Nothing like a rant to unclog writer’s block

For the first time in my career, I thought I had writer’s block but it turns out what’s ailing me is something far simpler but more problematic: life block.

I’ve been writing this column, or some version of it, every week for almost 15 years. Most of the time, it’s a pretty straightforward process: reflect on something that’s been happening in my life that most people can relate to, think of an opening sentence, then sit down and bang it out. I always try to make a few jokes at my own expense, usually by just repeating the lines my kids say when they are making fun of me.

The last few weeks have been a struggle, however. I’ve had trouble finding the motivation to write and the good ideas have been few and far between. My initial suspicion was that the former was impacting the latter but, upon further reflection, I think I’ve got it wrong. “Big surprise there,” my kids would say.

The pandemic, particularly this second wave we’re in right now, has just made my daily existence far less interesting. I don’t really go anywhere except for the grocery store and the park to walk the dog. I can’t remember the last time I went to the mall or ate at a restaurant. We didn’t really go anywhere this summer and don’t have plans to vacation any time soon.

I’ve already written about my mundane COVID life, the eat-sleep-work-repeat pattern. I’ve made jokes about wearing sweatpants 24-7, my spotty approach to hygiene and haircuts, the lifeline that is cycling. Eating and drinking feels like all I do — and write about — during the pandemic. It’s all well-covered ground by this point.

I could write about what’s going on in the political realm but this column is generally intended to be a respite from all that. Me ranting about how the provincial government wasted months this summer by not taking steps to build a robust testing and tracing system while also beefing up protections for long-term care homes … well, there’s lots of hot takes on those very important subjects. Ditto Donald Trump trying to subvert democracy.

The weather is depressing and will be for months. The sun sets before I’m done work every day. Christmas will be a Sophie’s choice of allowing extended family to come over as usual — potentially putting them (or us) at risk for COVID — or asking them to stay home, which means some of them will probably spend it alone.

I guess the latest vaccine news is good but the thought of the anti-vaxxer crowd filling up Facebook with their dangerous pseudo-science already has me feeling frustrated. There’s finally a light at the end of the tunnel and it’s a train filled with annoying idiots that are going to make getting past this thing even more difficult.

I try to make this column as fun and optimistic as possible, even on the days when I don’t always feel that way, because I think that most people need a break from constant doom and gloom (I know I do). I guess I’m just going to have to try a little harder to see the positive side of things.

So sorry for the rant. On the plus side, it looks like the writer’s block is gone.