Isolated

No! You're not. None of us can claim to always be on top of our game. What we need is someone to remind us that we matter, quite often the same person whose brutal honesty leads to phone's being flushed - on purpose and deleting every single person on your contact list.

This type of over-reaction to the little things is not normal, never-mind being expensive and somewhat heartbreaking.

Just like holding your phone, and praying for a call is not exactly healthy. Covid's gone, so why have we, as a society not bounced back?

The new normal?

To quote T.S. ELIOT, The Waste Land, 1922:

"I will show you fear in a handful of dust."

This is a good time to maybe reflect on everything we SURVIVED!

Not all will remember how carefree the 80's were. Where we lived in a world (to us) yet unmarked by tragedy. A world we felt belonged to us. Maybe that was this generations first mistake. Taking for granted what was a blessing. Cause life is a blessing, one which we did not fully appreciate.

As the older generation tut-tutted, and frowned at our reckless behavior. We felt alive! We were scintillating creatures and the world revolved around us - second mistake.

We had to lose our best and brightest to a baffling disease called AIDS, but that was one plague those of us still in our preteens could push to the back of our minds. It's not as if we had lost lovers, wives/ husbands or immediate friends. Still, a little fear crept into our minds. Lying in wait for us to "bloom".

Meanwhile, someone had unlatched the attic door. The super vigilance we wore like armor was really just some barbwire, fully spiked but, really ultimately easily penetrated.

Now, for our generation, untouched by war as yet were already feeling the twist of fear. Then came COVID, which puzzled our greatest scientists. Still a puzzle to this day. We found a precaution, a stop gap measure , Even that raised heated debates: "Should we get vaccinated, should we not" and so on, etc.

The cellar door was now locked with us inside it.

Learning to live

~ what we were doing right until a few weeks ago. Yes, it's story time before I alienate all my readers.

In the city of neon dreams, where shadows dance,

I stood alone, a prisoner of my own trance.

Fear's chains bound me, cobwebs in my mind,

but I yearned to break free, leave the past behind.

In the hour of the forgotten moon's embrace,

I sought a way out, a path to retrace.

The city's pulse beat, a rhythm so surreal,

as I yearned to conquer what I could not feel.

With a flicker of light, a spark of the unknown,

I ventured deep within, to where dreams are sown.

in the realm of mirrors, I glimpsed my reflection,

a self obscured by fear's dark inflection.

When a voice whispered softly in the twilight's glow,

"Embrace your shadows, let your true self show.

for in the heart of darkness, there's a hidden fire,

a blazing desire to reach higher and higher."

So, I blew away the dust, the cobwebs of despair,

with each breath, I inhaled the electrifying air.

No longer chained, I broke free from the night,

Conquering fear, embracing my inner light.

Like the plot of the silver screen, where reality twists and turns,

I shattered the illusions, the lessons life churns.

In this city of neon, where dreams take their flight,

I conquered my fear and emerged into the light.

~ Neon dreams, written by R.L, October 2023 ©

Resigner, signing off

#justmoveforward

Obviously, my mind is doing a deep dive.

I encourage you to chase those as yet undefined dreams with no fear and no regret. Remember, we get back up. We always get back up, kind of like a vampire. We get up in style! Make them wonder why you're still smiling.

Now, I need music - said with elongated canines ;)

♪

Color me impressed by some local talent. Love it, keep it up!

¿ Keep on reading, Dark whispers are coming soon. Redshadow is locked and loaded. Destination - Castle of dreams.