> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://dianaludwick.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Stimuliiiiii - URL: https://dianaludwick.com/stimuliiiiii/ - Published: 2026-02-03T14:20:20.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-24T20:12:10.000Z - Description: "Stimuliiiiii," written February 3rd, poem 034 in a series of 365 poems written by Diana Ludwick in 2026. Photo: "Slightly Maniacal Human on Cobblestones," Paris, France, by Diana Ludwick (c) 2026. - Author: Diana Ludwick - Tags: 2026 Poetry Challenge, Poems, February, Information, Kids, Mother-Daughter dynamics, Noise, Overstimulated, parenting, Routine, Stimuli, Winter, #Migrated-1792872215677, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-10-24 20:03 Shy of seven thirty weekday morning and already infinite sources of noise penetrate my skull vying and jostling to be decoded and ingested as information: Olivia Rodrigo’s *GUTS* album blasts through the house pouring down the stairs from a bedroom above occupied by a teen who stomps as they — allegedly — ready for school Down below, from a smart speaker floats dialogue as radio commentator and interview subject banter and spin, slice and back-serve dancing around stories “Yes, yes but Senator; returning to the question, can you expand?” Do I smell burning? Is that a brain tumor or — Toaster *beeps* Nope, it’s scorched carbs I need to get that— But I’m already in the laundry room following a plaintive bleat: *UL! UL! UL!* The washer blinks from LED *Uneven Load* — *Save our Sheets.* Open washer, see bedsheets twisted into sudsy, incorrigible Celtic knots, petulantly declaring war: *How dare you leave me unsupervised?* Heave up thick soaked sections to unwind them Plunged up to my forearms in slick icy wet I shudder as skin saturates with cold and ick— Go wash my hands and forearms in closest powder room to scrub surfactants and chelates and enzymes and perfumes and polymers and grit off and away from my reddening flesh. Microwave reminder signal dings *beep beep!* What was I heating again? Return to kitchen to assess the scene No evidence of school prep, no helpful little human about hustling and bustling. “It’s time to come down!” I summon. Turn to fruit stand to retrieve a Cavendish; alas the hook is empty— “Hey Siri, add ‘Bananas’ to ‘Shopping List’” I instruct to the air, with careful em-pha-sis. But Siri mocks me, playing goalie: *Who is Speaking?* *Who is Speaking?* Am I invisible and inaudible? *Forget it!* I huff— Electric kettle thrums nearing a rolling boil Oh right, tea— Phone chirps with endless notifications from one of any eighty apps Headline: *partial government shutdown still in force with not end in sight...* Apple Fitness: *Great job closing your rings yesterday! Can you do it again?* Breaking News alert: *Disney CEO named*... iMessage: *W-2 should be in the mail today...* Peloton app: *Get ready! Your scheduled meditation begins in fifteen minutes!* Email: *Don't forget! Masterclass meets tonight!* County push notification: *Important: TWO HOUR DELAY TOMORROW!* Clench teeth —but then stop myself, release— can’t mess up all that pricey dentistry and orthodontic work— Feel wrist pulsing, my Apple Watch emits haptic vibration, look down *Incoming Call* Husband, likely to game-plan our day— Oops too late on my reaction time will need to call him back— Chalk caterwauls on blackboard as I scrawl an after-school checklist. Pink powder coats my finger pads *ugh* go to kitchen sink to wash off— more hand soap; find faucet stuck on Spray mode waterfall in miniature pounding against steel basin obliterating my ears in spatial audio. Super-auto German coffee machine squawks from the corner: *Cleaning Mode Initiated*— —more toweling, more drying of limbs and distal appendages—my skin is going to be so dry— Child appears; thrusts a warm laptop three inches from my eyes: *What do you think of this top? Can I buy three? Will you pick them up? Or should I pay for express shipping? I am thinking I will buy —* I cut in: Did you pack your backpack? Grab your coat? Get your socks? Find your shoes? Pack your lunch? Fill your water bottle? The answer to all: Mom *YES obviously!* She plods off in a plume of discontent although I hear her resume humming as she turns the corner— In-door fridge dispenser churns out ice: *Thump clunk thwack* it ricochets off Yeti bottle rim Water swishes out in a tight high-pitched stream— The air fills with the Look-at-Me screech of water hitting 212 degrees Fahrenheit Click! Goes the button as it hits temp; *Beep-beep-beep!* Blares the kettle Tea will have to wait— Back to fledging this offspring: If you want a ride you need to be fully ready! *I AM!* We’re leaving in thirty seconds! *OK whatever! Gosh I’m ready!* Where is your coat? *It’s in my bag!* Are you sure? *Mom YEAH!* Ignored kettle re-boils, beeps again “I will be back!” I half promise, part scold it. I grab keys which scrape metallic screams against the hook Purse hits the frame of the door, handle catches on knob - *ow!* I am yanked back with oppositional force I grunt as I rub my pulled shoulder— Click garage door — mechanism whirls and it grunts, too. Everything envelopes me I feel hear smell touch taste experience **s t i m u l i i i i.** Swing car door shut Sit on arctic leather seat —*oooph!* Clutch frigid wheel Shiver and wait; birds warble. Where is this child? Seriously! I drum my fingertips on the dash bidding her presence Then, when I can’t wait any longer I rap steering wheel horn lightly -ever just so- and an anemic honk emits Can’t be too loud, of course, can’t be That Neighbor. Stare at garage, gaping open, willing her to appear as tensions mount Blood tingles through my face *I know how the kettle feels*— See motion at front door kid emerges from there What? *Why the switch-up?* Close now irrelevant garage remotely it clunks close *Mom I’m gonna be late!* She brays, laying fault on me. Deep breath — air *whooshes* by my ears— We wend our way through the perils twists and turns of winter streets narrowed by snowcrete embankments— And we hear Shovels on icy driveways Dogs barking Crows cawing Cars squeals on cold tires Irritated parents honking as four-way stops become risky roulette: Who is more important? Their perceived value of time Or my rightful position? *Not the law, clearly—* Finally at school: I love you honey, have a great day! *Yah bye.* Door thwacks close. A visual enters my mind —her coat was in the mud room by the garage, I saw it. It couldn't have been in her backpack, she fibbed to me—I shake it off. **Silence** Exhale deeply cast silent prayer that I just might get through today— *Low Fuel!* The dash announces interrupting peace. I guess I'll meditate in motion.