It’s a beautiful day.
Around 3 pm now, and I am at the H Street lookout. It’s crowded. Too crowded for my liking. But most people don’t stick around too long. Just this man, standing close to me. His back is to me. He’s watching the dolphins hang ten on the Pacific waves.
But still.
He is too close. I feel like he can hear my thoughts. I’m practically screaming them onto the page. He can’t hear me. If he could, I would have already made him uncomfortable and he would have moved. He doesn’t even know I’m here.
He’s gone now. Most of the people are. Along with the heat of the SoCal sun, behind a cloud for a moment of November cool.
New groups of people just walked up.
A reminder that things are always changing. Bit by bit. Over time, individual efforts compound into a new state. It all seems so far away. But that is not true. Look how much has changed since the summer!
I started my new job. (For posterity, I will assume that God blesses America with freedom and I am able to keep my job in good faith, regardless of my vaccination status, which they do not know. — that last bit may be pushing it, but hey, an American can dream.)
I also started writing again. Only two-and-a-half weeks into my new writing routine, I feel good! — Well, I feel better. A lot better. I’m addicted to the pleasure, that’s promised only to increase with production.
And last but not least, I started taking Spanish lessons. (One post on NextDoor about wanting to learn Spanish turned into me finding a teacher and organizing six other women for weekly Spanish classes. We start this Wednesday.) I believe this class will be a life-changing medicine for my current mind, body, and soul. — Learning a new skill to spark my brain, and keep it lit. Meeting new people IRL (in real life) and sharing an experience. Practicing my conjugations instead of listening to politics. — It all seems so impossible now because it hasn’t happened yet. But just because it has not happened before does not mean it cannot happen.
Things are different now.
Keep calm and cha cha on.
You’re doing great.
I’m so proud of you.
