May 21, 2020 … Thursday 8:30 pm
I’m a numbers gal. Today is Day 23,011 in my life – not in Covid quarantining – though it does feel one and the same. You do the math.
I sure know how to celebrate a birthday. I went and got a Covid test and then got fried chicken at the gas station. Who says I don’t know how to party? Or that this island doesn’t have fun things to do/places to eat?
Actually, the chicken at Naomi’s is fabulous! Just fyi. Better than many restaurants here. Yeah, I know … sounds pathetic. Next year’s celebration will be better. The bar has been set pretty low!
The town had free testing … thought it was my “civic duty” to subject myself to the almighty Q-tip. It was nothing. Why do people make such a big damn deal about things? It took all of 10 seconds (maybe 8) and I was on my way home. I waited in line for 2 hours but the test itself was nothing.
I have a fur baby here today. It’s nice to have a little bundle to talk to – I’m kind of tired of talking to myself! We have three days of doggie bliss ahead of us.
I’ve been walking the cliff lately … that sounds much more Heathcliff-like than it is. And I’m not actually on the cliff/no little footpath in the meadow with the raging seas below me. I’m on a road … houses on either side of me – but the sea beyond. It’s a beautiful, peaceful walk. There is very little traffic because the road dead ends … it used to go through but the road and someone’s front yard fell into the sea during some storm years ago.
It rained off and on all day today … and I’m not sure we got above 50 degrees – so, rather cool/wet. But, the skies cleared in time for an evening stroll. I was going to take the dog but it took us 20 minutes to get past my neighbor’s and well, that wasn’t working … so, back in the house went little doggy and I went on my way.
There are 20 houses along the cliff from the end of my street to the dead end along the bluff. Width-wise some of these houses have about 30 feet of lot … others have almost a football field in size with a main house and a garage and one or two separate other buildings … an art studio or yoga room … a family house … an office. I know one little place is a rental (with a killer view). Some of the homes are hidden behind tall wooden gates and when the gates are open I peek inside … and most of the time determine that they are better off with the gates closed!
Most of the homes are sizable beauties, woodsy in nature and nestled amongst the madronas and cedars. The azaleas and rhodies are in bloom everywhere. Some lawns are manicured like golf courses … others, well – not so much. One or two of the houses are mere cabins – and it’s likely no one has touched them up since being built – probably 50 some years ago. But, if anyone was giving one of those properties away, I’d gladly take it off their hands! The views out over the water/past town and to the west off to the left and the mainland and the mountains off to the right are beyond stunning.
I am a numbers gal. Tonight I counted 4 rabbits and a little bunny, 1 cat, 2 dogs, 5 deer and lots and lots of birds.
The other night (I’m trying to make this a nightly thing) I walked down to almost the end – there is an empty lot that does crash down to the sea before the end of the road. So, I was sitting at the edge of the meadow/almost on the road just taking in the view … wispy gray clouds scuttled overhead … the sun was setting and it shone like glitter on the water … the mountains (the Cascade Range) rose up, in the distance, on the mainland … so many perfectly peaked, white-capped volcanoes … foreboding but beautiful. Camano – the island across the water from us – looked lush and green with a few house window panes sparkling – reflecting the lowering sun. It really is beautiful here.
I was sitting watching the swallows flit (they move like bats) over the grasses of this little cliffside meadow … they were so fast! I heard a woodpecker off behind me … heard some robins peeping … other birdcalls (which I don’t know) resounded … and then I heard the flapping. I heard him before I saw him … a bald eagle … swooped up from the sea and twirled over the meadow and me before heading back west. His wings flapped a few times and I wondered how heavy he was. A big bird … with such a tiny little voice. I watched him as he flew along the line of the sun on the water … it reminded me of the ending scene in Jurassic Park when the pelicans are flying low.
I ambled home – glad I can finally make it down to the end of the road again. It’s been a few years of foot/ankle/knee problems where I haven’t been able to walk that far (and it’s not really THAT far) … but since we are in this Covid shutdown – I have to do whatever I can do to exercise this knee (tear/arthritis/sliding knee cap) because PT and the pool are not open. So I am walking. And it’s nice that I finally can.
Tonight’s walk held no eagle sightings though I know there are two eagle pairs and that they have nests along the bluff. No eaglets out flying either. Maybe earlier in the day.
I was going to sit out on my deck steps, one of my favorite places to sit, and read for a bit but it’s just too chilly. I love listening to the birds chirp their good-nights. The robins are always last. Peep peep. And I say goodnight to them all and tell them to be cozy in their nests and to have a peaceful and sound rest. Sometimes if I sit long enough I’ll hear the owl’s first hoo-hoo of the night. That’s always so lovely. Sometimes I talk to him – sometimes he (or she) answers back. That is always a (dare I say?) … hoot! It’s still light out – we are now closing in on about 9:30 before it’s dark out. Mid-summer it’ll be an hour later. I love that about the NW in the summer. So much light … but just wish it was warmer. Right now 50 degrees is not cutting it for me! But, it will come … at least a little warmer. I just need to be patient.
The sun is down but the sky is still light … puffy gray clouds move fast as I look out my window … I can see the edge of night off to the east. Time to go read.
I’m a numbers gal … what will I be doing when I turn 25,000 days? I hope it’s somewhere as beautiful and peaceful as here … but hopefully it won’t include a nasal swab or chicken from a gas station!