At the top of a hill, there laid a grey (almost beige) house, with a gazebo built next to it. On the side of the hill, coming down to the road where I was walking, was a set of hops growing.
Wooden almost-fences kept them at bay so that they wouldn’t grow into each other. The picture of it all was beautiful, except for one thing.
At the bottom of it, all was a squirrel. One that seemed like it had been beaten, battered, and entirely run its course. It was dead. Very dead. To the point that I had to make a small loop, in fear of stepping on any of its entrails.
I know that’s gross. But it was the state of it all. A beautiful image tarnished by the grossness of death.
I don’t know why I felt like I had to share all of that. But I did. And I have. So now here we are.
Maybe because today was a bit more difficult than yesterday.
Yesterday seemed like a breeze, while today it was hard to even get out of bed. I was there until about 11:00 AM before I knew I had to down some coffee and start existing again. Otherwise, I was just going to be wasting away in a heap of my own ignorance.
After all, I even said yesterday that not every day would be as nice as the one before. I just didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
I feel like, maybe, I’m supposed to be raising moods with this blog. That’s kind of what it’s been about these first few days. But I also want to make sure that we’re not ignoring the reality of this all. It’s hard. It’s really hard. We’re stuck inside. We’re sad. We’re in a deep spot of it all. Opening of the public sector of things just got pushed back another two weeks, making us not know how much longer this whole thing might go on.
But. Let’s not forget to smile at strangers. If we’re walking let’s not forget to wave at passing cars.
I will not lose myself and my sanity to this illness.
Next time you see me, I will be smiling.
I promise you that.
Micah Mabey
