My voice has been absent here for some time. At the moment it is absent from world as well. I woke on the 31st with a bone shaking raspy cough. By the time the sun has set on the first day of the new year my voice was mostly gone expect for 2 express purposes: tuvan throat singing and doing Tom Waits covers.

The other thing I lost was the one big mamalian trait afforded to men: the ability to regulate my own body heat. (breast feeding young and live birth having never been abilities I myself possessed.) This is a subtle and strange thing for me. It's a latent skill I've come to trust. I had to leave the house this week to walk my very cute and very faithful mutt. T-shirt + 2 sweaters + overcoat, hat and scarf and I was still shivering. for a person who is happy to swim in 50 'F water I felt laid bare. also certain aspects of heat.. I opened the oven set for 400F and nearly choked on the hot air my lungs having no taste for it. I've blown glass where the reheat oven is 1800 'F and I've made flames stream from my mouth yet the simple act of baking up some cheap pizza comfort food almost brought me to my knees in my own kitchen.


My mind has suffered as well but not in ways that are easy to lay down. mostly I find the familar din that usually inhabits my mind strangely quiet.

There shall be no reflecting on the year past or the year to come until I am again I am again the same species (and class) as all of you fair humans.

Be well.