If earworms had an Olympics, I know a little battler who'd bring home gold.
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It has been going through its world-beating routine in my head for weeks.
I can confirm that endurance is its strength. It's tuning up for the marathon at the 2024 Earworm Games (host suburb to be announced).
My winning earworm goes like this:
Oh, give me land, lots of land under starry skies above,
Don't fence me in.
Let me ride through the wide open country that I love,
Don't fence me in.
Let me be by myself in the evenin' breeze,
And listen to the murmur of the eucalypt (my edit) trees,
Send me off forever but I ask you please,
Don't fence me in.
I believe it is a much longer song, but I know only the first verse. Now it's corralled in my noggin. Fenced in. On repeat.
It could be worse, I like the song.
One verse at least.
The earworm arrived as I was standing at my backdoor.
I was into the first week of holidays, just gazing over the neighbourhood, thinking about what I could do during my leave in lockdown.
Like most people with itchy feet, my daydreams these days are often occupied by putting together itineraries for future trips, far away.
Closer to home, my gaze wandered. Over my backyard, over the road and over the fences into the distance.
Don't fence me in ... la la la ... it started.
For a suburb in lockdown, there was a lot going on.
The man over the road was launching into day three of building a carport. By the looks of it, it's going well.
His neighbour was clanking about in the garage. The sound of power tools signalled that serious work was under way. I'm guessing it's a mechanical project. Time will tell.
Next stop for my wandering eye was my immediate neighbour down the back.
I could hear her laughing and glimpsed her through the trees. She was walking, talking on the phone and watering her plants.
Multi-tasking in suburbia.
My yard is not big, but it's crammed with great stuff. Plants, flowers, fruit, bugs, birds and excitable dogs.
In these times, my little piece of land is priceless. I can step outside and wander around whenever I want.
I often think of people living in apartments with no outdoor space. No wonder so many people are hitting the walking trails.
Even though I'm a bit restricted when I travel beyond my fence, I'm far from cornered.
I've got land, a bit of land, under starry (sunny and stormy) skies above.
I've changed my tune.
Don't Fence Me In has had its run.
There's a new earworm in the neighbourhood and, after a shaky start, it's found its rhythm.
Pretty soon I'll be singin' Doo, doo, doo, lookin' out my back door.
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