The Winter Hiatus

An anonymous blog reader pokes their head in the virtual front door of The Petch House.

“Knock, knock, anybody home? Greg, are you there?”

They wander in to the foyer while cautiously looking around for signs of life. The house is frigid and seems deserted. Again they call out, “Greg, is everything alright?”. They can faintly hear singing coming from behind the closed pocket doors leading to the parlor. It sounds like the TV.

They push open the doors to see me on the couch under a blanket. There is a half eaten box of Oreo’s and an empty bottle of wine on the coffee table. On the TV is season 6, episode 7 of Buffy The Vampire Slayer. It is the musical episode, "Once More With Feeling". I’m asleep under the blanket.

They tip-toe across the parlor and gently rock my shoulder. “Greg, are you alive? Is everything OK?”. I don’t move so they rock me harder. Finally I come to. I hear the singing, sit up on the couch, and reach for the remote to turn up the volume, pretty much ignoring the person standing there. Again they ask, “Greg, is everything alright?” I ignore the question and only reply, “This is a great episode. I love this musical episode, don’t you?”

{Singing on the TV}
(Buffy)I was always brave and kind of righteous,
Now I find I'm wa - vering.
Crawl out of your grave, ya find this fight
Just doesn't mean a thing
(Henchman) She ain't got that swing.
(Buffy) -pause- Thanks for noticing.
(Demon & Henchmen) She does pretty well with fiends from Hell
But lately we can tell
That she's just going through the motions
Faking it somehow.
(Demon) She's not even half the girl she...owww!

(Buffy) Will I stay this way forever?
Sleepwalk through my life's endeavor.
(Handsome Young Man) How can I repay - (Buffy) Whatever!
(Buffy) I don't want to b - e
Going through the motions,
Losing all my drive.
I can't even see
If this is really me
And I just want to b - e a - live.

The blog reader asks, “Greg, can I get you anything? How’s work going on….”. I look up at them and cut them off in mid-sentence, “Shhhh! TV”. I lay back down on the couch and pull the blanket back over me while I sing along, “I don’t want to b – e going through the motions, losing all my drive. I can’t even see, if this is really me, and I just want to b – e a – live”.