Mentioning Things in Everyday Ramblings

This was Friday, we had sun, obviously, in the afternoon. All the post-Thanksgiving family units were out and about when I managed to get out myself. This is an area of sidewalk next to a distinctive old apartment building from the 1880’s with an abandoned cottage in front that squatters have been living in periodically over the last few years and is covered with plywood and graffiti.

Hardy young people live in these apartments and last week there was a hand painted sign about an apartment being for rent propped up by these ancient bricks made by hands from long before the pandemic in 1918 that swept through this area mixed in with bits of contemporary concrete. Something I have been thinking about a lot lately, especially now as I wait for a healthy young gig worker to deliver my groceries.

The almost golden oak leaf litter adds a certain poignancy to the picture.

Unlike last Saturday, the precious high-spirited walk with Mrs. Sherlock and Charity was marred a bit by the heavy cold mist and the fact that half way through we were running Frieda (and me) in a big field in a public park and she either stepped in a hole or twisted her left front ankle, but she started limping.

We walked her a little ways and gave her a treat and decided as a group that Charity would hike back on her own, get her car and we would walk two blocks to a Starbucks and wait. There were no outside chairs, so I was grateful in my rain pants to find a dry spot under an awning on the cement and sit with her while Mrs. Sherlock got us all warm drinks and water for Frieda.

All four of us in the car was not ideal but it was a short ride, and we had our masks on.

This stuff happens and it is such a challenge to navigate all the variables in the midst of this crazy raging pandemic that sure has gotten old. I just checked in and Mrs. Sherlock says Frieda is doing better but she is going to rest her for a couple more days. Ughh.

I did talk yesterday afternoon to my student with the health issues. There are some worrisome test results, but she does not appear to be in crisis.

As we were walking yesterday (before Frieda’s injury); my awesome personal support team was most helpful in terms of giving me perspective on how to address communication with her. I told her point blank unequivocally that she needed to get professional help. It was kind of heartbreaking. I hope she does. We talked specifics and all I could really do was reassure her that help, would in fact, make things better.

Then later I got an email from the offended woman saying she was looking forward to class this week, but could I possibly change the time I teach the classes I have been teaching for 6 years because it is a bit inconvenient for her. Wow.

Never in a million years would it occur to me to make a request like that. There are hundreds of thousands of yoga teachers out there, desperate for students. Perhaps she could, umm hook up with one of them?

This situation we all find ourselves in is not bringing out the best in us, and I include myself in this observation. I am trying new stuff this week and hope it all works out to the benefit of all concerned.

In the midst of all this I am happy to report that my back/leg thing is a bit better. I actually had a day this last week where I managed without Tylenol so something I am doing is helping but it is taking forever!

I was listening to the LRB podcast this morning doing chores and they were discussing the Irish/Anglo poet Louis MacNeice and he suggests in an essay that the poet’s main function is to mention things.

I love that and try to do that both in my photos and my writing.

Someday, if I make it through this dark time with flashes of light, I hope to mention things in poetic form again.

Last updated November 29, 2020