Christopher Donahue

despite the  virus

we all try to live our lives

how long they might be

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

The other night I heard the distant, lonely clanging of a train’s bell as commuter train pulled into the local station. It was late a weekday evening and the house was quiet. I forget which evening it was because the days all run together working from home. The house was quite with everyone except me asleep. I was siting in an overstuffed chair in our sun room. A pool of light from the reading lamp encircled me as I paused from writing in my journal.

I closed my eyes and imagined the train pulling into the station completely empty. The late train usually didn’t have a lot of riders to begin with, but during the pandemic, and late in the evening, I’m certain ridership was zero. The very fact I could hear that faint bell from far off, and through closed windows, spoke to how quiet my local world had become in the past few weeks thanks to COVID-19.

Thus far, no one we know has the virus and we aren’t in a financial crisis from it, so the threat seems distant, far away.

Like the clanging of a distant train bell…

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

March I say to you

one day after another

until spring arrives

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

When I pet my cats

after eating a banana

Quiet Rustle and Felix

recoil from the

slight banana smell

on my fingers

they scrunch their noses

and squint their eyes

then dart away

from the noxious fumes

which is why

I pet them good bye

each day

before I put on

aftershave

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

January is drawing to a close.  The novelty of the New Year fades with each passing day.   I look out the window and see  typical weather for this time of year: cold, grey, drizzle.  There are days in January it seems the sun never comes up and this appears to be one of them. The cold rain is less of a hassle than snow, but it’s still a better day for staying home and reading a book with my cats than heading out to work.

I remind myself better days are ahead.  A month of winter is already gone and spring can’t be far behind!

All bundled up against the dank weather, I pause before leaving the house. Unfortunately, I notice the calendar hanging on the wall and the somber fact there are two months of winter to go! Oh well. What can I do?

My cats Quiet Rustle and Felix watch me get ready to go. And, as I look into their inscrutable feline eyes before turning to leave, I know what they were thinking:

You are making a terrible mistake!

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

This year I decided  my New Year’s resolution would be a process instead of a goal.

Instead of saying I was going to stop/start something when the ball dropped on New Year’s Eve, my resolution this year is to keep trying to reach my goals until I achieve them!

Whether it is losing weight, exercising in the morning, writing a novel in my spare time, or just being more positive, it’s important that I not get discouraged by setbacks and keep persevering to get where I want to be.  And this resolution to keep trying has been very liberating. Instead of a setback being a defeat,  the setback is part of the process and I am moving toward my goal. Instead of feeling like a loser, I feel successful and more motivated to get after those goals!

Another part of my resolution is that I’ll take stock of things in December and see how I’ve done. It is going to be a great year!

It has only been a few weeks, but this far, this is my best New Year’s Resolution ever!!!

copyright 2020 Christopher Donahue

chilly starry night
festively lit Christmas trees
Santa on his way

copyright 2019 Christopher Donahue

There are few things that make me feel happier than feeding the birds in the cold weather.  I like to go out early each frosty morning and spread some bird seed along the ground in our dormant garden for my little feathered friends. Often in the early dark, there are a few birds waiting for me to come out and start slinging bird seed. These few little birds aren’t afraid as I approach and put the seed down. I imagine their lack of fear is caused by desperation. Perhaps, they are barely staying alive in the harsh weather and breakfast that morning will be the difference between surviving or not.

Then again,  these early birds might be regulars who  recognize me as the breakfast guy  in my bathrobe, sweatpants, untied snow boots and orange knit cap. Not to mention groggy countenance and coffee breath. Regardless, it makes me feel good to help out.  Feeding the birds might be a little thing but I’m happy to do it.

And that reminds me of my human friends and family. The holidays can be challenging for anyone. It occurs to me there are friends and family I haven’t heard from in a while who I know have a tough time during the holidays.  Maybe they are dealing with loneliness or substance abuse or something else. I certainly can’t solve those problems for them. But a little bit of kindness and friendship is never wasted.

Maybe I should take them out for breakfast?

On me!

copyright 2019 Christopher Donahue

friends family fun feast

so much to give thanksgiving

after dinner nap 

copyright 2019 Christopher Donahue