Well this has been a good swift kick in the reality jewels, hasn't it? Starting in mid-March, sports of any and all kinds ceased to exist, employment and jobs were either halted or moved to sporadic hours of operation and social distancing became the trademark of 2020 - despite being only 2 1/2 months old.
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| At Lake Katharine Nature Preserve |
Running was still an option, though every planned race was cancelled or postponed for the foreseeable future. The second race of L's trail series was cancelled, the Kill the Hill 10 Miler in my hometown of Chillicothe was cancelled, the Choo-Choo 9-miler turned into a virtual race, The Buck Fifty was postponed till late July, April's OhioHealth Cap City Half Marathon was moved to August, June's AEP Ohio Columbus 10K was forwarded to September, the Athens Half Marathon was postponed for a year and those were just the events we had planned to take part in.
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| Whiskey & Jameson |
The school L works for had her doing virtual classes at home and I went into the library a few hours a couple of times a week for general in-house duties, but for the most part was relegated to chilling out at home. It was like an extended apocalypse-like spring break. Remember those summers as a kid where the days lasted forever and time seemed to slow down because you had nowhere to go or had to be anywhere - yeah, it was like that. I'm all for nostalgia, but it began to get old rather quick.
We started passing the time by preparing our garden, encouraging our basement seedlings and watching the backyard hops awaken from their winter slumber. Along the way we rediscovered our kitchen and began baking more breads and foods we would normally purchase.
We paid a bit more attention to one another and our friends & family. Still distancing ourselves, our extended family kept everyone in touch using Marco Polo - a video messaging and video hosting service mobile app. Oh, and the cat kids - Whiskey & Jameson - were happy to have at least one human home at all times.
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One of the surprising cool things taking place during this time was the ability for breweries to offer online ordering and deliver or ship their beer across the state. Since they couldn't be open for physical customers, they could still stay afloat (for however much they could) by catering to those around, and well beyond, their neighborhood. Still, though, many had to furlough way too many employees (like many businesses had to) as we awaited for the epidemic to subside and a few simply had to shut their doors - unsure if they will ever reopen.
To help pass the time, L and I have taken a few day trips for running and exploring. These included nearby Emily Traphagen Park, Lake Katharine Nature Preserve near where I grew up in Jackson, Ohio and a visit to the Kokosing Gap Trail to run the portion from Howard to Gambier and back.
All in all we are handling this by not freaking out and avoiding the doom & gloom that seems to be seeping from the crevices occupied by the same folks who wigged out when Y2K was supposed to be a thing. This, though, IS A THING, so be smart and try to relax.
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| Along the Kokosing Gap Trail |
All in all we are handling this by not freaking out and avoiding the doom & gloom that seems to be seeping from the crevices occupied by the same folks who wigged out when Y2K was supposed to be a thing. This, though, IS A THING, so be smart and try to relax.
Yes, this is a seriously silly time for all of us and shouldn't be taken lightly, but rather in stride as best we can. They say good things come to those who wait, so I guess that means better times will evolve as we try to remember how things were before all of this craziness. Sure, there will be items that stick with us - but they will eventually become interesting speed bumps of our past and stories our kids & grandkids will get to hear.
For now though, we need to support one another and - as best we can - keep our heads above the brine....
For now though, we need to support one another and - as best we can - keep our heads above the brine....
Oh, young love of mine
She sleeps beneath the brine
And oh the sound, the tick
The weighty click of her heart against my spine
Now the dark is nigh
And she lays here at my side
But like a steady squall
Her arms they fall and her legs, they grasp me tight
Oh, young love, young dear
Why have you taken me in your fall?
All of my love, all of my life
Given to you, sacrificed
Oh my waking world
I leave you for a girl
Cast away into this blight
Swimming blindly through the night
Now my heart is bound
Like a plague upon this sound
And oh, it slips away, such soft decay
Then it grows
Oh, young love, young dear
Why have you taken me from the fall?
All of my love, and all of my life
Given to you, sacrificed
Stay clear of the wreckage
She goes down, down, down
And she burns like the sun
And it all falls away
Take your time and I'll take mine here today
But it cuts like a knife
And we're bound here as the night, it breaks away
And it all goes down
Oh, the sun!
Oh, young love, young dear
Why have you shaken me from the fall?
All of my life, all of my days
Given to you, cast away
Here's to the war
Here's to the night
All of my love, sacrificed
Soft and kind
Cold as ice
Hold yourself beneath the brine
Smooth as wine
Black as night
Hold yourself beneath the brine
Photos
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| Jameson, waiting for something to fall from the dinner table. |
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| Whiskey & Jameson, window shopping for squirrels and birds. |
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| Along the floodwall in Chillicothe, part of the Kill the Hill 10 Miler route that wasn't |
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| Old narrow Gauge rail remnants at Lake Katharine |
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| Old narrow gauge rail remnants at Lake Katharine |
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| T-Rex rock at Lake Katharine |
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| L, again, at Lake Katharine |
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| L at Lake Katharine |
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| Beer delivery from Listermann Brewing Company |
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| A pit stop while visiting Lake Katharine, Sixth Sense Brewing. |
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| My backyard hops |
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| Beer delivery from Urban Artifact |
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| Kokosing Gap Trail in Howard, Ohio |
No the rocks aren't moving, it's the water flow reflection.
Lake Katharine Nature Preserve.
Lake Katharine Nature Preserve.
