Still Down

Fortunately, today my calendar is light, my hours shifted down so I can be on the reference desk in the evening. I am glad for some extra time to deal with my internal issues. I email work and let them know that I will only come in for the reference shift in the evening. Hopefully by then I will be able to handle at least that part.

I make myself move about, knowing that to lie still will not help. Sugar and I take a long and slow amble around the complex. The weather is warm, almost springlike. Ah, January thaw. I have always loved that season. A cruel joke to someone from the south who is tricked into thinking that warm weather is just around the corner, who does not know that the real winter has yet to begin, despite the days of snow and cold so far.

I gaze up at the row of icicles dangling from the roofs of all the buildings. Some buildings must have less insulation under their shingles because their icicles stretch clear down to the ground below, the water cascading two full stories in its vain attempt to run from the sun, locked in place until the sun releases it to dissipate into the ground.

Sugar stops to sniff around, licking the snow tentatively. The icicle above the porch we are standing near has drooled onto the bushes beside the door, entrapping them in an immovable glass cage. It looks fragile, but a little kick proves the iron will of the ice. Beautiful and deadly.

How like life! One moment you are fine and elbow deep in the things you love to do, the next you are rendered immovable by some unexpected force over which you have no control. Well, I know the ice maker ice breaker. I can feel my cage melting. Soon I will be free to pursue the things I should.

Meanwhile, its getting chilly out here. Think I will get back inside so I will be ready for tonight's reference shift.