“Some old-fashioned things like fresh air and sunshine are hard to beat.”
~ Laura Ingalls Wilder
I wake with a headache that’s been hanging on for days. Our air quality continues to be, by far, the worst in the province. Oh, how I miss the sunshine.
It’s reached the gloomy point where it feels as if we have been living under this oppressive smoke forever; sunny days are a distant memory.
One of Gerry’s Tuesday morning coffee cronies remarked yesterday that he is depressed. I expect he is not alone as these gray and dark days of putrid air drag on. How can our moods not be affected?
I’m thinking about stories–unsure whether I’ve read them or imagined them–about what it’s like to live without sunshine.
I check the weather forecast and it mocks me with an endless string of hot and sunny days–the kind days we expect at this time of year, the kind of days I love, but that this year are made something different by the smoke.
I go into the archives and choose a photo I took last year at this time when sunshine was plentiful. It comforts me. It makes me sad at the same time.
Working hard to stay on the sunny side.
Love your photography, Linda!
Thank you, Debby!
It makes me anxious just thinking about all those days with no sunshine. I don’t do well with cloudy days. Hoping the smoke lifts soon.
Oh me too, Karen. First I hope the fire situation gets under control. I know I really shouldn’t complain when I still have a home and I am able to remain in my home. The smoke is so wearing though.
Even in Vancouver and Victoria we experienced hazy days with eerie sunrises and a lurid moon. Prayers ascend for firefighters to get the blaze under control, leading to clearer days. You are making the best of a very difficult situation, Linda.
I wondered how it was for you on the coast, Marian. Hope it didn’t mar, too much, the beauty of the area for you.
It’s all encompassing, creating a prison of sorts. The outer concern, of more fires, unidentified because of the cover. Life feels uncertain. So concerning, and yet causing us to appreciate what we had before! Good post!!
Your words describe it exactly, Carmen. Won’t it be wonderful when the sun finally shines again!
I cannot even imagine how awful it has been for you Linda! It has been so long that the air quality has been bad there. I would expect that many people are beginning to feel depressed. Can you imagine how it must be for the poor people living in large cities like Delhi, Singapore or Tokyo where the air quality is often bad. I guess the positive thing is that we know it will improve and the sun will shine again.- not like it must be for those folks who seldom see the sun.
I simply can’t imagine what it would be like to live u dear a cloud of pollution on a regular basis, Ruth. You’re right: this is a temporary state for us, and for that I am immensely thankful.
I’m with ya, Linda. I woke up today with a long list of outdoor chores after being out of town for six day, I opened up the door…and closed it again quickly. It is starting to wear on me as well. Rach and I went to the library today and stocked up. That’s the best escape route for now, a good book! Let me know if you want to rendezvous at a coffee shop one day and we’ll pretend we’re at a sunny cafe along a cobblestone street of a for a a couple of hours. 🙂
Tamara, I agree. An upside to this smoke is that I’ve had more time to read, which is always a blessing. And yes! Was just thinking about getting together with you (love the idea of pretending we’re in a sunny cafe along a cobblestone street!) Will connect with you and set something up.