Spring Fever

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by Arundhati Basu

I have been thinking of this moment for a long time, clacking on the keypad, drumming up words, letting my thoughts flow. It has been coming long, since the beginning of the new year which has delivered googlies with such precision that I honestly do not know where to start. Should I begin at the beginning with my travel to Calcutta on the first day of 2020? Should I tell you about the disquiet that spilled into my thoughts as I read there about this novel virus making itself felt in China? It was just the beginning. Who could have predicted that this would be the world we would be living in? Let me rephrase that – for there are revelations of foretellers who saw this coming for some time now — and say that I certainly did not think of the possibility. Must be the brand of arrogance human beings are naturally kitted up with.

We are spending all our time at home. The customary nipping to the grocery stores for provisions has been nipped in the bud. The library has closed its doors. New Jersey has set a curfew for its residents – 8pm to 5am. This leaves intact running in the park and walking till our legs feel it — we have been exploring every odd nook of this town we live in.

I am grateful for this. The opportunity to simply step out. Let my brains air themselves out, let the fresh spring air flood the head with serenity. The cells are in danger of feeling stale with the constant barrage of news that is all gloom and doom (I think the most disturbing part is to read about the panic-buying of guns in this country — not toilet paper rolls, cans of corned beef or soup, but Guns).

The trick is to funnel some of it out, however we can.  Let the mind slip into meditative spaces through long unhurried sessions of yoga, make way for the imagination to wander through books, of which one cannot have enough, flip through the pages of cookbooks, rustle up new dishes. There’s therapy in routine.

Spring has arrived earlier this year, but at least it has arrived.  To channel Rilke: “The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

Pale pink Rosebud Cherry blossoms. Deeper-hued Sargent Cherry blossoms. Saucer Magnolias. White Wild Pear blossoms. Yellow wildflowers. Fuzzy catkins of Pussy Willows. Portly squirrels running around bushy tailed, nuts clutched in tiny paws, pausing occasionally in your path to see if you have anything to share (drat people who think that animals in the wild depend on them to be kept). The Canada geese and gulls slowly taking their leave. Plump robins flying in. Fresh clumps of grass. Tiny leaves so delicate. Buds unfurling. Sweet spring. Let it work its magic on this overworked state of mind.

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Arundhati Basu

The great affair in my life is to travel. I count myself immensely fortunate that my partner shares this passion. We are a team that likes to spend time planning and plotting out places to go. Destination check, flights check, accommodation check, cheesy grins check. Off we go.

49 thoughts on “Spring Fever”

  2. Good to see you back again Dotty. It’s unbelievable what’s happening. Guess, all we can do is keep calm and carry on. I am so grateful to be able to get out and walk in the woods. Trees, grounding, breathing, and taking one step at a time.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Thank you Tracey! 🙂

      It is a horrid affair. We have to keep calm – there is no way out. I am dreading the day they say we have to keep ourselves locked in. And one day at a time. xx

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  3. Lady Dippy how wonderful to see you as I emerge blinking in a new dawn after a long moment of darkness that I thought I would never shake off. This is a wonderful piece but I knew it would be as soon as I saw you appear in my reader. Stay safe down their in Jersey. We are not curfewed yet but we have nothing to go out for except essentials with everything from Casinos to Churches closed, bars and restaurants only allowed to serve to go and stores beginning to close their doors too. I rather like it 😉 Just not the reasons behind the quietude.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey you, boy am I happy to hear from you after ages! I am sorry to hear that the going was not good for you. I can only pass tight hugs virtually (not a bad thing given this entire schlep of social distancing! 😉)

      Thank you for reading and the comment – even though it is a short piece which skims the surface of things. I do not mind the closure of bars and restaurants at all. We have a move coming up on Friday and I am dreading the thought of a pack of movers arriving to help us. There goes SD right out the window.

      Anyway, a grand welcome back and I hope to pop by yours soon, lovely lady. xx

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I think my crash into darkness was probably long overdue but honestly I’m on fighting form now and feeling extremely hail not to mention hearty in the psyche department. Blimey o’riley – good luck with your move …. what horrible timing. Can you closet yourself on a chaise longue in a distant room and issue instructions like a dowager duchess perchance? Nothing to report on mine at the moment …. my intentions are all there and posts are slowly brewing but I wanted to ease in my indulging myself in reading first. Petits pas as we say in France (though of course I’m not actually IN France these days 😉) xx

        Liked by 1 person

      2. I missed this message, lovely! For some reason, my comments on most blogs are being sent straight to the jaws of the spam folder. I commented on your latest post and I see no sign of it. :-/

        The timing was so off with the move, but hey now we are all set up finally. And it seems grand to be able to put up our feet this weekend and just chill. I am more the Downstairs variety, cooking and cleaning extensively. Yet, I have catharsis there.

        You must be missing France so, O. All my love for the pangs you must feel from time to time. xx

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Ha! Banished to Spam!!! I’m just happy that you have managed the move and gotten somewhat settled before the horror unfolding made it impossible. I miss France desperately. But here I am and here I shall be for a while to come. I’m finding the value in the way things are and searching for the silver linings. They are there – you just have to scour rather harder than usual to find them. Which given the scouring I have given this house daily since the dire warnings started to emerge would make one wonder why it is not glistening like a lustrous nugget!!! Xx

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      4. My suspicions are confirmed (gah!). Hoping someday soon WP shall stop considering me spam.

        To lustrous nuggets, golden old days, the soul finding solace wherever we are, and always, the hope for better if not the best. 🙂 xx

        Liked by 1 person

      5. I am so happy to be re-connected with you. Promise me that you are staying safe down there in NYC. It’s grim everywhere but, of course, I worry especially about folks there, in Louisiana where we have friends, in CA. And in Britain and France. But let’s not go there …. we are, after all keeping the smiles flowing, yes? Xx. ps: WordPress is a moron. You are the least spammy girl I know!!! 💕

        Liked by 1 person

      6. I solemnly promise that I am upto all good things here. Including making all meals at home and ordering no takeaways. Going out only for a run/walk and social distancing like nobody’s business.

        I allow the anxiety to seep in only on certain odd nights (because working myself up will only make things worse for myself). And god knows, we all need our wits about ourselves at such times.

        I hope you are keeping safe too. Actually, I would think you are. And thank you for chiding WP on my behalf. I feel better already! Love. xx

        P.S.: Please don’t go away anywhere now?

        Liked by 1 person

      7. I’m not going anywhere. The world is stuck with me for the long haul! Oddly, this catastrophe has me quite calm. Like you, I follow the rules, we only go out for groceries once a week and to run/walk the hounds and that we do at times when few are up and around. It’s all we can do. And getting anxious doesn’t help oneself or others. So I’m bonking Anxiety Annie on the head when she tries to sit on my shoulder. And my mallet is big and skilfully wielded. Love to you xx

        Liked by 1 person

  4. Hi Dippy so wonderful to hear from you , I think somehow I seemed to have unfollowed you and didnt get your latest posts in my reader . Good to hear how you are spending the down time .Spring time is bringing all the bloom and hopefully will cheer us up .

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey Nisha, no worries. It is okay even if you unfollowed me. You did come back. I have been dormant so long and that is certainly reason enough. The important thing is you are well. We need abundant hope to tide us through these times. x

      Liked by 1 person

  7. Nice to “see” you Dippy! I’m glad you’re making the best of hunkering down/social distancing. Panic buying of guns…really?! I guess I shouldn’t complain about the TP and root vegetable issue here. Thanks for the lovely spring images. They are very uplifting. Take care of yourselves!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi Caroline, so good to hear from you. How have you been? These are strange times. I cannot wait to see the back of it! Though I am not complaining about the fact that Adi has time to come with me on long walks. 🙂 x

      Liked by 1 person

  8. So glad to hear that you are doing well. I am trying to limit my amount of time outdoors but it’s difficult when I do need to go grocery shopping not only for ourselves but my elderly parents. Hopefully we can get through this with minimal contagion. Stay safe – Neek

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  9. Love the magnolia and pussy willow 🙂 🙂
    Portugal is trying rather annoyingly to protect me from myself. As an aged citizen of 71, I’m allowed to take a short walk in the vicinity, or to the Pharmacy- where presumably I can buy enough pills to overdose? Don’t tell, but we’re going to sneak off to the countryside for a walk tomorrow. I’m all for social distancing, but I’d like to walk, while my legs still can! Take care, honeybun!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hey Jo, thanks! They are eye-catching.

      You are after my heart. You walk off these troubled times. My lips are sealed. I think the governing bodies across the board are alarmed because this virus has wrought such havoc. Unprecedented is the word that has been carved into my cells.

      Have a great day tomorrow, lovely. xx

      Liked by 1 person

  10. A thought provoking piece. Nature carries on as we isolate. I was beginning to despair at the empty shelves in the grocery stores but queuing for guns?! I wasn’t aware you could shoot a virus! Anyway, thankful I can work at home and have family around. Stay safe.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hi there, good to hear from you. Apologies for the delay in the reply and publishing the comment. We finished a move on the weekend last and since then been setting up the new apartment. Now that we are all done, I can get back to my usual activities.

      Hope you are keeping well. Knowing that London is in the eye of the storm too.

      Like

  12. I just came in from my own daily spring walk, thank goodness for library books taken out just before closure and a small stack of new/second-hand ones to peruse just before sleep…stay safe and well, my friend!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I did the same at the local library — that apart this is when my habit of hoarding books comes as relief. Thank you for dropping by Kim. Good to know that you are able to continue your walks and hope you are being careful. x

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