Casulty of Covid?

 

 

We start our day watching our local news on the TV..... Once Sir Steve leaves for work and the lil one for school - I get on with my day but I don't turn the TV off.... it's background noise ya know??? and sort of comforting....... 

Yesterday about mid morning.... a talk show was on and the topic was how covid has affected 'date nights'.  That's all I heard...... but it got me thinking..... We haven't had a date night in over 2 years.  OH we had ordered in dinners and tried to pretend it was a date night...... but it just wasn't the same ya know?  

Date nights always involved showers  and dressing up complete with make up and perfume ....... ordered in dinners were eaten in front of the TV and some movie...... we didn't sit alone at a table and make conversation like you do when you're at a restaurant on a date........

I realized I am missing date night...... and it has affected our relationship a little bit.  I don't feel that sexy bond to Sir Steve ...... sometimes I look at us in my mind's eye and see an old married couple - and it worries me we're losing that 'spark' ... that thrill. and maybe the passion?

I made a decision a few weeks back to take a pride in myself again..... to do my hair more frequently - to put on make up every day (BUT make up isn't a whole lot for me - it involves eye liner and mascara and a touch of lipstick.  Lipstick!  who wore lipstick when you wear masks every time you go
out?? )  To start wearing my 'nice' clothes ... to make more of an effort ya know?  Sir Steve may not notice (though I suspect he does) but it does something to my mental outlook .......... makes me feel more feminine .. makes me tease more... laugh more... it actually lifts my spirits.

So tell me - how has covid affected your relationship and date nights??? Are you ready to find a way back ?? What steps (if any) have you taken to find your way back??? 

 

 

Ashamed

 willie has politely pointed out to me that I didn't fact check some of my information - shame on me!!  However - the way these Canadians acted (are acting) still makes me feel ashamed - and more than a little embarrassed.

 

 

Well this happened over the weekend........... 

apparently all the hype about truckers being the heroes of this pandemic went to the heads of truckers.  They decided that they were going to have a truck convoy travel from BC to Ottawa (for those that don't know our geography - that's west coast to almost the east coast) a FREEDOM CONVOY....... they wanted to protest the necessity of quarantining for 14 days IF/WHEN they cross the border to the States, they don't care that the United States has the exact same 'mandate' !! 

At first I honestly didn't pay much attention to this 'convoy of freedom'.... just another group bitching about vaccine mandates......... (please note that I believe 80% of all truckers are fully immunized) 

BUT two days into the convoy - they changed their protest from vaccines to EVERYTHING - get rid of the Prime Minister - get rid of lock downs - get rid of masks - get rid of  seat belts - get rid of ............. well you name it they wanted it gone!

Then we heard that the two organisers who started this nonsense were white supremacists and/or radicals.  They started a go fund me for the truckers and in the space of 3 days or so they raised 6,000,000$ !!!!!!!!  GoFundMe froze the account until there was a clear plan for distribution of the funds (to date they have released 1,000,000$)  

On Thursday evening our police (provincial and national) were telling folks to stay off the roads on the weekend.  WHAT???????? We were planning to drive up to the Nation's Capital to visit with eldest daughter and SIL to celebrate their January birthdays!!! So we postponed our trip till Sunday when the damn trucks would be off the highways.... and settled into the Capital.

On Saturday we heard horror tales of goings on  - from protesters dancing on the tomb of the unknown soldier - to vandalizing the Terry Fox Statue - to threatening and intimidating volunteers trying to feed the homeless - to threatening and intimidating mask wearing workers in restaurants around town.

On our drive up on Sunday we passed some small convoys flying flags........ you'd expect  - seeing as these are Canadian citizens fighting for Canadian rights (supposedly!)  - that you'd see Canadian Flags right??? yeah well we did - but it was the other flags mixed in that worried me and ANGERED me.......... take a look.......... 

 

(I'm sorry I didn't take pictures of the trucks and flags we saw on Sunday - cause they were pretty graphic and heart breaking)

I am ashamed!  This is not the Canada that I know and love - this is looking an awful lot like the United States one year ago on Jan 6th............

As a Canadian - a PROUD Canadian - I am hanging my head in shame............

A little Update

 

 

For those of you interested....... we have spoken with the lil one every day since Tuesday.  Her voice sounds very thick and froggy.... she has a dry cough ... but other than that she's perky and attending online classes.  (shock shock!!)

I don't want to sound overly critical - BUT - they are giving her stickers for focusing... we have seen pictures on the school facebook page that show 'grandma' is sitting beside her??!!   ok ok I'm being critical - but I worked so damn hard to help her become an independent learner......... and we're sliding backwards.  le sigh.  On the bright side she is attending school! 

I'm not sure if the mother's family fully grasps the concept of "isolation/quarantine" cause when I talked to the lil one last night I asked if she had any plans for the weekend...she said she planned on going outside to play in the snow.  ??!!  I suggested it might not be ok cause you know - isolation.  I have a sick feeling that they would have let her wander through the halls of their apartment and go outside.  BUT not my problem right??? 

I'm not sure how happy mother is going to be cause Sir Steve is gonna tell her that the lil one can't come home till she tests negative...... and honestly I don't think she's gonna test negative - not this Monday.  AND they have a funeral to go to on Monday - funny I didn't think funerals were allowed. Anywayyyyyyyy - if the lil one is still positive and can't come here it's gonna force them to isolate longer (and as they all have the same symptoms as the lil one probably still contagious as well)

 And that's the update on the lil one.... we would love to have her home with us - but only time will tell.

OMG!

 

Remember yesterday I told you the lil one's mother/family had a 'cold'??? and we told them they had to test the lil one before they brought her home to us???

Welllllll

we heard this morning that the lil one tested positive!  My stomach dropped (so did Sir Steve's).  We're so worried about the lil one.... more about how much emotional support she'll get from them.  She has been so worried about getting covid and now she has it.  She is going to phone us at lunch time..... we'll know more then.

I counted backwards....... and pinned down when they got it.  Over the Christmas weekend they socialized - big time.  Had their daughter from Quebec visit - and she hasn't followed one of the restrictions since the start of this..... and we're not even sure if she is vaccinated.  The whole damn family went to visit / stay over night at another family's house.  3 days after this socialization the lil one's mother/family came down with a cold.  Then 3 days after they came down with it the lil one tested positive and has a sore throat.  (the lil one wasn't at the family celebration)  The one thing that has always made my blood boil is that the family has never believed the rules apply to them - not just with covid but with any rule that might interfere with their life.   

OMG the mother just contacted me and asked if she had to sit beside her for the home schooling??!!  OR could the mother watch TV........ le sigh.  The lil one will be at a table in the living room - do they really thing she's gonna focus on school work with the TV going??? GAH!!!!    god give me strength!

Down the Rabbit Hole Again!

 

 Anyone else feel like we're all going down the rabbit hole again?

Here in the Great White North - Covid is exploding - again.  We can't get covid tests - any of the tests.... no rapid .. no PCR - well not unless we are in a high risk group or are health care persons AND have been exposed.  Our health units will not be reporting how many new cases each day cause - well no tests available ya know!  IF you feel ill - have a sore throat - or a cough - or a fever - or loss of smell and taste - or any of the other symptoms you are supposed to assume you have covid.  You are to isolate for 5 days and must be improving for 24 hours before you can end your isolation.  OH YAY!  and getting vaccines/boosters has turned into a quest of medieval proportions..... think Holy Grail proportions!

Then yesterday they announced new restrictions - going backward - AGAIN.  Inside dining is closed - gyms are closed - the list of closures is huge..... included in that list - schools are closed for in-person learning and we're back to remote learning....... home schooling........... see me curling into the fetal position in the corner????

AND then just cause I might not have enough stress to deal with - the mother informed us this morning that they all have colds....... claims they tested negative (???) and asked what time to bring the lil one back tomorrow..

 

 Your turn - what's the rabbit hole like in your corner of the world???

Wish Us Luck (updated)

 YAY!! we successfully got our boosters shots.  Got there by 7:55 and received our shots at 9:30.  Protected for - what ? - another 6 months?! BUT I'm good with that !

 

So everyone is telling us to go and get our booster shots.  I tried to book a shot a week ago and the earliest date I could get was March 1st!!  A friend from the country called me when she heard and told me the pharmacy in her town was holding walk-in clinics and to call them.  I called and they told me there was a walk-in clinic on Thursday the 30th.  I called yesterday to confirm and was told to be there before 9:oo a.m.   At 9:00 a.m. they would be handing out tickets - 70 of them.  That was all they had.  IF we got a ticket it would tell us when to come back for our booster.  

 So by the time you are reading this we will be on the road.  Fingers crossed we get 2 tickets.  And that both of us get vaccinated.  The numbers here in Ontario are more than a little scary - never mind the numbers in our lil town.  Highest they have been since the start of this pandemic.

I'll let you know if we get a ticket or not............ wish us luck!!! 

So Discouraged

 

Our health unit posted some infuriating stats this week........ honestly I sat there reading them - twice! - and all I could do was shake my head.

Our numbers in our lil town have been climbing and climbing - in our town!  Everywhere else the numbers are falling - hells bells our provincial totals - for the whole province! - have been dropping - yesterday we had only 306 new cases.   

The head doctor of our health unit came out and (in my words) scolded our lil town.  He pointed out we had the highest numbers of new cases in the whole unit.... AND... the lowest number of vaccinations.  Everywhere else the numbers are over 80% double vaccinated.......... here?  only 69%.......... we have so many anti-vaxxers here and so many conspiracy theorists.  It's so damn discouraging.  

How stupid can people be??!!!  Our one hospital is filling up quickly - they are cancelling some surgeries... and people are saying - believe it  or not - well it's flu season it's to be expected!!

So I stay home - no eating out in restaurants - no movie date nights ........ it's discouraging.  

Anyone else feeling discouraged?? or has life improved in your corner of the world?

 

Tentative First Steps

 

 

A few weeks ago I got notification that our Rib Fest was going to happen this year .......... and I decided I was comfortable enough to go........... 

Back then we had no new cases ... and since then we had 0 cases - new or old - our little corner of the world seemed to be covid free..... so yeah! let's go to Rib Fest.

Then in the space of 5 days we went from 0 - 7 cases!!!  WHAT??!!  NO!!!!!!!! But I decided we could try it... go pick up our food and if it seemed safe - eat there - if not then bring our food back here and eat in the safety of our deck.

On Friday night we (eldest daughter, SIL, and us) - discussed how to do the Rib Fest safely.  We all decided to go after the lunch crowd and before the dinner crowd. We all brought our masks.... 

 

When we got there there weren't too many people - larger crowds then any of us have been in in the last 2 years - but everyone were wearing masks .. and keeping 2m distance (more or less).  The men went and got the ribs... eldest daughter and I went to get our bloomin' onions.  

Then we were trying to decide where to go and eat....... when eldest daughter spotted a park bench behind the food trucks...  We cut between the food trucks and made our way down to the water....... there were hardly any people!! AND we managed to find a picnic table!!  What a great meal we had... sitting by the water enjoying the view and the soft summer breezes.  It almost felt normal!!  Once our meal was done we didn't wander round - didn't go near the live bands or the amusement park... we walked along the path by the water till we got to the path leading back to the parking lot.... got in our car and came back to the campsite.

Our ribs and bloomin' onion were delicious!!

 

All of us declared Rib Fest a huge success!!  and I am even entertaining thoughts of venturing out to another favourite restaurant - with a terrace on the water!!   

On Making Friends

 OR - fall out from the pandemic 

 When I first met the lil one I was amazed at her socialization...... everyone and I do mean EVERY ONE! was her friend ( at least in her mind!!) She was a social butterfly - which did land her in trouble frequently in class cause she played and talked too much - but yeah - my social butterfly

Two weeks ago was our first week together here in the country.  She went for quick bike rides (between rain storms) and I took her swimming but for the most part she hung around here amusing herself.

This Saturday she was moping around - looking miserable.  We sent her off for a bike ride - she was back in 10 minutes and sulked around till I got totally fed up.  I said to her 'go find a friend - GO GO GO! go to the park go to the beach - GO find a friend!!  and don't come back till you do!' (in hind sight not the most intelligent thing to say to a sulky 8 year old)

Off she went.

Only after she had been gone for 30 minutes did I realize she hadn't taken her walkie talkie!  GAH no way to contact her and this park is HUGE !!!  Sir Steve put a note on the door telling her we had gone looking for her and to stay put till we got back - and we headed off with walkie talkies in hand to find our lil one. 

As we approached the 'big' park we could hear her laughing......... she had found a group of kids and was playing happily!!  We handed her her walkie talkie - told her to have fun and we'd call her when it was dinner time.  Sir Steve and I walked back content that life was maybe returning to normal.  Sunday she was gone soon after breakfast and only came home when we walkie talkied her to come for a meal.

It occurred to me - that after being home for almost 2 years and not socializing with other children - the lil one was nervous? shy? uncertain about how to do it....... a trait she had been born with - making friends!!!  Some of that lack of confidence was certainly due to her 'growing up' and developing insecurities - BUT a lot of the hesitancy - I am sure - was due to the quarantines.  She lost the skill ............. and confidence.

Today she woke early - like REALLY early (I sent her back to bed to read till I had had my second cup of coffee - cause I'm mean like that!!) But when she was gobbling down her breakfast I asked what was on her agenda today........ She has plans to go to the park and 'hook' up with her new friends!! 

Life is good when the kids are playing again - and laughter fills the air!

Ooooops!

 

 Yesterday was an 'oooops' sort of day..... 

Sir Steve worked from home ....... nothing particularly ooopsy about that - except here in the country our internet access is the pits........ basically one device at a time... which meant I had no internet access all day - which meant emails and blogs didn't get done.

The second ooopsy moment ?? well that one was rather spectacular......... 

I was booked for my second shot of vaccine yesterday.... which is why Sir Steve was home.... I had no worries I'd been through this before right??  Let me ask you this though - what is the one thing you do NOT want to hear when getting a shot?? Ooops is pretty high on my list.... and that is exactly what the woman said as she injected me - "OOOOPS!"

I looked at her as she was frantically signalling for the nurse on duty ........ nurse on duty called for the EMT guy....
apparently the shot missed my arm muscle...... don't ask me how!!! .... and my arm was starting to swell immediately and I T C H!!!  so I was escorted to the 'special' section... and seated right beside the gurney.   A badge was put on my shirt written in RED ink that indicated I had to wait 30 minutes instead of the usual 15.  UGH!!  Every 5 minutes (yes I timed it) the EMT guy would come and ask me how I was... le sigh.

Finally after 30 minutes (that felt like forever!) I was allowed to leave after I promised them I would take allergy medicine when I got home and would go immediately to a hospital if I felt 'funny'.  (I always feel funny - grinning)

Honestly by the time I left the swelling was down and the itching wasn't all that bad.  BUT ugh - I was in a terrible mood - felt a bit like a 2 year old who didn't get their nap... cranky!!! I had a so/so sleep last night.... Sir Steve went off to work cause I'm pretty sure I can handle the lil one today - despite the cold wet weather.  

All that drama - but I am fully vaccinated... though how that is going to change my life is still left to be seen.........

How My Day is Going.........

 

Truth - I actually believed today was Thursday.......... 

am getting a little too excited to go shopping on Friday - all our retail stores will be open on Friday - with limited numbers of course - but still O P E N !!  I realized I have been missing access to our Dollar stores (for those of you who may not know what a dollar store is - everything is about 1$ - or 2$  - or 3$) and my absolute favourite place to shop for art supplies for the lil one - and summer toys and games.  FRIDAY!!  can't come soon enough. 

 

Checking in ......

 

 

It's been awhile since we did a 'roll call'....... 

My spirits are a little bit higher... camping last weekend certainly helped... so is the weather - sunny and warmer .... BUT our covid numbers are definitely adding to my better mood.. higher spirits.  Provincially they have been dropping.  What was it ....... a month ago ?? ... we were at 3000 a day... and yesterday we had just over 1000 !!!  In our lil city we had been averaging over 15 cases a day... and now we're down to just 1 or 2 a day - and we've even had a couple of 0 case days.  YAY!!  

I am hoping in a week or 2 we will be able to travel to Quebec to pick up some cigarettes and maybe even see my youngest daughter - outside ..... but still !  haven't seen her in over 2 months now.  We've all had one shot so partially immunized.  Tomorrow friends of Sir Steve are dropping by for a visit on the front deck.  Haven't seen them since before all this started!!

Now it's your turn .... how are things in your little corner of the world???

Rebel No More

 

 This weekend is supposed to be the start of camping - remember my "cliff hanger" post ?? Well we made the rebellious decision to defy the rules and regulations and camp this holiday weekend.  

Ohhhhhhh it felt wickedly evil.... going against the establishment.  Haven't done that since university.  I have been busy this week planning meals - shopping for the meals - organising what food staples to take up .... planning planning planning.  I even picked up a couple of additions for my fairy garden (more on that another day)  I was even getting a little bit excited.

This week has been a roller coaster of emotions re the pandemic........ our numbers were dropping... then ooooooops they went back up again... next day they're down a little bit.. up and down up and down........ UGH!  Then the government came out with a 'reopening plan' based on the vaccination numbers.  my reaction was WTF??? When we reach 60% with the first shot they will reopen outdoor activities - 70% vaccinated they'll open more stores and hair dressers (GOD I need a hair cut!!) My question is - what happens if we reach 69% and 31% refuse to get vaccinated???   I kept telling myself - numbers don't matter come the end of June we move to the country regardless of the numbers... we will have a good summer.

THEN yesterday the government notified campgrounds telling them they can open for seasonal campers .......... and we can have a maximum of 5 people gathering on one site.  WHAT???!!  WAIT???!!  that means I won't be defying the rules and regulations ....... I won't be a REBEL !!!!

I'm not sure if I should pout or do a little dance of joy.................... but whatever I decide to do I'll be doing it in the country!!

Friends

 

 

Over this past year - there have been more than a few posts that describe my desperation?? my frustration?? my angst?? maybe all of them....... and every single time you have all rallied round and supported me........ you are amazing people!!

I almost didn't post yesterday's blog cause it seemed so 'here she goes again-ish'..... and not one of you said that to me - OH you may have thought it but no one said it! Most of your comments had me giggling ..... everything from the virtual road trip down to PK's pool book in hand - to Prefectdt's headbutts.... to the 'me too's' 

I am learning the true value of friends........ even ones I have never met - will probably never meet - but still friends.  and I want to say a BIG thank you to each and every one of you............ together we'll get through this.

Too much

 

 Do you still have days when it - all of it - everything - just feels too much... so heavy that you feel physically weighed down?

We're locked down again - under a stay at home order..... till May 20th at the earliest.  Today it feels hard to keep going... to smile and act as though everything is just fine......... 

IT'S NOT FINE!  not even close.

I'm tired - emotionally exhausted.  No desire to prep for camping - as much as I am sure it will happen eventually - I can't work up any enthusiasm ......none.

I don't care about meals - or even trying to make interesting food....... everything tastes blah...... boring.. dull.
I had started trying to exercise - but that didn't last long........
I tried reading outside on the front deck  - but it's just not warm enough
I'm tired of trying ya know?
I'm tired of the climbing numbers and the covidiots and the feelings of fear and anxiety.

I'm just tired 

(and yes I know this too will pass)

 

UGH

 

 

I thought I had been lucky with no major side effects to the vaccine........ Oh I was a little tired and a little sore but otherwise thought I was doing ok....

EXCEPT

by yesterday I realized I had been having trouble staying focused on tasks - everything seemed to take so much effort .. and when I did something as simple as making the bed - I was exhausted - absolutely bone weary - and had to lie down.  On Thursday I was aware that I seemed to have moments of dizziness... and was tripping over my feet cause my legs weren't working that well.  I checked the known side effects and didn't find my complaints listed so figured I must have some bug or something........ 

EXCEPT 

I realized last evening that my appetite was back ........ and the headache was gone ... and I had interest in talking and being social. My legs felt strong again and I could walk a straight line without weaving.

SO

I am guessing that I have been recovering from the vaccination... weird as it may seem.  I want to apologize for not commenting on blogs - or commenting with my usual enthusiasm. BUT it would seem I am back!!!  

Life is good when the body feels normal again. 

Today's the Day

 

 Off for my shot this morning....... 

Stay Tuned..............  

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was so impressed with how smoothly it went....... line ups to get in.. line ups to register.. line ups to get vaccine....... BUT I was in and out in 45 minutes!!!

This vaccination center will do 1,017 shots just today!!! 

 

 

 Told this health worker he gives the best shots - didn't feel it go in!!!

4 months till the 2nd shot 

Life is good when you start the journey to full immunization! 

Here We Go again! (edited)

Guess what?? Guess what??!!!  I just booked my appointment for the vaccine - AND I will be getting either Moderna or Pfizer (see me do the happy dance?!)  April 13th is my personal freedom from worry day !

 So - we're going to be locked down again - the whole province.  Are we surprised? nope not at all.  The numbers have been climbing again... the hospitals are packed... so yeah ... lock down time again.

It doesn't really change our lives very much at all.... We have been isolating.. only doing essential shopping once a week... wearing our masks.. washing our hands... staying home and avoiding crowds...AND of course home schooling. The only thing I can't do is get my hair cut...... but ya know after a year..... I've come to realize the world doesn't end when my hair doesn't get cut...... oh it looks bloody awful - all sticky up and limp and shapeless.... but the world doesn't end.

Lots of complainers out there though........ they're probably the ones who don't isolate and don't want to wear masks and bitch loudly about it... they're the ones who throw parties / and caution to the wind.. and even claim (well some of them) that this whole pandemic is a hoax... le sigh.

I think I'm more discouraged/concerned by the vaccine roll out.  and all the controversy surrounding the vaccines.  I had such high hopes over getting my vaccination... now?? from thinking it might be mid to late summer before I even get my first shot... to the worry over severe side effects (it's a bit of a crap shoot ya know?) I'm feeling down.. discouraged.

So  -- check in time.  What's happening in your wee corner of the world?

Small Step Forward

 

 How many of you have 'date nights'?  OR I should say - used to have date nights??
I loved them!  Sir Steve would pick one weekend a month and we'd have a date night - usually dinner at a restaurant and a movie - or a play.  It was wonderful - something to look forward to - especially during the winter months.  

BUT date nights came to a screaming halt a year ago.  OH we tried to replicate them at home.. ordered in dinners... movie on Netflix - but it just wasn't the same ya know??

This weekend the stars aligned.........
First it was sunny and reasonably warm (like 59 degrees F - or 15 C) ...
Second our favourite food truck opened .........
We decided to drive over and get dinner on Saturday night........ BUT ... I asked Sir Steve if maybe we could ... possibly... eat there too!!??? The caveat was - it couldn't be busy/crowded.

This food truck has 'gourmet' fast food - for example - a Greek burger or Bacon Mac and cheese poutine (poutine is french fries covered in gravy and cheese curds) or Naan wraps like Pulled Pork Naan. AND the portions are HUGE (yes Fondles HUGE - grinning - we do like HUGE around here LOL)

The stars were truly aligned !!  The truck was busy - BUT no one was eating there (probably cause the tables were in the shade and it was a tad chilly)....that didn't deter us... we ordered - took the first table and 'chowed' down.  It was the BEST!! not just the food - BUT the eating out - literally and figuratively

This was the food truck............. 

 

the cutlery is stored in containers that dispense one at a time - tucked under the hood

 

and picnic tables...... for your dining pleasure. (socially distanced)

 

This might have been one of the best date nights EVER!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Question Period...... 

As it would happen PK asked a question that sorta goes with today's post...... 

"Have you always lived in the great white north? Ever tried anything warmer? Everyone like where they live, but it really does sound cold up there for a long time each year."

Yup always lived here... though I have moved provinces... born and raised in Quebec and moved to Ontario when I retired. BUT the weather didn't really change.  Ever winter I bitch about the snow and the cold - and how I wished we lived somewhere warmer - but you know there's always a trade off - for example British Columbia - specifically Vancouver - is not nearly as cold as the other provinces... and they don't get as much snow.. BUT they get rain...... days and days and days of rain.  and yeah our winters can be long - we tend to say 6 months of winter -- BUT truthfully it isn't that long.. not actual winter - snow and cold.  This year we didn't have any snow till after Christmas! We only had about 2 or 3 major snow events... and only a couple of weeks of extreme cold (like -30C which is -22F) and here it is end of March and our temperatures are up to +19 (yesterday) which is 66F. 

Thanks for the question PK !!

Anniversary

 

 

Today marks the one year anniversary since WHO declared Covid a global pandemic... gives new meaning to the "we're all in this together" doesn't it??

One year ago the schools closed and I volunteered to home school the little one - how difficult was this going to be right?? a couple of weeks..... no wait a couple of months.. no wait till the end of the school year.  I supervised math and grammar and reading and writing in the mornings.. and then in the afternoon we 'travelled around the world' learning about different countries.. different cultures.. different foods.  BUT she'd go back to school in September right? one year in and I am still teaching ......

Shopping once a week - but mostly ordering online and Sir Steve would pick up on his way home from work....... we'd get 75% of our order.. and weird things would be missing like milk?!  and once I asked for fruit - any fruit - and we got none.  So one hour a week in the grocery store - masked - hand sanitizing like mad.. scrubbing hands when I finally got home...

Family birthdays / holidays - standing on the front lawn - keeping our 2 meter distance - in the cold and the rain.. just to see their faces.  Christmas done via facetime.... and I thought Christmas was loud and confusing before!!!

We were allowed to move to the country in May .. and we stayed till September - still isolating but at least it was in the country.... a small bright spot in the darkness.

And now - vaccines and hope - and anticipation ............. watching the numbers go down in our small town... celebration......... AND then this week ... and we have 5 outbreaks in Long Term Care homes.  F I V E !!!  weren't they all supposed to have received vaccines??  AND our numbers are soaring and the health unit is saying they will put us back in the red zone (don't ask - they have colour coded everything!)  Feeling there is no end to this......... feeling of desperation - weren't we all promised everyone vaccinated by September??  Is it ever going to improve ?? (note I did NOT say 'going to end' - cause it's not - you know that right?)

Wondering what one year from now will hold for us all............ 

 

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 spring .... and the promise of renewal that comes with it