Trying out an ad-hoc template
24 July 2026 Roanoke, Virginia
Today felt like: back pain & iced chai tea
The day moved like this: The morning started soft; light rain kept things cool, but by noon the air felt thick enough to notice with every breath. Clouds built slowly over the ridge but didn’t commit to anything. Two visits to Altar Coffee (no pastry had arrived yet the first time), McDonald’s, and Dunkin’ to feed the troops. Scrap Collective for a browse: yarn and crafty bits, a sticker book, and two very reasonably priced hand-knit sweaters.
I noticed:
- Something small: sweat drying almost as fast as it formed on my forehead.
- Something living: a bird sitting still in the shade, beak open.
- Something that felt out of place: a sudden cool pocket of air near the trees, in the parking lot of the Dunkin’ while we ate egg and cheese McGriddles.
- BHK got 10 punch buggies on my 3.
The valley: hazy, softened, like the mountains were holding their distance.
Animals/Visitors: Very little moved much during the day. Everything was waiting. The brown bird, and a deer out back. A young groundhog on Electric/419 being smart and keeping off the pavement. In-laws watching movies in the evening. Enola Holmes 3 (yawn), last episode of Hardacres. Pearl clucking at BHK at 5 am. Saw Annette for the first time in an age in old SW.
Something strange: the feeling that the storm was there, just not yet visible.
I kept thinking about: how weather can feel like a decision being made.
Today’s weight: heavy, suspended
Small good things:
- shade
- iced chai
- a brief breeze
Tonight: distant thunder, but no rain here.
Tomorrow might: finally break.
