Still Just a Rat in a Cage...

The Rat Wants Out” by donjd2
Licensed under CC BY 2.0

I am really not a fan of Smashing Pumpkins, but their song "Bullet with Butterfly Wings" comes to mind on this, the fortyteenth day of quarantine, in Marpril. The lyric "Despite all my rage, I am still just a rat in a cage" is completely apropos.

The first week wasn't bad at all. We had a massive yard project and it was warm and sunny. We ended each day too tired to move and no interest in the news. Just some BritBox streaming and sleeves of Oreos.



The second week brought gray drizzle and made for too many hours of screen time. Not healthy for one's psyche! This third year of the week is proving to be as rewarding as last week. Last night, I actually dreamed that our house was inside a goldfish bowl.

Since November 2016, I have avoided all news and opted for cat videos instead. My Reddit time has been my sanity break. (By the way, the ios app - Apollo is the best way to browse Reddit.  Go download it now...I'll wait.) Much to my regret, I have started to consume news again and frankly, it is giving me wicked indigestion.

"Stay home, stay safe" is not years in an attic with six other people fearing for our lives, it is not a bamboo cage in a jungle for 5 years fighting for one's life, it is not a chain link pen on a concrete floor in a warehouse with no family or hope, and it is not a 4x6 cell with no interaction and no way out.

Quarantine means remaining close to dear King Rat in a warm, cozy home with food in the pantry, crafts in the closet, books on the Kindle, and access to the great outdoors for recharging human batteries.  The rage and cage are self-imposed to a great extent. Time to refocus on all that is good and wonderful and give heartfelt thanks.