I Can't Believe I'm Writing This

 So…it’s Sunday afternoon.  I’m in a US National Park, sitting on a boat in one of the more beautiful bays I’ve visited (Tahiti, for those of you who remember it from last year).  I can see St. Thomas off in the distance.

And…

I'm bored!  I’ve entered that “state of being weary and restless through lack of interest” (Merriam Webster).

I can blame the weather – honestly, in part.  We’ve hit a funny pattern where the skies are cloudy, there are periodic showers so it’s extra damp, and the winds are just high enough to discourage one from moving on.  The skies are cloudy: well the blue waters are several shades of gray and all those colorful fish are rather drab in black and white.  The periodic showers means you can sit outside but you had best be ready to scurry back indoors on a moment’s notice.  And, it’s not a lot of fun to take a swim when there are raindrops bouncing down on you (isn’t that silly? – forget about the fear of lightning, there isn’t any).  And the winds, well you can forget paddleboarding and you swing on the anchor but this is supposed to be the place of warm, gentle, Caribbean breezes.

I’m feeling stuck inside a 40’x24’ floating box….weary and restless through lack of interest.  I’ve done a few chores but most of the ones needing attention are outside beyond my reach.  I’ve finished my latest book, taken two naps.  I even spent time watching Bob the palm tree grow this afternoon. 

Marney handles boredom much better than I.  She knows how to sit quietly, reflect, wonder, smile…and it turns my stomach at how happy she can make boredom seem.  Me, I gotta keep doing something.  Where’s the wall to paint?  the hole to dig?  (back in New Mexico, of course!)

So I was sufficiently bored to do two things.

First,

I looked up the ten most boring experiences, according to the UK’s Daily Mirror.  Ready?

Party Political broadcasts

Being kept on hold

Queuing in the post office

Traffic jams

Shopping channels

Doctor waiting rooms

Slow Wi-Fi

Waiting for a delivery

Train delays

Ad breaks

            (here’s number 11:  Football pundits/analysis and we’re talking soccer here)

And second,

            I wrote this reflection. 

This is no worse than the snow/ice storm that socks itself into your part of the world and you become a “kept” human being.  Well, maybe it is worse…Where you are you can expect these kinds of things.  Here?... this is the Caribbean!

Anyway, I am feeling better.  Now it’s your turn to become bored reading this!  And, I just looked up to see the sun has come out, and winds have momentarily slowed, Marney has taken off on her paddleboard, and I think I’ll go for a swim!

Patience.  Everything in its own good time.  …in God’s time.

Fair Winds and Calm Seas

Dave

PS.  Here’s a picture of Bob growing!

Bob, looking good on a brighter day!