Happy New Year?

not a true story - i kept driving past the line as i wondered what it was for (the only thing i could think of was covid testing)

.

driving past city hall today

long line of people snaking down the sidewalk waiting to go inside

curious, thinking maybe it's some sort of holiday giveaway, i parked the car and took my place in the line

waited for what seemed like forever

excitement building

at long last

finally made it inside

a woman tells me i've tested positive for covid and need to stay home alone for ten days

"happy new year", she says as i turn to walk out

Author's Note

"Each new year is a surprise to us. We find that we had virtually forgotten the note of each bird, and when we hear it again, it is remembered like a dream, reminding us of a previous state of existence. How happens it that the associations it awakens are always pleasing, never saddening, reminiscences of our sanest hours. The voice of nature is always encouraging." - Thoreau