Today begins the ordinary days. Those between the beginning of winter set of holidays and the beginning of spring set of holidays. Today normality sets in. Whatever that is.
The trips are over. It seems that between late November and this weekend that we added a few thousand miles on the car. Maybe it seems that way because we did. If I recall correctly there were about four round trips to northwestern Pennsylvania during that period. At about 300 miles one way that's . . . let's see . . . yes that's almost a few thousand.
The tree is up still. But that will make its way into mulch during the week. And the ornaments on the tree will be packaged away. As well as those spread around the house and the lights and candles there to remind us to be of good cheer during this time of darkness and long nights.
The weekdays will be full of working hours instead of broken up by days off. At least for the next two weeks. Then we celebrate the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr. and the hope of Barrack Obama with two consecutive days off. Back to work means the roads and mass transit system will be full again.
Ordinary is good. Too much out-of-the-ordinary would be too chaotic for most people. Change is constant. Ordinary in a strange kind of way. But chaos - change gone amok - would be a bit stressful if it were constant too. The chaos will come eventually. It always does. But I'll take the ordinary for now.
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About Me
- Mark Gorman
- I was born in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, along the banks of the Susquehanna River, in the valley made up by Bald Eagle Mountain to the south, and gentle hills and valleys to the north. That place that sheltered me, gave me food and friends, and both physical and spiritual nourishment for 18 years. That is the space where I was physically and emotionally formed. Ever since growing up there . . . because of growing up there . . . I have been inexorably linked to nature . . . to the earth and to all life.