After a few rocky weeks, our lives are returning to normal.  Well, normal for us. Two working adults, with one car, mornings starting at 4:45 AM.  Two kids in high school, one with a job, the other with after school commitments until 9 PM. Weekends are full of their events, family time, household chores and on and on ad nauseum.

People are often shocked at that. Well, yes, it seems a lot.  But it’s normal for us.

Normal, now there’s a word I’m not to sure about.  What is “NORMAL?”

We hear about “the new normal.” Kindergarten kids have lock down and active shooter drills.  

“Oh, well, that’s the new normal.”   

More and more people are utilizing food banks, and low income housing. 

“That’s the new normal in this economy.”

But, they aren’t normal.  They’re outside the norm, aren’t they?  So, is normal a fluid concept? What was normal to our great grandparents during the Great Depression wasn’t normal to our parents in the 1960’s.  And it sure as hell heck isn’t normal to this mom in the 21st century!

And, the definition of normal is boring, and I mean like BOOORING!!  Merriam-Webster says:

conforming to a type, standard, or regular pattern

according with, constituting, or not deviating from a norm, rule, or principle

But who wants to conform to a norm, or a type?  Why? Who wants this? Aren’t we all individuals?  Why do I have to conform to some outdated definition of a word that changes its meaning.  Okay, okay, I know there are societal norms that we all need to follow, you know, like wearing pants when you go out in public, and not talking with food in your mouth.

But really? Who wants to be normal?  I live near Austin. Their motto is “Keep Austin Weird.” There’s a statue going up of a homeless man known as Leslie, who roller skated all over town in a bikini, and ran for mayor 3 times.(He actually came in second once! https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leslie_Cochran) I raised my kids constantly telling them that normal is overrated.  And who wants lock down drills and not being able to buy your own home “normal?”

Normal sounds like an insult, “Why can’t you like chocolate like a normal person?” “Why don’t you wear a dress like a normal girl?” “Normal boys don’t take dance class.”

Normal sounds so blah. Normal sounds like average, like beige, the four door sedans of the automotive world.  I don’t want to be average, or blend in.

Now, I can understand the concept of NORMAL, as it relates to me and my family. But it’s really an illusion, isn’t it?  Because MY normal isn’t YOUR normal and it’s not HIS normal. So why should this word be applied willy nilly to all things?

Is there anything that is really NORMAL anymore? Was anything ever NORMAL?  And is that good, or not?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!