It was a big day for more than one reason. One of the reasons is that I got to go for a very nice bike ride. Another reason is that I got to take a few pictures for the monthly challenge which, you may recall, means they were pictures of things I’ve never photographed before.

Like the featured photo, for instance. I had never photographed thousands of branchless, leafless trees growing out of the ground before. Upon closer inspection, though, I was able to determine they weren’t branchless, leafless trees growing out of the ground at all; It was actually thousands of sticks that were poked into the ground. It was like a stick farm.

Yes, I had initially made an identification error, but I didn’t care because a photo of a stick farm is ALSO a first for me.

I also have three more pictures and a video of never-before-photographed things. They are also related to plants.

Pictures of stick farms, crabapple storms and wavy grass are all well and good, but they’re not the BEST thing about my big day. Nosiree!

I got home from my bike ride just in time to take a shower before heading off to an appointment I had made four weeks ago. I know what you’re thinking: “Thank goodness, Greg FINALLY made an appointment to see a psychiatrist.”

No, I hadn’t made THAT long overdue appointment. Instead, it was for my second Covid shot and I couldn’t wait. The first one went well and I was confident the second one would too. I was not disappointed.

The nurse who administered it asked all the standard questions, which I answered with aplomb. She also explained the possible side effects in a chatty and fun way. Then, just before injecting me she asked, “would you like a Tweety Bird Band-Aid or a plain brown one?”

The injectees are required to sit in a waiting room for 15 minutes before leaving, which is no problem for me. Just as I was being escorted there, however, a young woman was being helped to an adjoining room by two nurses. I saw them helping her to lay down on a couch. I could sympathize. I’ve had that feeling like I was going to pass out when I got tetanus shots in my teens and 20’s and 40’s.

But this shot had no effect on me at all. I think, in my case, the secret is to look away when the needle goes in. I barely felt the pinprick, and even as I write this a few hours later I feel nothing at all on my arm.

There you go. It was a big day. Great ride. Pictures of things I’ve never taken pictures of. And the best part is — just in case some random bike tourists should arrive in MY Town sometime in the early part of June — I feel assured that I’m safe and whoever shows up from Oregon or any other state will feel safe too.