>\n

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I found this flamingo jacket at Kohl’s and I think it speaks for itself. I didn’t buy it, but I shared the picture on Facebook and the joy it brought everyone was contagious! Only in Florida, folks…<\/p><\/div>\n

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Ah yes…meeting your blogging pals for the first time ever! This was 2011, BlogPaws, where I bumped into two of my favorite cat ladies – Ingrid King\/The Conscious Cat and Caren Gittleman\/Cat Chat with Caren and Cody. Naturally, I made them try on some of my cat ears!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Playing board games with the family ranks at the top of my list of favorite things to do!<\/p><\/div>\n

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During the night Zee goes hunting for gifts to leave for Dan and I. This is typically what we’re greeted to each morning – clearly we are very loved!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Any day I’m blessed to have my mom in my life is a great day. She is a true inspiration to me and I love her dearly.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Making Christmas cookies with my step-daughter, Jackie… I never get tired of that!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Feeding my precious squirrels gives me an enormous amount of joy!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Experiencing one of those incredulous moments in 2009 with family and friends when I, as the only Dolphins fan, witnessed us beating the New England Patriots… As a Dolphins fan, you gotta take what you can get, even if it means a trip down memory lane…<\/p><\/div>\n

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When my favorite cat litter is Buy One, Get One Free. I need not say more…<\/p><\/div>\n

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We haven’t gone in ages, but when Dan and I ride his Harley to the beach, it doesn’t get much better than that!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Coming home from work and putting on my comfy Hello Kitty sweatpants (accompanied by a glass of wine).<\/p><\/div>\n

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If I ever win the lottery, I’d love a house on the water. No matter what ails me, when I visit the beach all my troubles vanish away for the time being.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Our guest bedroom, also known as the “leopard room” is where I go when I need peace and tranquility. I do much of my writing and reflecting in this room.<\/p><\/div>\n

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No matter where I am, anytime I spot a dog it brings instant joy to my life!<\/p><\/div>\n

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Remembering those times when Jazz and Harley were still with us…<\/p><\/div>\n

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This pretty much sums it up…<\/p><\/div>\n

How about you all? How do you deal with the stresses around you? How are you coping with today\u2019s world? What are some of the small joys you have in your life that bring you happiness? Please feel free to share, as hearing from you all also brings me joy! Happy Sunday everyone!<\/p>\n

\"hearts\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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It’s a Blog Hop!<\/p><\/div>\n