Yesterday, I had just enough time for a cup of coffee before my uke lesson. At ten, my lesson started. Our last song, an hour later, was Silent Night. I really enjoy learning and playing the uke despite my frustrations. I wish for longer, more adept fingers.

After my lesson was over, I had more coffee and read the papers. I was back to my morning ritual. After that I spent most of my day watching the results of the election, or rather the lack of results. When I got bored, I’d watch movies. Two of them had happy endings. I need happy endings, real or imagined.

When I was a kid, I played the sticks in the school rhythm band. Everybody played in the rhythm band in the second grade. Some kids had metal triangles with little metal hammers, some had maracas and others had tambourines or maybe bells, but I’m not sure. I wanted the triangle. The only good part about the sticks was we were in the front row because I think the nuns recognized sticks could have presented a danger for anyone in front of us. We were a bit enthusiastic.

Six boxes came yesterday. They were the highlights of my day. One box from Chewy had Henry food and treats and Jack and Gwen food and treats. Another box had the special litter I buy. Two boxes had my grocery order from Imperfect Foods. Another box came with some pottery and a Christmas present for a friend. The last box had Saltines and Wheat Thins. Everything has since been put away. My freezer and my larder are filled.

I lost myself a few times yesterday, got distracted. Once I went to the kitchen to get my iPad which was charging; instead, I cleaned the kitchen counter and sink where I had washed the fruits and veggies. The dirt had caught my eye. Next, I brought a few of the empty boxes out to the car for the next dump run. When I got back inside, I sat down. I did not have my iPad. I had forgotten all about it. I think it is still in the kitchen.

As soon as I woke up this morning, I remembered it was Election Day, but that didn’t bring an ending, a sense of relief. I have election angst, a malady I developed in 2016. I will watch the news channels on and off all day alternating with black and white science fiction movies, a few monsters more will hardly be noticed. Tonight I will watch only the news.

I can remember the first election which mattered to me. It was the Kennedy-Nixon 1960 presidential race. I still remember lying on my parents’ bed watching their black and white TV tuned to Huntley-Brinkley. I remember the results were posted by hand. In 1968, when I voted for the first time, I watched the results in my apartment near college on my black and white TV. I swear it was the same TV from 1960. I also remember my disappointment, the first of many disappointments. I’m hoping 2016 was the last.

Right now it is 47˚, the high for the day. Every now and then the sun peeks out from the cloudy gray sky. The wind is blowing the topmost branches.

Last night Henry went outside more than usual at night, and each time he did, he went right to the deck box. I noticed a trash bag on top of the deck box had been opened. I figured there had been or there still was creature behind the deck box. Henry didn’t get for a while. Later he found nothing and lost interest.

My front yard got cleaned this morning. The tall stalks from the hibiscus are gone. The garden has been raked. The trees have been pruned. The only color in front is in the basket by the steps. Gourds surround a pumpkin. In front of the basket is a bigger pumpkin which now has bite marks. I curse the pawns of Satan.