Yesterday was one of those days when keepers were feeling really down and very bad about ourselves.  The only thing wrong with us was that we had been closed up here at KEEPERSKORNER for much too long and cabin fever had set in big time.  Yesterday, though, we thought we just going down the tubes in many ways.  Only today–after having spent the afternoon with a good friend and enjoying the atmosphere in our favorite restaurant did keepers understand what a grip cabin fever had gotten on us.

Keepers are one of those systems that always has more trouble in the January/February months than at any other time of year.  We hate the cold that winter months bring so our systems tends to avoid venturing out much.  And looking out our windows gives us a view of a very desolate world outside of KEEPERSKORNER.  Every year, early January brings keepers to feeling very alone and extremely far from the world we enjoy so much during warmer weather.  That was where keepers found ourselves yesterday.

However, the temperature here was in the fifties today so keepers found the courage to get dressed and meet a friend for lunch.  It feels like it had been months since the two of us had sat together and talked about everything under the sun.  In reality, it has probably been just a little over a month but still anxiety had set in for keepers as we headed toward the restaurant–especially since our friend called our cell to let us know she would be late but would get there eventually.  Still, we continued to the restaurant and sat for half an hour waiting for our friend.

Keepers do not do crowds.  Especially when our JM or someone like our friend is not with us.  However, JM had to drop us off and head back to work while keepers sat in the restaurant waiting for our friend to arrive.  We were meeting in the middle of the lunch hour rush which meant keepers were sitting alone amidst all kinds of activity and people for a while.  There was a time when no keeper could have handled this situation.  That time was not so long ago.  But our JM was on the phone to us every few minutes–just to say hi and help us to stay grounded, which helped an awful lot.  In fact, while sitting there at our table keepers found ourselves winding down and actually enjoying watching all that was going on around us.  It felt so good to be out around people and something inside of us knew we could handle whatever might happen.  Of course, the pot of coffee I was consuming helped a lot to ground keepers.  And the friendly smile of our waitress made keepers feel more comfortable than we would have ever thought.

Once our friend arrived, keepers did breathe a sigh of relief as we place our orders and got down to the business of catching up with each other.  She brought me a book to bring home and read.  It is called A WRINKLE IN TIME.  She loved the book and promised it would be an easy read for keepers.  I will let you know after keepers have time to read it.  After that, keepers heard about her husband and daughters while we shared some of our stories of our children growing up.  Then, we moved on to more philosophical talk–winding up our afternoon together discussing multiplicity and how keepers experience it.  All in all, three hours had passed without notice.  She had a doctors appointment to get to and keepers realized we were quite worn out so we both headed our separate ways.    But, before she left, our friend reminded us to make sure we take time early next week to get out and about for a while–even if it is cold.  She will be out of town so keepers will find something else to do for an afternoon.

Evening is setting here now.  There is a definite chill in our home.  But keepers feel so much better and far less alone.  We tend to forget what awesome our lives are in today–totally because we have fallen into our winter seclusion.  But taking a few hours out of our day to sit and just be with someone we can communicate with always seem to refresh our minds and renew our spirits–which is exactly what keepers needed on this winter afternoon during our yearly battle against cabin fever.

Keepers are far from alone on this earth.  We do know that even though we forget from time to time.  Somehow, we have to remember that feeling alone and being alone are two very different things.  But, right now, keepers are feeling good again and will meet our JM at the door (when he gets home from work) smiling and feeling good again.

Like I said–what a difference a day makes.

peace and blessings,

keepers