I am finding myself experiencing a strange mix of emotions at the mere mention of the shut down ending. Even the statement, ’getting the economy going again’ − while I know it is desperately necessary − fills me with a sense of vague disappointment. I struggle to fully understand why.
Yes, it is a good thing that we are moving to get the country back in business again. But I want to proclaim loud and clear that this past two months have not been all bad! I will miss much of what two months of ‘shutdown’ has brought about within my home and in our world. We may never again have the opportunities that these weeks of quarantine have afforded.
I will miss:
- awakening each morning ready to face my own agenda only. No where to go. No one to have an appointment with. No obligations.
- makeup free mornings
- the lack of temptation to spend money. No spontaneous trips to the grocer or mood lifting shopping trips for therapy
- eating every meal at home and simplifying meals
- focusing on home projects and seeing them fully accomplished
- having time to do those things we never had time to do and always wanted to accomplish
- spending enough time at home to be able to completely assess the state of the homefront.
- having things fixed when they break…immediately.
- having time to enjoy and appreciate the bounty that we have.
- being creative enough to come up with a gift with no ability to shop
- the challenge to be resourceful: having to ‘make do’ with what is on hand to complete a project
- truly making use of everything we have
- simplifying and clearing out clutter
- taking time to write, email or call a friend…having the time to have a longer chat on the phone
- ZOOM meetings to accomplish business, provide fellowship and keep in touch
- making the most of exercise on our glider, use of videos, taking walks
- trying new recipes
- time for uninterrupted reading
- creative time with the grandkids by phone: math tutoring, coloring, reading
- time to carefully observe the daily blossoming of spring
- the enjoyment of puzzles and games
- observing our world’s creativity shining through the darkness: musical collaborations on ZOOM, nightly applause for the front-line workers in New York City, the creative use of talents and professional abilities to lift the spirits of others.
- the ability to peak into the homes of well known and respected professionals, visualizing that we all are one with the common denominator of bookshelves and staged floral pieces.
- time to reassess, to ponder, to self examine
- time to just listen to the birds, to my thoughts, to my Creator God who wants to speak to me.
Perhaps most significantly, I will miss my uninterrupted time with my best friend and roommate of 50 years, my husband! Do you remember the days when we would have given anything to have been sequestered somewhere all by ourselves…no interruptions, nothing to do but enjoy each others’ company?
For the most part…it’s been lovely and I can’t think of anyone I would have rather been sequestered with. Love you, Babe.
I will miss it all, and fully hope to incorporate many of these newly discovered treasures into the future NEW NORMAL. For this, I can even be thankful in the midst of COVID 19!
