Quarantine Thoughts

April 2, 2020

As Cooper and I were taking our morning walk, the word "surreal" continued to take over my thoughts.  There was perfect quiet and the beauty of a new day but no other people around. Just. Us.
I have heard a lot of people reference this time as a chance to reflect on what we have and who we call family.  This is what I was feeling this morning.

Ron and I are no strangers to isolation and having to stay home.  We were both very sick at the same time, ten years ago (can you believe it!) and were confined to our home, in some cases, our room, for months. Both of our immunities were extremely low so we could not easily be around others due to catching something they might have.  I remember thinking then that once I got well, I would never take life for granted.

This virus has caused me to revisit my gratitude.  I am grateful that I have the health to get up and walk Cooper every morning on a quiet street in a sweet neighborhood.  And, though, I may not have the biggest house on the block or one as nice as some of my friends, it is our house full of our things, our memories, our dogs, and each other.  I am grateful that Ron and I both have the gift of playing music and that we can share that gift with others. I am grateful that he and I have been able to manage this new 24/7 time together and doing pretty good at it. 

At this time I am so grateful for technology that holds us all together.  Because of it, we do not have to stress about our loved ones and can look forward to talking to or "seeing" them on a screen. I am thankful for sons who stay connected every two or three days, even sometimes daily, as we keep our family together.

I am thankful for books to read, boxes and albums of pictures to look through, my Bible studies, and actually writing to people.

And though I thought I had lost my mind last summer when I got a puppy, I am so thankful to have this little guy in my life. He is my "constant" companion and protector.

I am thankful for a neighborhood that has come alive with people I have never seen before.  They are out walking their dogs or just walking together.  I am thankful for a lovely courtyard where we can sit and wave and have our "6 feet distancing" conversations.  It is great to see kids out riding their bikes.
I am thankful that the neighborhood has taken on a whole new atmosphere of feeling that we are all taking care of each other.

I have experienced restlessness, of course, and know that will be a challenge more so in the days ahead.  I am thankful that I can learn to find things to do whether it is dusting the three layers of those top shelves, baking using Bisquick as my flour, cleaning into the depths of my closet, or taking a nap.

I am thankful for the experience of learning that I can go from a scheduled full day life style, to being creative as to what I am going to do with these new empty ones.

And, more than anything, I am thankful for my faith and the hope for the future.