Positive tests, positive vibes

Is it too early to begin the countdown to summer?

I was struck down in a thundering rage of covid this week. The pink line on the rapid test appeared quicker than a cold sore after a cheap date. 

If I’m honest, it was more of a light breeze than a thundering rage. My double-vaxxed symptoms consisted of a runny nose, some light coughing, and watering eyes. I’ve had paper cuts with more venom in them than this virus. But hey, that’s science for you. 

A week spent inside means a week out of reach of writing material so the fingers feel stale on the keyboard tonight. Hours upon hours of Zoom calls from the bedroom desk talking nonsense about marketing and technology and all that other 9-5 hoopla can make the creative vein hard to find. But like a desperate gold miner with a busted hat and a slither of hope in his eyes, I’ll swing that pickaxe one more time just in case. 

This cold Philly winter has me daydreaming about our year in the Caribbean. 

Our house on the hill had wall-to-wall French doors on the upper floor, providing panoramic views of the Christiansted bay. The desk where I worked looked out upon the turquoise waters and the sun beamed into the house like a proud parent, so much so that by 10:00 am I was reapplying SPF100 to prevent my face peeling at lunchtime. 

Those warm days feel foreign to me now. February in the Northeast has a tendency to wear you down like that. The gray and miserable weather consumes your psyche. Summer and its boastful energy remain a distant hope, and spring, if you ever get one, still feels painfully out of reach. 

The months before February aren’t all that bad. October through December are brisk but festive and fun. The low temperatures can even be a welcome change. And you embrace it with fall fashion, hot chocolate, cozy dinners, and holidays to boot.

Then January kicks off with that new year energy. Goals and intentions get set and you march into the young year with fervor.

But February? Yeesh. It lands with the enthusiasm of a deflated balloon.

The only plus side to February is that it’s short. Julius Cesar granted us that tiny bit of mercy when he laid out his 12-month calendar in 46 BC (thank you, Wikipedia). Bless his silk socks and fine white robe. 

And thankfully, we’re already halfway through. We’re now on the homeward stretch into March, which means we’re closer to April… and May… and June.

That’s the positive side of things. 

As for the negative? I’ll let you know when this next test result comes in.