One Day At a Time

Why can I not write? I am overwhelmed By the minutiae of everyday life! Dawn comes, and I awake, but no! I pull the covers over my head And close my eyes tightly Against the coming day. I am not ready yet! When I can avoid it no longer I sit up and dress, reluctantly, Take the dog out, bring Him in and feed him, Give him fresh water. Give him his pills and Spray his poor shaven rat tail With anti-itch lotion, (He has a hot spot!) And put some ointment on it. I fix some breakfast, Wash it down with yesterday’s coffee. Take the cats some fresh water, Get them their breakfast, And clean the litter, Wipe Sweetie Pie’s eyes And put drops in them. I’ll comb out both Sophie And Sweetie Pie later on. I make my bed and Clean up the dishes, Get out my big green backpack And put Doug’s clean clothes in it. Oops! I forgot to start the laundry I brought home yesterday! It’s already 10:30, and I Have to leave by five to eleven! Spray on the sun lotion, Check that I have my Patriot ferry Pass and the SPF 50 lip balm Doug asked me to get. It’s hot and humid, but I trudge Twenty minutes to the ferry For the half-hour boat ride That I actually enjoy! Just me, the water, sun and breeze For 30 minutes of quiet For my not-so-peaceful mind. Three hours to have lunch with Doug, Bring him up-to-date with All the news of friends and family, Watch him in physical therapy And learn what I will have to do In a few weeks when he gets home! Back to the van, back to the Patriot ferry, And another brief time for myself. I walk home, hot and tired. Take Andy out, finish the laundry And hang it out on the line. I think it won’t rain tonight. Run to the store for some Necessities, cat food in particular, Check the e-mail, answer some notes, Water the parched garden Take Andy for a walk, and Then feed him his dinner. Time for MY dinner, but what? Let’s see. I sauté a couple of Chicken tenders in the small pan, Slice up a whole tomato, Add some cantaloupe and cottage cheese, Eat some of it and fall asleep In the chair in front of the Fan on its highest setting. I wake up with a start and make Myself get up and clean up the kitchen, Afterwards, I watch a couple Of mindless television shows While I make mental lists Of what I have to do tomorrow.