Pain is such an inhibiting factor. Its singular presence is normally incapable of rectitude. Like any good religion – though with more entitlement – pain is uncompromising. Yet once relieved of the annoyance (usually following the consumption of an anodyne), the world returns to a more moderate and compromising status.  It probably helped this afternoon to overcome my ribcage arthritis having consumed two “quad” espresso; that is, double espresso twice. I am wary of attributing remedial medicinal theory to espresso; but, whatever the reason, the caffeine drug is not without its evident benefits.

But, to back up, the day today began with less enthusiasm than some.  Mistakenly last evening I lingered past ten o’clock flipping through nonsense and drivel on the internet. Some of it was probably legitimate; but I am forever mindful that algorithms play havoc with habit and custom. Clarity of thought is easily manipulated by the well-travelled and picturesque roadways. I’m guessing it was only shortly after eleven o’clock last night that I curled up beneath the covers. Yet the slightly immoderate behaviour succeeded to reduce my normal buoyancy this morning. I did however pressure myself upon awakening to realign with regimental conduct by immediately undertaking the ritual tricycle ride throughout the neighbourhood. I was rewarded too with a casual encounter with Sherri (of “John and Sherri” former neighbours). She was dutifully headed to the local gymnasium for her morning purification.

The initial peculiarity of my enterprise today was that I uncommonly sported a woollen sweater (one that I had purchased many years ago in Charlottetown in Prince Edward Island).  I retrieved the sweater from the top shelf of the bedroom closet where it and other similar gear had been deposited for the possible (though admittedly infrequent) eventuality. The sweater proved welcome this morning when tricycling in the cool air. By contrast I found the rare apparel less than accommodating when later sitting on the balcony facing directly into the sunshine.  But afterwards – when conducting my routine motor vehicle outing with the windows open while racing from Lanark County to Renfrew County and Leeds Grenville – I smugly rejoiced at the decision to wear the superbly crafted knit. I hasten as well to note that it is one of the few garments I own which is characterized as XL rather than XXL. That detail speaks to the ancient date of purchase – before years of subsequent uncontrolled sweets, bread, pasta and cheese. Clearly I have by-passed that indignity; and the simple improvement was today accentuated by the measurement fortuity.

Looking outside from my writing desk, I am watching two geese. They are “goose stepping” through last season’s cultivated corn field. It appears that when one of the geese has its head into the ground in search of food, the other goose stands erect in seeming guard.  When the foddering goose quits, the other has its turn, this time under the supervision of the other. Only as recently as yesterday I read of the reputation of geese to be devoutly protective of one another and their goslings.