My mother, Small, sends her three kids a brief e-mail message (subject line only; nothing in the body) early every morning to let us know she’s still kicking. Frequently she announces that she is “Alive and Well”—or “A&W” when she’s in a rush. Today, however, it was “Alive and Bored.” Eleni concurs: “I am soooo f^!*%ing bored today,” she texted.
Me, I’m not bored at all. I mean, how could I be when my life is so thrilling? Just this morning, for example, I got in my car and drove it around to give it some exercise, which I think I’m supposed to do periodically. Elana, the only passenger I can have these days, joined me on this seven-mile adventure into the wilds of Berkeley. We got to marvel at sights beyond those of our tiny world: buildings and street signs and traffic lights to which I’d never given proper attention before.
No, I can’t say I’m bored because that’s not the right word for it. What would you call the state that’s well beyond boredom yet still before catatonia? Help me out here: Drizzle is to Hurricane as Boredom is to _______________?
Here are some things I’ve seen over the past day or two.
Even with the Bay Area’s strict coronavirus rules, meeting a friend in an outdoor setting is approved if you maintain the standard six-foot distance. Still, I’ve been hesitant to get together with people, though I don’t know why. I just want to do the Right Thing. As a result, when Anna paid a backyard visit this afternoon, she was only the second friend to have done so in fifty days. She made her way down the driveway and through the back gate and I met up with her there. Because we were far apart, we had to semi-shout sometimes, and repeat things constantly. But it was fun, and a pretty day.
Alrighty then. Hasta luego.
Ennui?
Suspended animation?
Butyour photos are great — and prove that you are taking time to smell the roses, as it were.
Pat your furry friend on the nose, for me (gauntleted!)
Eleni and Small: thank you for your attempts at words for advanced—nay, terminal—boredom, but both lack the sense of desperation and questionable sanity that are prominent attributes of this state.
Let’s make up a new word, then.
Beautiful Pictures!
I’m very happy to see Anna and you had a visit!
Sweet!
Batatonia!
LOL “Alive and Bored” sounds like a great title for a novel, though I don’t know how much it will sell.
I really liked our car ride – it felt so strange and fast-paced compared to what I’ve been used to these days!
I appreciate that Granny has developed an abbreviation for “alive & well”!
That’s fun about your driving adventure with La Elanaaaa.
WHO is that big beautiful cat? Was that in your backyard?!
Elana: I love “batatonia.”
Vicki: Hi!
Molly: The cat was just across the fence in K-and-P’s yard.