"You didn't see it coming
Now who you gonna wave to?
This time you're not homecoming king"
– "Homecoming King" by Guster

My lovely bride was telling me a story about scientists noting birds are singing louder since humans aren't moving around as much. I'm sure it's true. The neighbors have reported fox sightings and even a few deer in the area as the weeks have gone by. I find myself wondering how much of these phenomena are due to less human traffic and how much is explained by us just paying more attention to our surroundings.
It's trendy to slow your brain down and take notes. Just this week I logged into what I thought was an online concert only to find out it was a meditation led by the singer. I don't do much meditation, so I go along for the ride and emerge from my trancelike state thinking about a nice shower.
I have a routine for my morning cleaning ritual and it starts with brushing my teeth. I open the drawer, grab my toothbrush, flip open the toothpaste, and apply a dollop. In my heightened state of awareness I notice that I have a habit of taking the toothbrush and wiping it across the toothpaste nozzle. I'm not sure when it started or why I do it, but I'm guessing it has something to do with not making a mess from excess toothpaste when putting the cap back on.
Having the time and mindfulness to notice these tiny details about my routine brings my to tears.
Not really.
This morning I flipped some toothpaste up into my eye. It burns. Real bad. If they still tested such things on rabbits, I suspect the testers would hear those poor bunnies swearing up a blue streak.
I am changing my routine tomorrow morning.
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