Dear Reader:
I have heard the expression “Gilding the lily” but was never quite sure what it meant.
I decided to research the expression and discovered that the eytymology of the phrase… has been altered from its first original line in one of Shakespeare’s plays.
To adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful. The expression is a condensation of Shakespeare’s metaphor in King John: “To gild refined gold, to paint the lily… is wasteful and ridiculous excess.” i.e., you wouldn’t need to add gold to a beautiful lily.
In the 19th century…the expression used was to “paint the lily” meaning a beautiful lily doesn’t needed a layer of gold on it or gold paint…it is already perfection…no elaborations needed.
Haven’t we all squirmed under too many gushy compliments at some time or another…even elaborated thank you’s.…when all that was necessary was just one “Thank you.”
Normally I feel that way too…if things get too mushy-gushy…where they start to cross the line… (appearing insincere rather than appreciated from the heart) we grow uncomfortable…too much “too much”..
Yesterday was my first physical in almost two years…I keep forgetting that I started the “quarantine” craze before it even became popular two years ago?
(*I got to have a practice run on being quarantined when my foot surgery went astray…infection set in…I actually experienced more pain in that foot than I have from the accumulation of twelve years of different cancer treatments. ) 
Then while I was using the wound-vac and other medieval instruments of pain…my car was stolen…twice ….from the same teenager….so even when I was given the okay to drive again…I had no vehicle to drive.
It all worked out eventually…like it always does…but I did miss a lot of medical visits that had to be postponed, outside of my oncologist, for a few months.
I was a little concerned what the blood work numbers might show ..I have had acid reflux, (which I have never had since my last pregnancy- I think we can rule out I am pregnant, however! )
On-going indigestion problems (added to the list) which are typical of Verzenio’s side effects…but mostly my concern lays with my complete lethargic self! No matter how much sleep at night or rest during the day I get…I just felt tired all the time and listless. That is not me…I can give “perky” a run for the money. What was causing it…my case of the “May-lay-Waste-A-ways?”
The farther Dr. Montoya got through going over the blood work outcome numbers with me…the most excited she became…not only were the numbers good…as Tony the Tiger would say…“They were GREAT!” I don’t know who was more excited and/or relieved…her or me!
Since returning home yesterday afternoon I have pondered this happy news while still shaking my head in disbelief. I think I must have just come down with a double-whammy of monotonous “hot weather blues” with a dash of “quarantine” quandary.” *The combination is not good! Avoid it if you can!
We were both giggling like school girls at the end of the reading… then suddenly Dr. Montoya gave me an A+ and then decided to “gild the lily” with another + AND a happy face…signed by her.
I can hardly wait to take it to my oncologist, Dr. Jeter, Monday morning…since I have to have blood work done again and an office visit…to show her my primary doctor’s reaction!
gild the lily. to adorn unnecessarily something already beautiful. to praise someone inordinately.
I must say I am still reeling with delight at the “inordinate amount of praise and congratulations” I got! In a situation like this…any doctor can “gild my lily” as often as they wish!!!!!! It made my day! Thank you and your staff, Dr. Montoya, for just being you!
So until tomorrow….
“Kindness begins with the understanding that we all struggle.” – Charles Glassman
“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh
Look What Came Yesterday? Perfect timing…My Prayer Tree Plaque! As I was digging the hole for the stake to go in….I thanked the tree for the good news yesterday! Now I need to find some heavy duty index cards that would fit in plastic covers to hang on the branches…in case we ever get any rain! )
***The Prayer Tree completed my first prayer….a prayer for rain…A little after 10 last night the rains fell…today I will finally have a “Get Out of Jail” free pass…no watering today!
I can’t say good-bye without a beauty of two to share with you.
