Despite my drum-tight belly full of leftovers, I forced my plaid fleece pajama-clad butt out the door. With an hour left of daylight, I knew my window was closing, and hurried into the warm winter air.
Not even a thousand steps in, and unprompted writing ideas flew in. Excessive litter, to the level of a post-stadium show, had me holding an imaginary pointy-ended stick, pick, pick, picking up the cardboard and paper and sliding it into my black garbage bag.
Done with that idea, I noted the makers of the bottles and cans: White Claw, Bud Light, Busch, and Jameson. It’s a race to see which brand takes up the most real estate. Ding, ding, ding. We have a winner. For the cans, it’s Busch. For the bottles, it’s Jameson. I started a marketing campaign, to hold those companies liable for the trash. Maybe keep count of every bottle that goes out and find the buyer and company for not returning them.
I remember when in Costa Rica the financial incentive to return a bottle was similar to getting a nice tax refund. You didn’t not take the bottle to get that money back.
The yuckily full feeling passed. Perhaps getting out of my head and putting thoughts to paper, moving my body, and being a part of the world was exactly what I needed. It’s dusk, and house lights and headlights are coming on. Right as I pepped up my step, two extra-large birds flew side by side. Two bald eagles, another thing I’d have missed had I stayed home.
Even with the light rain falling, it’s uncharacteristically warm. Oooh, those eagles must be perched in an evergreen tree. By the time I pulled up the voice recorder, they’d stopped. I love their high-pitched squeals.
So much is happening! To my right is Lake Tapps, and in a scan of it, I saw ripples made by two birds landing. My first thought was snow geese, but the long thin necks gave them away. Since it’s the first sighting of my second favorite bird, swans, I’ll take a moment to whittle another notch on my “seen it” list.
Time to focus. I need a brisker pace if I’m going to make it home before dark.
With an elbow-to-fingertip length of asphalt to walk on and the denser treed back road, I’m feeling less safe. With five cars coming at me at a time, I’m pushed to the ditch’s slope, my ankles turn, and my muscles burn. But if someone does get too close, I have a swan dive move I’ve been imagining.
Five miles, and my shins and knee, and an overall stiffness are the damage. Perhaps I’ll risk it and go to the YMCA’s sauna. Since the hot tub’s been out of order, the sauna’s packed with people like sardines.
Starting the day, I had 14 progress notes, and now I’m down to six. I better get to it.
I hope you had a lovely day. I’ll see you soon. Love, Jaclynn
Here’s the Dad Joke for the weekend:
Going On 40 