Chip

Sometimes, when you're pale, lethargic and de-conditioned, you might find yourself feeling a little timid, a little squeamish, about getting out there on a humid summer morning and walking. Before you know it, you're drenched and before much longer you are experiencing the chafe of saturated cotton against your tender areas - feet, crotch, nipples. Horseflies circle your head madly. The road you walk is not heavily traveled but you cannot help but notice that, without fail, whenever you walk around that particular bend where the road has no shoulder, there's traffic's coming at you from both ways. There you are on the narrow curve side by side with two vehicles traveling in opposite directions. One of them frequently seems to be a semi. You can start to take it personally after awhile. A narcissistic injury. But then the compressed chipmunk on the road with it eyes popped out provides some perspective. It reminds you, if grotesquely, to shut the hell up and enjoy your miserable life.