More Than

It’s not the real thing (at least I don’t think it is)

And obviously a vital necessity.

So why am I so *anxious, admittedly the *most overused word in today’s vocabulary

Is it my fear of being caught either in the shower or worse yet, with only one contact lens inserted when the screeching fire alarm rings out throughout our four story building?

I (like many other Americans blessed to have survived Covid and yet independent enough to maintain life without imposing on the younger generation, now live in a “Luxury Senior Residence.”

One of the mandated requirements (and again a vital precaution) are semi annual firedrills, held three successive days alternately between morning, afternoon and evening hours.

While that allows some awareness of when the strident siren will begin and evacuation occurs, it is still within an approximate three hour time frame.

And, yes I reluctantly admit, I am now old and slow.

Consequently, despite setting an Alexa alarm earlier than normal (two hours to be exact) and foregoing the mandatory caffine until later, I am stressed,

And I quickly realize the absence of stress is not always the healthiest choice in life. Because after you relinquish that emotion voluntarily, it becomes far more sinister when returning with its own demands and urgency,

So the fire drill becomes another of those unexpected life lessons not taught by a paid guru but given by the passage only of time.

Therefore, I will have the coffee and cope with the immediate exit demanded only when the siren starts. I believe I will even indulge in the crunchy donut I have been saving for a stress emergency.

Today definitely falls into that vague category of anxiety provocations,

I certainly won’t need it tomorrow since the next drill is scheduled for the afternoon when I cope better without that unless emotion with the overused A name.