Day 85 in 2020 (isolation day 10)

Every day has it's ups and down. Dark spots today? We got the email from Calvin's dance studio effectively canceling the competition season—Calvin's first competition season, that he was so excited about—and offering a tuition adjustment, but, in the same sentence, subtly suggesting that maybe if we could afford it and we didn't ask for that adjustment, it might help the studio survive. Survive. Ouch. Also, Jon struggled throughout the morning to make a webinar happen even though internet everywhere is struggling under the load it suddenly must carry, but that was a bright spot, too, because...

Bright spots today? Jon played the hero today by, in spite of a multitude of hurdles, pulling off a successful webinar. Not a simple task, either. The webinar speaker was at his own house while Jon was on the floor of our storage room doing everything he could to keep the thing flowing smoothly with only a questionable internet connection. Also, the continuation of our daily online art class, and a very enjoyable Wednesday wine night online with family members. 

What's that you say, sign? There's going to be a major curve in the road ahead? Well, with help and hope we can handle this.

Day 83 in 2020 (isolation blog)

The order to just plain stay home has finally been issued by our governor. Though I expected it last night, it didn't come until early today. The duration, for now, is three weeks, which is a week past when kids in our district were supposed to return to school, but I've been saying for a while now that I didn't expect them to reopen the schools again this school year. The rules seem to be changing daily, we're just trying to keep up.

Today's bright spots were a supportive, loving email from Calvin's band teacher, a message from his bassoon teacher with a creative work-around for getting reeds and music from him, and an hour-long online choir rehearsal, which Calvin tuned into from our bedroom while Jon taught an online piano lesson downstairs. I am deeply touched by the extensive effort by so many educators to connect with and help the kids usually under their care or tutelage.

Gimli likes to nap on our bed in the late afternoons, so choir rehearsal may have had an extra.

Day 77 in 2020: isolation blog day 2

Sometimes reality hits you like a rake handle to the face.

We've been floating along absorbing rapidly changing realities without batting an eye. Schools closed? No problem. Work from home? No problem. Stay in? Eh, we're introverts anyhow. Looking forward we've done very well accepting first postponements, then reschedulings, then even cancellations. But looking back can be jarring.

Today we got a package. I saw it on our mail list for the day and wasn't sure what it was, couldn't remember ordering anything as of late. But it wasn't something I'd ordered as of late, it was something I ordered almost two weeks ago with the idea of having it to enjoy over this coming weekend, which was to be a busy time for all three of us with Jon away at a conference and Calvin performing in both a big band to-do and his first ever dance competition. I had been so excited when I placed the order, not even two weeks ago, yet now here it is, a rather sudden reminder of all we have lost, and how quickly we lost it.

We are still here floating along, taking the punches as they roll, but it's important I think, too, to note the changes that are thrust at us, and sometimes to mourn them. This is not life as usual, and it, too, shall pass, but it will take oh so much with it. Let's just hope that, by giving up so much, the majority of what it takes will be moments of the past, not moments of the future.

(Jon teaching piano from home via Skype while I keep Gimli quiet in his favorite perch, the front window, or take him out and about...just part of our new reality)

Day 70 in 2020

Longing for the day when I can just throw on a pair of tennis shoes for our hikes.

Day 67 in 2020