So, here’s the most annoying thing I’m dealing with; more annoying than panicking faculty or failing ed-tech or frazzled staff. I’ve been on a depressive down-swing for about *pauses to count* Hm, six/seven months or so.

I bet a lot of us have. The moment news came down that there was maybe an end in sight, the moment that people seemed to mostly be into the swing and not having crises every five minutes, that was, of course, the moment that the emergency “keep it together so as not to die” cope ran out.

It’s not unfamiliar. I’ve sure had way worse instances of it. But it’s long, and it’s wearing, and it’s hard to build cope back up when you’re flat out of it and the world isn’t stopping.

And I’ve always found that it helps to know it’s not just me, so: it’s not just you. A lot of people seem to be in this valley right now. And it sucks to only be able to go a little while, hiking back up the side, before you have to sit down and drink and rest; this isn’t a nice place to rest. But you know, there’s a lot of us, and someone will probably always have water, and someone will probably always have a stick that two people can lean on for a while.

So I’m going to say, I’m done with work for the day. I’m going to read something fluffy for an hour, and then go home and make grilled cheese for dinner, and re-watch some comfort episodes. And if some emails don’t get sent until tomorrow, then they don’t. If some posters don’t get made until next week, then they don’t.

It’s raining here, so here’s the scent of wet earth and ozone. Breathe. We’ll get there.