I went out to vote...

I went out to vote - in the evening, when the day had time to cool, in the slow time. My arthritis was almost unbearable and I had to use two sticks, and pull myself into the steps.

The long slow march up the hill to the Church rooms, took me over half an hour and I was regularly lapped by those who could use a normal walking speed.

I stopped about half way up, to rest. The air was as clean and clear as it gets, no cars passed. It was almost as if I had stepped back in time, when there was much less traffic. The hedge at the side of the path was growing, the wild plums trees promising a fine array of fruit for the winter jam.

There was not one person to talk too. I paused for five minutes before continuing up the road. Would I have been happier if I had been part of that prior world? Not sure.

I was brought up to make jam, to sew, to knit, to keep busy, to read and to write, to make amusements, not to be lazy or bored. Boredom was a sin, and showed a slovenly brain.

There are places here that are weaker in intent, they can be walked through, and some of them lead into the past. It's possible to be someone else. To lead a different life. To walk sideways in time.

It's not always possible to have the earlier world that you imagine, all worlds are human, and there fore fallible due to human error. Too sum up in an earlier world I wouldn't have survived - no treatment and no walking sticks. Being poor wouldn't have helped extend my life either.

I went out to vote this evening.