Now that the snow is melting before the next big system
blows in… a moment to reflect. At +16 degrees, the day was 25 degrees warmer
than on Monday. I waited at a stoplight when another consumer from the
grocery store spoke. “At least we can breathe the air, loosen our scarves.”
“And I ate everything in the house,” I added. “Let me open
this can of green beans that I bought in the summer.”
“I was eating dry cereal,” she smiled. “Dog biscuits were
looking good too.”
A person has to like herself to tolerate a Chicago winter
living alone. But I like my characters and wrote 200 pages, so the time was
well spent. The confinement and sensory deprivation actually helped with
developing fresh scenes in Book V of the Dolvia Saga. Juggling the many
characters and deciding their fates was a great puzzle (glass bead game) for
the dark winter months.
I’m almost sorry to return to teaching where I read student
papers instead of reading the newest free fantasy release on Kindle.
When schools were closed for two days, students who
started online classes celebrated their choices for avoiding the expressway and
posting on DBs from the warmth of the living room.
I live in an integrated society. I’m glad for the work and
for my avocation.
