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I have plans for the day. My laptop, Pearl, has been neglected this past winter; I did not fire her up even once. I credit the situation to the icy conditions that dominated the world beyond my four walls. Walks were a treacherous affair and so avoided, reducing the demand for portable computing to zero. So Pearl lay waiting for attention all those long months, for being old and slow, she could not compete with the more recent technology of Marjory the desktop wonder. However, the sidewalks are clear of winter's treachery and walkabouts are not only practical but appealing as well. Although some might envy not having to commute to a workplace daily, there are definite disadvantages to working at home. Being relatively shy, I can say that isolation looms large. Constant vigilance is needed to remain in contact with people. It would be a mistake to underestimate the power of disconnection to disrupt one's peace of mind. The simplest method of coming into contact with people is to shop. I had not noticed the power of shopping through the many years when I commuted daily to an office. What I have discovered is this; that when you appear at an establishment to shop, you are made welcome. There are not many circumstances in life where one is consistently made welcome. One can join groups of course, but I find jockeying for a position in inflated hierarchies unpleasant. The local library holds out promise, I visit frequently. There are drawbacks to spending a lot of time at the library. I have become disenchanted by the some of the "public" that frequent the aisles. In Ontario, many mentally ill people have been granted the "gift" of freedom and the opportunity to administer their own care and their own medication. Unfortunately, some are unable to exercise this "freedom" effectively. In my heart, I can not place the blame on them. Suffering from isolation, and seeking a sense of connection, they gravitate to areas where there are people, where their admittance is assured. The public library is just such a place. Hats off to librarians, who remain kind for the most part. Thumbs down to those Canadian politicians who move us towards criminalizing loneliness and disadvantage and thank goodness, these politicians do not frequent my local library. One can only stretch tolerance so far. Another opportunity to place oneself amongst other bipeds is the Coffee Shop. These establishments pepper our landscape and one need not travel far to find one. They offer a seat, a stimulating substance, and company of sorts. Some places allow an individual to perch for hours at a small table, watching the foot traffic, and reading the paper. One of the most positive aspects of the Coffee Shop is that your fellow sippers could be anyone. Over the years, I have sat next to a variety of individuals who ranged from a homeless woman to Ben Wicks, different days at the same coffee shop. Neither of these people struck up a conversation with me, both maintained their privacy and were lost in their private thoughts. We were together, doing the same thing, at the same time by mutual agreement. A wealth of experience, individuality, and commonality, held in mutual geography, without the need for formal relationships and definitions. Inclusion by right of humanity is a wonderful experience and a true indicator of civilization. Today I will take Pearl out for spin at a local Coffee Shop, and we shall see what we shall see. |
RECIPES :: Cast Worldly Distractions  Pointing in the right direction. By the Easy Chair The Women's Chronology: A Year-By-Year Record, From Prehistory To The Present (1994) by James Trager Quote "A saying about Saxon was that you could do anything there, as long as you wore spotless white gloves. But because the gloves must remain clean and white, there was very little you could do." Meridian by Alice Walker (1976) Weather 13:57 EST Temp: 1`C Humidity: 93% Wind: E 26 km/h Barometric:100.9 kPa Sunrise 6:05 AM EST Sunset 6:51 PM EST |
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