Hey, don’t be so judgmental. It worked!
I worked outside for a while at the start of spring, cleaning out the flower beds around my house; uncovering all the daffodils, crocuses, tulips and the like. It felt great to get out there. It gave me a sense of hope. Spring is a time of new beginnings; a period of rebirth.
I had to come in when it got so windy and rainy that all the leaves I raked out of the beds started blowing all over the yard. It became fruitless to continue. I was bummed out that I had to quit. I love working outside and I’ve been chomping at the bit since the first day of March; the day that, to me, signifies the beginning of better weather and garden-planning.
I suppose I’m kidding myself about the better weather, because March can be brutal. But nonetheless, each year I rejoice at the arrival of the third month of the year. And each year I push the envelope, getting into my gardening mode way before it makes sense to do so. But that’s fine. No one ever said I had to make any sense – or if they did, I didn’t listen.
So, I guess I have a bit of a dilemma. I want to get outside, but I’m once again trapped in my office, writing about things you may not care about. Things I think are interesting, but may not be. But that’s okay. I write about everyday stuff. That’s what I do. And I don’t apologize for that.
But the fact that I had to abandon my yard work because of the rainy, dreary weather isn’t the real dilemma. The real dilemma is that it’s also rainy and dreary inside my head. I’m kinda out of sorts today. My thoughts are all over the place. I’m in a fog. My brain is in absentia. For those who aren’t familiar with the term ‘in absentia’; it’s one of those legalese terms that means I’m not really here. I’m absent.
I hope I haven’t confused you. I’m pretty sure that a lot gets lost in translation – in the transfer between my thoughts, my keyboard and your brain. What I’m saying may not be what you’re hearing.
I’ve gulped down a boatload of iced coffee while I’ve pounded out this piece, hoping the caffeine bump will power me out of this trancelike state. I need a lot of coffee to get the effect I need; the buzz that will carry me through the afternoon and lead to total collapse later tonight – like falling off a cliff.
I’m addicted to caffeine – no question about it. I started on this voracious java kick when I was a freshman in college. I’d drink coffee all day and all night so I could stay awake to play poker. Did I say ‘play poker’? I meant ‘study’. Yuh, that’s it. I drank coffee so I could stay awake and study.
I don’t see my love for coffee as a problem. If I get to the point where I have to carry a baggie of coffee beans with me everywhere I go, and make a habit of pulling over to the side of the road so I can grind them up and snort them, I’ll start to worry; until then I think I’m okay.
Gotta run. I have to hook-up with my friend – Juan Valdez.
Peace!
Bob Havey is a freelance writer and a consummate trouble-maker. You may reach him at rhh@bobhavey.com or visit his Facebook page at www.facebook.com/Bobfreelance.