May 23, 2020 - Journal Entry, by Carla C.
It was getting hotter by the day and freedom was calling. Joan and I had been cooped up in our apartment the last two months, but we were ok with it. We cooked old recipes we knew, played card games, watched Netflix, cooked new recipes we found on the Internet, and had a few “Zoom hangouts” with other friends. The hangouts were cool but they definitely weren’t the same as seeing our friends in person.
Joan asked me what we should do today now because it was so warm outside. I didn’t know. Hiking trails hadn’t been open for weeks and I was so accustomed to just staying in.
She suggested we just go for a drive. I didn’t feel like it but thought, what the heck, why not? Maybe I could finally wear the new Merrell shoes Kyle got me last Christmas. It’s always fun to break in a new pair I suppose.
We hopped into my truck, which I hadn’t touched in what felt like a whole year? And started driving. And we drove for 3 hours - one and a half hours up the mountain and one and half hours back down. We didn’t get out, we just drove, with the windows down and fresh air streaming through the entire truck.
It felt odd to be going out again. I had gotten so used to being inside, even though I hated being inside just a few months ago. Cabin fever? Yea, I had that but I guess you could say learning new behaviors is always hard, even if it’s a behavior you knew you used to love.
Looking out the window, I saw plants that were just a bit bigger than I remember and the colors were different. There was more yellow - more sun. I guess that makes sense because last time we were out was in February when it was cold. Maybe it’s time for a summer trip…