I’m not very good at humaning right now.

I bristle at all who dare to approach.

I run from the light to seek out the shadows.

I disdain the melodic in favor of drone.

I find sustained contact to be painful.

I feel wrong for feeling like I do.

I feel it none the less.

Dear Sirs:

I am writing to you concerning Resolution 2020-17, the Resolution In Support of Washington County Returning To Work, to urge you to AMEND this Resolution. In the Resolution as it now stands, there is ONLY a mention of the need to re-open businesses and other institutions and NO mention of the health constraints that should be followed, if they choose to do so. I’m sure you have all kept up with the latest recommendations from the CDC and our own State health department’s guidelines on how to SAFELY go about re-opening the town and wish to see these followed. And the thought that Abingdon and surrounding Washington County are tourist destinations with the summer approaching must factor into your calculations…and fears, if you have them. (I must say that I have some trepidations right now about visitors. Yes, a source of income. But potentially also a vector.) I am not asking you to abandon the Resolution entirely, but please revise it to urge all who re-open to do so in a responsible and medically safe manner. We need businesses, churches, and other places, yes. But unless we feel (and ARE) safe while patronizing them, then these same places will not flourish, and more importantly, we the inhabitants are at risk.

Thank you.

Kel BasAvraham

I don’t want to see you. Or you. Or you. Or you.

Not in person. Or via Zoom, Skype, Google Meet.

I am staying away from ALL,

Inside with suitably stygian Finnish dramas on Netflix

Or re-reading The Plague by Camus,

While listening to Kraftwerk drone in glorious techno.

I might accept a phone call or answer a text,

Depending on the time of day and my mood.

But right now I’m in isolation mode,

Dancing alone.

Abingdon Abraham Lincoln alt-right Appalachia atheist autumn breathe buddhist change Christian Christianity Civil War compassion connection death depression Donald Trump gratitude grief happiness Hillary Clinton home illusion immigration impermanence journey kindness LGBTQ love meditation memories mental health mountains mourning path poem poetry pouncepunk art challenge practice suicide tea tears Texas Trump wisdom

Abingdon Abraham Lincoln alt-right Appalachia atheist autumn breathe buddhist change Christian Christianity Civil War compassion connection death depression Donald Trump gratitude grief happiness Hillary Clinton home illusion immigration impermanence journey kindness LGBTQ love meditation memories mental health mountains mourning path poem poetry pouncepunk art challenge practice suicide tea tears Texas Trump wisdom

Abingdon Abraham Lincoln alt-right Appalachia atheist autumn breathe buddhist change Christian Christianity Civil War compassion connection death depression Donald Trump gratitude grief happiness Hillary Clinton home illusion immigration impermanence journey kindness LGBTQ love meditation memories mental health mountains mourning path poem poetry pouncepunk art challenge practice suicide tea tears Texas Trump wisdom

Abingdon Abraham Lincoln alt-right Appalachia atheist autumn breathe buddhist change Christian Christianity Civil War compassion connection death depression Donald Trump gratitude grief happiness Hillary Clinton home illusion immigration impermanence journey kindness LGBTQ love meditation memories mental health mountains mourning path poem poetry pouncepunk art challenge practice suicide tea tears Texas Trump wisdom