My daughter always calls these four months of dealing with Covid-19 "The Rona". I can tell you this, whatever you call it, there has been an affect on everybody's lifestyle....one way or another. Despite having what should have been lots of free time on my hands, I feel like I have been on a merry-go-round for 4 months and nobody thought to stop it so I can get off. The first two months, I worked hard on my house. Redecorating rooms and catching up on craft projects.
Then they said we could leave the house but just practice social distancing. I was like a kid in a candy store. I stayed my 6' away, but at the same time I started visiting with friends I hadn't seen in way too long. I was able to finally go antiquing with my best friend. I was glad to find that despite "The Rona", my friendships were still in tact with all the people who matter to me.
Went to a gathering at another friends house who has the most precious daughter. Fell in love with this little girl first time I met her.
Finally got to get cuddle time with Baby E. who belongs to another set of friends. Baby E is only two months old and I'm just now getting to meet her thanks to "The Rona".
And one of my first outside meals was catching back up with these two friends that mean so much to me.
One of my first girls night out was with one of my best girlfriends, Mendi, to celebrate her birthday.
I learned that I could survive staying at home alone ... A LOT! But I also learned that I didn't always like my own company. Lots of lonely days and even lonelier nights. I learned that if you decided to binge watch Chicago Fire you would look for Severide and Casey in every fire truck you passed and that your "heading to bed at 11:00" nights turned out being up to 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. to watch "just one more episode."
I learned that my grandchildren hold such a big piece of my heart (as if I didn't already know that). Nothing was as hard during "The Rona" as not getting to see The Grands or to keep them overnight. The two oldest boys work and are busy with their lives so I don't get to see them much at all, but the three youngest still love coming to see me. I learned how exciting it is to get to see them after that long of an absence.
I learned that women of a "certain age" can still walk down paths to wade in the river. I also learned just because they can do it doesn't mean they should. I also learned how hard those big river rocks are when you lose your footing and land on your hip and how painful that can be. I also learned how thankful I was for all the milk I have drank in my lifetime that I didn't break any bones all though I had a doozie of a bruise for weeks.
I learned that if I take a chance and order a bracelet off Etsy, it will soon become my favorite bracelet ever. The symbols are Celtic for Anam Cara which translates into Soul Friend. And has a very special meaning between me and my best friend.
I also learned that I could drink tea and love it....as long it was mixed with lemonade. But I also loved Green Tea with honey and ginseng. But plain old sweet tea is never going to be something I like.
I learned that I love baking even if I wasn't working and having people to feed. Of course, I also learned that if I bake and DON'T give it away, I will eat it. So obviously a lot of friends got free desserts throughout "The Rona".
I learned that my friend didn't mind if I picked mysef some roses from his rose bush and I realized how nice it was to have fresh flowers on the counter.
I remembered how much I love going to my youngest grandson's ball games.
I learned how it felt to stay there from the first game until the last game to see Colby's team play in the final game of the tournament. They played their hearts out and went home with 2nd place medals. Was so proud of these boys.
I learned how much fun I could have on a Charleston vacation with my best friend. Don't worry, I have Charleston pics to share another day.
I learned how much fun it was to go out on the 4th of July to a cookout at a friend's house and get to watch a bunch of fireworks with a lot of my friends and to get to make new friends.
I learned that the little purple flowers I have always called purple flowers are actually called Thistle which is a horrible name for such cute little flowers.
I learned my neighbor can go out of town for long periods and never touch his flower garden and it still thrives.
I learned how to become a farmer. Well, ok a tomato farmer. Well actually it's one plant so I guess I'm not any kind of farmer. I will just be happy if I don't kill it whether I get tomatoes off it or not.
But basically, the main things I learned through "The Rona" is that family is always family and will always love you even when they can't see you. And that true friends are always true friends, no matter how much or how little time you get to spend together. And most of all "The Rona" taught me that I am a survivor. That I don't have to overthink everything. Life is gonna be whatever it is gonna be. And for me, these past four months have been good, despite "The Rona".
