I don't even know

Not long ago, I had a 33-game Wordle win streak in progress, and then I lost it just like that because I started a Wordle, set it aside for a bit, and never got around to finishing it. I usually do the Wordle first thing in the morning but I did it later in the day that day, and was interrupted, and then forgot all about it. I’m a creature of habit. 

Last night, I woke at 3 or so for my regularly scheduled small hours anxiety attack. I thought for a moment that I had broken my daily writing streak, which I’ve maintained without interruption for over four years. Then I remembered that I had actually written something. It was a thing about a book, and I’m setting it aside just like a half-finished Wordle. Thank God I’m not a professional book reviewer because it usually takes me a month to finish writing a post about a book. And I’d be a terrible book reviewer anyway because no one wants a review of a book that was published decades ago. 

Well that’s not true. I’d LOVE to read reviews of decades-old books. And I would be perfectly qualified to write such a review because I could take all the time in the world. After all, there wouldn't be a tight deadline for a review of a book that everyone has already read. Yes I think I have my next career idea. I should have thought of this years ago. 

It's Thursday now. My new Wordle streak is three days in and my writing streak continues. I don't remember exactly when this streak began but I do know that over a year ago, I was able to trace it back over three years so that’s how I know that it's over four years now, so maybe 1400 days, give or take. That's a long time to do anything every single day. 

*****

It was raining when I left work. And by rain, I don't mean a downpour nor a thunderstorm, which would be typical for a hot, humid July day. When I went out at lunchtime, the atmosphere felt volatile, like the sky could just open up at any moment. Instead, the afternoon continued peaceful and calm and the rain, when it finally came, was a soft and steady ozoney sun shower. Nothing else smells like ozone during a summer rain shower on a very hot day. We miss a lot of nature in our overly built and finished urban and suburban spaces but we get to smell the ozone as a light summer rain falls on the hot asphalt and a rainbow appears. I love nature as much as the next person but I love the smell of ozone during a summer rain shower even more. 

*****

Do you see what I’m doing? Maybe it’s not so obvious to you, so let me tell you what I’m doing. I’m writing my way out of writing something. Does that sound like a thing that a smart person would do? Does that sound like a sane and reasonable way to spend one’s time? 

Don’t answer those questions because they are rhetorical and I already know the answer anyway. But that’s how I write something, by spending a week or more writing nothing until something emerges. Nothing is easy, I tell you what. 

Anyway, it’s 5:30 on Friday afternoon now and I swear to you that I just heard the words “someone shave my back” coming from my hall bathroom and I’m afraid of what awaits me after the six teenage boys who are in that bathroom shaving their arms and legs and chests and backs vacate the premises. 

Oh, I’m glad you asked because that is a question I CAN answer. The division championship is tomorrow morning, and these boys are all convinced that they’ll swim faster if they shave their bodies. Other words I just heard: “Check the back of my leg. I’m not going to be the reason why we’re .01 off the record.” 

Yes, they’re going for a record. Their medley relay team has been unstoppable this year and they have a very good shot at a team and pool record. A league record, though unlikely, is not out of reach. 

*****

So I’ll keep plodding along with my daily writing and my almost-daily Wordle because no hair removal is necessary for those activities. One of the boys just popped his head out and called to me “Don’t worry, Mrs. P. We’re cleaning this up as we go along.” Sure they are. I don’t even want to look.