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| A koi pond in winter at dusk. |
The koi pond in my backyard has frozen over. The black hole you see is a heater to keep the ice open so gasses the fish and things in the water like rotting debris make (although I cleaned it as well as I could) can escape.
Koi need as much oxygen in winter as in summer, so I have an air pump going, too.
Although they don't hibernate, the three fish slow down substantially and require no feeding from late November to spring, depending on the temperature of the water. A few years ago, I put a submersible camera under the water and played back what I got to see what they were up to. They were there, suspended, lined up, breathing. I imagine what that would be like, under ice, in water barely warmer than ice, little light, for months at a time. Doing nothing but being what you are.
I found your blog today from a comment you made on a NYT article. I love the way your brain works. I think you indeed are a poet. I've gone back and read a bit of your blog and I hope you are able to find some peace within yourself. I think it's great that you're allowing yourself to stop and smell the roses. Who gives a damn what other people think?
ReplyDeleteThank you for your kind words, Jen. You live in New Mexico? Wow! A place I've never been to but have always wanted to visit. A friend of mine is from there and he says you can drive a short distance and be surrounded by desert. Even if you don't do that often, I bet it's nice knowing that you could.
DeleteB.
Yes, I do live in NM! We've got our issues (poverty, crime, drugs, etc etc), but it's got everything I need- mountains, culture, language, problems that need solving, a realness and friendliness that I didn't find out East (DC) but with more diversity than I found out West (Idaho). The desert surrounds us but there's more climate diversity than people think. But yeah- mainly desert!
DeleteI am glad to hear that the anti-anxiety drugs are working their magic. I hope that, when you do tell your family, that the conversation/their reaction is not too difficult.