November 17th, 2020 – Tuesday (garbage day)
The winds of change are blowing again … and they are good and strong and bringing hope.
I find it sad and a bit startling that the only way I know the days, as they are speeding by, is by when my garbage is collected. Oh, it’s Tuesday – again – quick, run out to the street. It’s a good thing I live on a rather rural road … the deer are used to seeing me in my pajamas. They don’t care. If I throw them an apple – they care even less. Many of my friends have started (or finished) decorating for Christmas. I can’t do that yet because the only reasons I know it’s still November are by the pumpkins marching down my steps and the explosion of all things fall inside my home. For a person who is a bit of a control freak in personality, this year has been tough because there has been so very little one can control. I need to stay to whatever “schedule” I can … whatever is deemed as “normal” … so, I’ve got two more weeks of acorns and everything pumpkin spice … rusts, mustards, browns of all shades … before I trade in for the twinkle and sparkle of all things Holiday. I love my seasons … I’m just not ready to let go of this one yet.
Prior to my first cataract surgery (a month ago already), I rearranged the furniture in my den and living rooms. It was done in anticipation of my new couch’s arrival. Good timing, too, as I spent the next 2 weeks face down on it after an emergency retinal reattachment. Some retinas seem to “fall off” the back eye wall like a piece of unglued plywood … sturdy, in one sheet, easy to stick back on. My retina peeled off like old wallpaper (I’m envisioning sweet, pink rosebuds on an ivory background) after a flood. Shredded, the doctors did the best they could with the reattachment. I have vision (hip hip hooray) … but it’s wavy and distorted. I’ve been told to “get used to it”. I’ll do my best.
Anyway – the couch isn’t the comfiest … I bought it online … but it’s adequate for the price, the color I wanted and has one of those changeable chaise cushions and ottomans that can be moved to either end. Always good to have options. And while I was face down on this new, cozy, taupe chenille couch … it was nice to breathe in virgin couch cushion smells. Ah factory scent, how I love thee!
My late husband always quipped that Helen Keller was lucky she didn’t live with us as I was always rearranging something! He’d go to bed and wake up the next morning to a completely different house. It’s “my thing” – what can I say?
A week ago I moved my bed back to where it had been for the past five years … near the corner windows. I moved it on a whim a few months back and though the new placement made the room feel bigger, I didn’t really like it. It didn’t feel right. Maybe something was “off” in the feng shui department. So, I pushed things back to the previous layout. This morning I reaped the benefits of that change.
Oh, it was lovely! We are expecting a storm to come in (soon) today … high winds, gale warnings, rumblings of trees coming down and power outages in many areas. Oh joy! I’m ready. We had a similar day last week and were out of power for 14 hours. I’ve perfected the art of tossing perishables from the fridge in lightning speed! I hate the waste and the cost and was lamenting this to a (far wiser than I) neighbor and she bluntly asked me why I didn’t use my cooler on the deck? Throw some ice in it and put all the perishables into it and it won’t get warmer than 40ยบ out there – same temp as my fridge! Brilliant advice! Not once in the 6 years I’ve been here (and many storms) had that ever occurred to me to do! So, I’ve dug out my cooler and the next time I need it, I’ll be ready. I haven’t restocked anything in my fridge so all that is safe and I could basically be out of power for two days before I’d have to worry about the freezer goods. So winds … come on! I’m ready for ya!
Anyway, with this storm blowing in earlier this morning … so, were the beginning winds. We don’t get southernly winds often … but when we do they arrive softly at my window and they are the best reason to stay in bed. So, I did what the dad did in the story “The Night Before Christmas” … I sprang from my bed and flew open the sash! I opened the window a bit higher than usual and let those balmy, spring-like breezes waft over me as I snuggled back under my comforter. It was heavenly. While there, enjoying the fresh air, I told myself I’d get up after one … maybe two … more big gusts. And then the ivory lace curtains would billow and poof out and the breezes would wash over me and I’d tell myself I’d get up after another one … or two … or five.
We are in a pandemic. Where am I going anyway? Stay in bed and enjoy those breezes. The highlight of my day today was taking out my garbage can to the street. I live in an area where we have slugs and snails. They eat my garden and gather in my trash and recycling bins and I am constantly rescuing them from a garbagy death. Today there were so many I told them they were on their own! It’s one thing to rescue one or two … today there was a party and not one of them was wearing a mask!
Speaking of which – (in my opinion) we, as should be the rest of the nation, are on a lock-down of sorts. I know we all want life as usual to resume. I am all for normalcy … believe me – I am as sick of this shit as anyone else. But “normalcy” is not going to happen until we get a handle on this virus … and if that means, wearing masks, washing our hands til they fall off, physically distancing ourselves and taking some civic responsibility in closing up until we can reopen … so be it. As of today over 11 million Americans have/had Covid-19 … and nearly 250,000 deaths in this nation. And still no federal mandate … or real help. Pathetic. So, friends … do your part. We can do this!
Thanksgiving is next week. It is my favorite holiday. Maybe it’s my Pilgrim heritage … (I’ve got the Mayflower relatives sitting up in my family tree) … but I love the no-pomp of it all. I love the gathering and the food … the sharing of bounty … and mostly what the day represents … gratefulness … being thankful. Taking time to count our many, many blessings.
This year will be very different for most of us. I’m envisioning a microwavable Marie Calendar’s turkey dinner with a side of candied yams for me and the dogs. A far cry from the full-table holiday dinners of the past. Keep in mind it’s just ONE DAY … we will miss the relatives and Uncle George’s corny jokes and Grandma’s hugs … but there are so many ways, in this day and age, to be alone/together. Call, Skype, Zoom, Facetime, use your portal, your phone, your computer … now, more than any time in our history, can we still be together while being apart. And isn’t it worth it to protect those we love … so that we can continue to hear those jokes and get those hugs? Don’t infect your family and friends this holiday season … cherish them enough to let everyone enjoy another holiday with them.
I know too many families that will be without a loved one at their table this holiday … I know too many families that will be without a loved one at their table – ever again. Do your part. It’s not a partisan thing. It’s a health crisis. Protect yourself and those you love. And even those you don’t. This, too, shall pass … but we need to be part of the solution/not the problem. I’m not preaching … just reminding. This is important.
Covid-19 has turned out to be more like Covid-25 … or 30 (lbs) for many I know. Including yours truly. We eat for comfort. We eat out of loneliness. We eat out of frustration or despair. We aren’t out and about. The pounds pack on. There is a hippo at the Cincy Zoo that I’m in love with, Fiona. I’m feeling I’m starting to resemble her more than I’d like! I keep thinking if I had the chance to do a stand-up routine now, I’d open with … “Does this mask make my butt look big?” I’m thinking it does! For that reason, I’m hoping that the new year is known as Covid -45 … and maybe I (we) can lose some of this extra poundage.
On the political front … our president is acting like a child throwing a hissy fit/temper tantrum in the toy aisle at Target. Again. Still. Those enabling his ridiculousness, ineptitude and disgusting, irresponsible behavior should be ashamed of themselves. I hope the nation is noticing their reprehensible behavior as well. Shameful. But the winds of change are blowing … and they are good and strong and bringing hope.
Mask up. Keep your distance. Wash your hands. Stay healthy. Check on your neighbors. And, when you can … let the winds of change blow over you.