Marking the Moment

It is Saturday morning, I am in a café, and the lockdown of Melbourne is at an end.

For now, at least, officially - of course, we don’t know what emerging strains may do in our future, but let’s not dwell unnecessarily on that. For all I know we might even get another earthquake, who knows what the future will bring.

I am not so fragile in my sense of personal autonomy and wellbeing that the lockdowns have been experienced as an affront to my personal or spiritual freedom; however, it is nevertheless good to be out and about. The easing of restrictions is visceral in its impact and very welcome.

Even so, I had the opportunity to dine out downstairs from my apartment last night, but was strangely hesitant. I didn’t go out. This was more mild agoraphobic impulse than any caution about the pandemic. It will take a few days and/or weeks to shake off the hermit-like, homebound habits of the last two years, I suspect.

This morning I have ventured out, wearing a T-shirt with the caption -“DOGS - Because people suck” to my favourite cafe, the Guilty Moose in Albert Park here in Melbourne. The Ink Shot was founded on the principle of writing in cafes, and there has been a distinct deficit of this in the last two years. I intend to make up for this beginning today.