We’re Going the Distance
I notice while I’m walking on the trails near my house. I notice out on the open space just outside of town. We walk now with determined spacing, almost as if there is a natural repellant at work. Like ends of magnets pushing each other away. We have to distance. It’s becoming almost second nature
Snap out of it!
Holy cow. I took some time off from writing and most everything that is comforting, to wrap my brain around this crazy world that changed so quickly. Now, with some sanity oozing back in and my little home office properly set up – it’s time to rejoin the living. I hope this finds you well.
“I’ll take a dozen eggs, some crack pie and a bottle of bourbon for curbside..”
That was my actual order last weekend, from a local trendy spot that makes cry-worthy burgers. I ordered dessert and some essentials. There is such a wave of support happening in my town in the middle of all this apartness. Naturally, the small businesses are taking this punch in the gut the best they can. Entrepreneurs are survivors! Restaurants and retailers are being as creative as possible, offering items from their pantry as well as take-out to keep the doors open, staff working, and people like me tempted daily with the all-important cocktail in a jelly jar! I’m making every effort to buy from local farmers, restaurants and other business owners who don’t have the option of spending the day on Facebook answering quizzes about what potato they resemble.
Mama masters the iPhone
My mother, my sister and I have been connecting over FaceTime on Sunday evening. We pour our favorite drank and chat for a while, while my mother holds her phone in a way that shows us half her head alternating with a close up of her socks. At 83, she is actually good at entertaining herself, but I know the separation from her regular supermarket outings, salon appointments and bingo at the synagogue have been hard. Like most of us, she loves her independence. This whole shit-show has taken away some freedom for all of us. Freedom we need to give up for a little while longer, so we can run wild in the streets again.
Follow the water. It always knows where it is going.
The real blessing of small town living, especially here in the west – is the access to public land without having to travel. Even in these days where restrictions seem to wrap around us like a massive boa – smothering us until we can’t breathe through our homemade masks – we can be out on the trails, sitting in the wash and letting the water laugh in the face of messy. Spring runoff didn’t get the memo that everything has stopped. Water knows where it’s going. Trees bloom on time. Way out in the distance, the sun and moon still light our way. They don’t need to be close to make an impact.
Keep shining your light. We’ll get through this.
