February 5, 2017 — North Central Florida
A nippy morning, a warm afternoon, a sunny spring-like day. I wanted to take a photo but didn’t. I wanted to take a walk but couldn’t. The day started with a quick trip for groceries and an annoyed review of a phone manual to solve a mute problem I failed to solve. Not an auspicious start to my day. Off to work. At my first office, I shifted from place to place, avoiding the cleaning crew who were just as annoyed with me as I was with them. Second office was quiet, at first, but problems were abundant. Researching, comparing, solving — one confusing issue after another. Then my client and his brother, an employee, arrived, joining me in the one-room office. Too close, too many. The brother was working, a novelty for him on a Sunday. He seemed delighted. My client was planning an exotic vacation, while I worked for the 42nd day in a row. Maybe not 42 days at his business, but 42 days, nonetheless. I listened to music on my headphones, and still, I heard him booking a hotel that cost more for one week than my house costs in a year. I heard him discussing the beaches, cruises, horseback riding, surfing, scuba-diving. My back hurt, my neck ached, my eyes burned, my carpal-tunnel screamed. I left. Amazingly, before dark. How often does that happen this time of year? I stopped to order take-out and enjoyed a drink at the bar while I waited. I really enjoyed that drink. It was quiet — the evening crowd at least 30 minutes away. The drink was strong and damn good. 2017 is already a burden I don’t want to bear — because of work, because of our government, because of the world, because of fear, stupidity, hate, lies, alternative facts, and all the other insanity that rips at my heart and shatters our society. I finished my drink and drove home. Tomorrow it starts again. Further and further I go down the rabbit hole.
