Kelly DuMar

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#NewThisDay Writing From My Photo Stream

Excerpt from “Forsythia,” by Billie Collins

Spontaneously, I decided not to walk first thing. I wanted to beat the crowd at Home Depot. There was no crowd, because it was so cold and rainy. But I got my geraniums, a small lilac shrub (purple), six small azaleas. I was feeling fine and full of energy and cold, yes, but happy to be taking my time, doing something for my yard. It stayed cold and rainy, but I stayed outside working, potting my geraniums and returning to my raking and raking. I still felt fine, post-vaccine. But, after lunch, fell into a two hour nap that left me feeling exhausted. I decided to try a raking cure. It was not raining. And I wanted to make more progress, so I took my stomach ache and tiredness outdoors and I did feel better, clearing the leaves and dead grass from plants that I look forward to growing in soon. This was very heartening, and I never took a walk, an intentional one, but being outdoors a good chunk of the day, moving around, off the computer, it was a fine celebration of the vaccine. The forsythia are wildly blooming, and rain washed and cheerful. How amazing it is, to have this vaccine in me. I feel so grateful. I know I’ll feel rested and well in the morning for my busy day of churning spiring.