Natalie Walston Abbott – The Philosophers were right

Natalie Walston Abbott is a multi media artist and author www.nataliewalstonabbottauthor.com

April 12-2020
Hell IS other people. The loss of, the existence of, and now the lack thereof.

It’s living in your pajamas each day and wiping down every surface while avoiding another human with the COVID19 virus. The person is now nocturnal as to stay away from me.

I used to be in public relations, a hired gun so-to-speak for lobbying groups. Always worked, always on my computer, always communicating with the outside world. I used to talk about the economic impact of restaurants, the importance of ethanol, the need for better roads and bridges.

For the past few weeks, I mostly sit outside and stare at the birds, wild bunnies and roadrunners. It’s always a joy in the southwest to see the roadrunners stalk their prey which, this time, happens to be a nest that I watched doves carefully build, little sticks hanging from their beaks.

I now know the sounds of crows, doves and flickers. I have a song bird that comes up and turns its head when I talk to it.

It’s the lack of:

• Talking to the nice Hispanic clerk at the grocery store; I miss hearing about his haircuts and his dates. He went to Olive Garden with a date and I was so excited for him. That’s gone.
• Dining out. Festivities. A good margarita and brunch with friends.

What I also miss is the friendship I had before this person got sick. Now words that will later be regretted have been spoken. I lock my bedroom door at night. I wonder if I will get sick or if this person will die in their sleep because I can’t hear the coughing.

I have dreams of masked doctors leaning over me; dreams of finding toilet paper in the stores.

We are living in hell and are all hoping this will end.