By Karen Daigle Lundberg, March 26, 2020
As I have gone through the last couple of days, it has been with a feeling of lightness and airiness and most especially freedom. A certain song keeps resonating in my head, but I just can’t pinpoint which song it is.
Top of the World
And then all of a sudden it hits me….it is the old song, sung by the Carpenters, “Top of the World.” It has been playing over and over and over again in my head all day long, but it took me until just now to put a name to it.
Please allow me to share some of the words to “Top of the World.”
Such a feelin’s comin’ over me
There is wonder in ‘most everything I see
Not a cloud in the sky, got the sun in my eyes
And I won’t be surprised if it’s a dream
Is this a dream? Have we really been battling for almost three years, and while we have won some battles, yesterday we won the biggest battle of them all. Yes, we have won “battles,” but our war is not over yet. But, WOW, does it feel good to have this last battle behind us. I feel On Top of the World!!
It is sad that on a day like yesterday and today, we are not able to be dancing in the streets, which is what I so feel like doing, but maybe God has a reason for that. We may never know the reason, but we can most certainly bask in the joy of what we have accomplished. Step outside, feel the sunshine, breathe in the air, and enjoy OUR VILLAGE!! That’s right…OUR VILLAGE!! FREEDOM!!
I was really getting worried about all of us Villagers for awhile. We were getting awfully grouchy for awhile there. We were angry. We had arrogant individuals walking right over us, and our mouths were taped shut….and we are RETIRED!! I kept watching, and I saw the lovely, sweet people in this Village becoming angry, bickering among ourselves, yes, me too, and we were not being our true selves. I don’t think anyone could blame us. Here we are seniors, in the retirement (supposedly) peaceful years of our lives, and we had some little pompous leaders micromanaging our every move. Anyone would have a right to become angry over that. But then something happened. It is called the Coronavirus. While the Coronavirus is a tragedy in itself, I sat back and watched the people of Hot Springs Village let go of their anger, form volunteer groups, and come together to help our neighbors. Everyone was so nice and kind, and it reminded me of the Village that my husband, Buz, and I discovered in July of 2017. Moving from Houston, we were blown away by the kindness and how happy people here in the Village were. Shortly after our move, in came the CMP, and things changed drastically. But I do not want that nasty “book” to ruin what I have to say today. What I want to say is please look around. Look at all of the volunteers who have risked themselves to go out for others, to count the vote yesterday, and neighbor-to-neighbor help each other. Oh, what a wonderful place we live, and we can finally begin to enjoy it again. No more anger. Let’s love one another again.
The last thing I want to say is we have a wonderful opportunity ahead of us. We have Tucker, Lloyd, Dick and Diana on our Board, soon to be seated. I am seeing posts on Facebook already, people stating what needs to be done first. Remember, Villagers….we voted for each and every one of these people because we trust them, we honor their knowledge, and we know they will do their very best for us. Please let them do it. No arm chair quarterbacks. They know what needs to be done, and while I do not know this for sure, my feelings tell me that they have already started planning. They are going to be the people in the know. They are going to know what needs to be done, what can be done, and in what order it needs to be done. We all have our opinions, but please don’t overwhelm them. They already have a momentous job ahead of them. Let our trust in the vote work. I have total trust in these four people. Let them do what they need to do, and don’t distract them by calling them and emailing them telling them what to do. They know. Please just back our new Board members, and everything will work out just fine, and we will have our lovely Village back.
I will end this with another verse of the Carpenters’ song. The words are perfect.
Somethin’ in the wind has learned my name
And it’s tellin’ me that things are not the same
In the leaves on the trees and the touch of the breeze There’s a pleasin’ sense of happiness for me
BEST OF LUCK TO TUCKER, LLOYD, DICK, AND DIANA. MAKE US PROUD!!
By Karen Daigle Lundberg, March 26, 2020
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The Carpenters- Top of the World with lyrics
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eYXI_OSdOYs[/embedyt]***
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Mary Odom
03/26/2020 — 3:16 pm
Very well said and I too believe they are already working on prioritizing and planning! I just want them to know we are here if they need us!
Minn Daly
03/26/2020 — 3:22 pm
Karen, what an uplifting article with beautiful music to match! I think all of the wonderful people who love our community appreciate this inspiration of music & words. Supporting LTD & with hopes some on legacy BOD will change their attitudes will be necessary to get our community back on track. The next 6 months will be an up hill climb for them but with support From owner members they will rise &. Get this community back to sanity. Remember they have a mess to clean up! Minn Daly
Vicki Husted
03/26/2020 — 3:37 pm
Job well done, Karen. I think you’re so very right on all points, but especially this part:
“They know what needs to be done, and while I do not know this for sure, my feelings tell me that they have already started planning. They are going to be the people in the know. They are going to know what NEEDS to be done, what CAN be done, and IN WHAT ORDER it needs to be done. We all have our opinions, but please don’t overwhelm them. They already have a momentous job ahead of them. Let our trust in the vote work. ”
I, too, have great faith and trust in TUCKER, LLOYD, DICK, AND DIANA. My routine response to any who are (understandably) showing impatience and wanting all the wrongs to be set right immediately, comes from the same time period as your song:
“Patience, Grasshopper…patience.”
The hope and confidence is palpable now in HSV. “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” Aristotle
Karen Daigle Lundberg
03/26/2020 — 10:51 pm
Vicki Husted – I saw you posted earlier “Patience Grasshopper Patience,” and again here, and I absolutely love it. How appropriate. And your quote from Aristotle is perfect. Thank you for adding to my story and making it even better. HUGS.
Julie
03/26/2020 — 4:14 pm
Very uplifting and very positive, which is sorely needed at this point. Thanks.
Thanks very much.
Joseph Vlasek
03/26/2020 — 4:35 pm
Nice Arizona “lakescape”. So Unlike Hot Springs Village AR!
HSVP C
03/26/2020 — 4:40 pm
Thank you. Arizona has some beautiful landscapes.
We’ve Only Just Begun
03/26/2020 — 10:50 pm
Maybe we can get Top of the World – A Carpenters Tribute to perform in Hot Springs Village!
https://topoftheworldcarpenterstribute.com
Karen Daigle Lundberg
03/28/2020 — 10:22 pm
Thank you for the link. I had no idea this group existed. Oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful to have them perform here. They look pretty booked up, but possibly whoever with the POA is in charge of our entertainment could reach out and see if we could be fit into their schedule. The show would surely be a sellout.