reprieve

Reprieve – Day 963

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Wild White Clouds on the Horizon – Photo: L.Weikel

Reprieve

I realize the heat wave we’ve endured here on the East Coast pales in comparison to the brutality sustained by the Pacific Northwest this week. Nevertheless, it was hard to focus on anything with it so hot. I’m glad for the reprieve.

The thunderstorms that rolled through our area last night were spectacular. Brilliant, jagged lightning split the air outside our front door and thunder followed so quickly, it was clear the storm was practically sitting on top of us. And then the rain just pelted us.

What I’ve disliked most about the recent heat wave is how walking became untenable. I need to take a walk. Desperately. So does Spartacus.

Fields, Forest, and Clouds – Photo: L. Weikel

Not Happening

Quite honestly, though, as a good puppy-Mommy, there was no way I was going to take him for a walk when he was flopping down on the porch and breathing heavily after being outside for five minutes. He didn’t even need to chase a toy to justify the flop.

And I knew exactly how he felt.

I’m ashamed to say it, but over the past four days I think I’ve averaged something like 0.28 miles per day. That’s appalling. But it looks like the weather over the next several days should be conducive to getting back out there and logging some miles. In fact, unless it’s a deluge, I’m even willing to walk between the raindrops, if that’s what it takes.

While I didn’t get a chance to walk today, I did have to make a quick grocery run. As I drove along a dirt road near my home, I couldn’t take my eyes off the massive, brilliant white clouds massing on the horizon. There was just so much activity in the sky, it was mesmerizing.

I’m craving my conversations with Nature. They help me keep my priorities straight and my attitude relatively upbeat. My walks, alas, are my primary inspiration and I’m lost without them.

From Afar – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-148)

Reprieve – Day 798

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Spartacus “I feel so much better” – Photo: L. Weikel

Reprieve

Ah. Do you feel it? A slight ripple of calm, an underlying current, a non-verbal sense of ease encouraging us to take a deep breath for the first time in as long as we can remember. What do we even call it? A reprieve?

Merriam Webster Dictionary gives us this salient definition:

Reprieve. (Noun) (…) 3. : a temporary respite (as from pain or trouble)

Yes, that’s a pretty accurate description of how I felt today. For whatever reason, pretty much from the moment I opened my eyes to right now as I write this, I felt as though the headlock of pain we’ve been forced into lately just dropped a way. For a time, at least. <<Poof>>

If I’m honest, there’s a voice inside that’s naively hoping this is the harbinger of a new day. That it’s more than a simple reprieve; that it’s a new era. Alas, while I may wish it were so, I nevertheless trust the words that come to me, particularly the words that come to me during this sacred time of the day when I set aside everything else and dedicate my attention to my 1111 Devotion.

The word that came was reprieve. And the operative part of the definition that caught my eye (which was also included each of the other resources I checked ), the part I want to ignore but feel constrained to instead highlight? The word temporary.

We’ll Take It

But you know what? Life’s too short to keep ourselves on tenterhooks. Not only is it exhausting to try to remain ever vigilant, it’s also a fool’s errand. It’s better to trust our intuition, grab some joy or peace or simple relief when we can, and give ourselves a chance to recharge our hope batteries.

Things are changing. They are on the precipice of getting better.

It’s possible we’ll still be faced with rage and violence this week from people who’ve been radicalized by DT. But I want to believe that today was an example of the winds of insurrection being hit with the doldrums. Perhaps, if we’re lucky, the wind will soon be permanently out of those sails.

Spartacus Concurs

And so I offer this photo of Spartacus from earlier today. I mentioned the other night that he was bouncing back quite nicely from the shocking appearance of ‘cherry eye,’ and this is my proof.

A little background on this photo: We received a video this morning of one of our ‘Grandcats’ (we have four) stalking and pouncing on an empty paper bag, which Karl and I kept playing over and over. (Yet more proof that we were feeling the playfulness and simple joy of this reprieve.) It felt so great just to laugh.

In the midst of our chuckling, Spartacus, feeling oh-so-much-better than he was feeling last week at this time, started prancing around in circles chasing one of his chew toys. Plopping it in front of me, the message was clear: this reprieve is for all of us to enjoy, Mommy.

Play with me; dirty paws and all.

(T-313)

Catch Our Breath – Day 772

Posted on by Lisa Weikel Leave a comment
Rays of… – Photo: L. Weikel

Catch Our Breath

We keep thinking we’ve reached our limit. Maybe I should speak for myself. I keep thinking we’ve reached our limit. In this season in which we’re encouraged to withdraw into the comfort and warmth of our homes and the company of our nearest and dearest, surely we’ll be given a reprieve. Surely we’ll receive a moment to catch our breath, a few days of calm and quiet reflection when we can simply allow ourselves to be.

2020 has been a year beyond measure. We’ve endured twelve months that have included at least four separate monumental societal events that each could have separately defined an era, much less a year. And yet here we are again.

The year we are bringing to a conclusion right now is merely the capstone to a four year period that has tested our mettle and forced us, time and time again, to trust. Trust in the rule of law. Trust in the integrity of those called to serve in the highest places of power within our government. Trust in the inherent goodness of people called to public service. Trust in the wisdom of our fellow Americans to use their power wisely and restore integrity and justice for all of us – but especially those most vulnerable among us.

Trust

I think that’s what’s been the hardest part about not only 2020 itself, but also this entire past four years. Our trust has sustained a mortal wound.

The question is whether we can come back from the brink of despair and heal ourselves and each other.

It’s funny. With the arrival of the solstice yesterday, I was reflecting upon how I spent the solstice last year. It was a far cry from a magical appearance of the Star of Bethlehem, as I experienced yesterday.

Instead, it was the beginning of a series of betrayals that broke my trust in several people I never expected would act in such a way.

But I guess that’s what we’ve all been learning this year, is it not? Who would ever have believed the extent of the breach of trust that all of us have sustained this past year, ranging from the President right down to our nearest and dearest, including those we see at the grocery store or go to church with on Sunday.

It’s something we all need to just stop, catch our breath, and have a good think about. Because this is unsustainable.

Half Moon – Photo: L. Weikel

(T-339)