Tales from the Arctic Tundra

It's cold and desolate here.

And quiet. The kind of quiet that drives a man (or woman) insane has settled over the vast expanse like a thin film of dust on unused furniture. Nothing penetrates the silence other than the low whistle of the acrtic wind. And even that fades into the silence as just another layer of desolation, making it difficult to do anything other than succumb to the desire to just rest your eyes for a few minutes, even though you know that will surely herald termination.

A few stolid polar bears have burrowed into their caves, poking their heads out occasionally but otherwise content to sit in the darkness and do whatever it is that polar bears do. The rest of the life that usually populates the area has gradually migrated away, sounding the various calls and bugles that draw others of their species to them.

I am left to shiver in the cave I have coopted for myself, fighting to keep alert and continue making notes on my sturdy field computer, despite the lull of the wind and the lack of feeling in my extremities. Periodically I venture out, looking for some form of companionship to break the desperate feelings of isolation. There is little to find and I shuffle back to my cave, huddling in my parka to keep the winds at bay, a steaming cup of coffee my only companion.

My mind wanders and I find myself humming and tapping in counterpoint to the slight beat created by the wind, trying to break the blanket of quiet. The sound echoes eerily, so I stop and return to the faint glow of my monitor, mentally scolding the lapse in concentration and urging myself back to work like a solitary cheerleader on the sidelines of a hopeless game. Though I know I haven't hit the worst of the winter solitary yet - the migration will continue through tomorrow and next week, not even the few who poke their heads from caves today will be here to break the monotony - I try not to focus beyond the present, lest the shred of hope and motivation give way to icy lonliness.

Ah, the joy of having no vacation left to use for Christmas.