Covid…
It has been a year. A whole year of not cooking for clients. A whole year of quiet activities. A whole year of not leaving the house except for needed supplies. A whole year of not seeing family and being able to safely share a hug. I am ready for this to change.
A year and a half ago, my husband and I traveled to Alaska. It was a fabulous adventure. On the way home I sat on the plane next to an interesting (chatty) gentleman. He worked for the government for years and had some conspiracy theory’s he felt the need to share with me. Some I half heartedly listened to, some I tuned out. But the one thing that has stuck with me is the one where he told how the world was going to end…Pandemic…
I may have laughed at the time, but now know how seriously I should have taken this bit of info. I never thought the grocery shelves could be so quickly overcome. How toilet paper, pasta and cleaners would be a hot commodity. How my business would be shuttered. I had taken my life for granted.
Aside from sometimes of overwhelming loneliness and at times letting depression creep in. I was lucky. I had my husband, who still thinks I am funny, and supports me when I am down. I had my two dogs Cleo and Eli to entertain me. I made a “To Do List”. This allowed me a sense of purpose. We refinished wood work, painted, cleaned and moved furniture around. We did endless puzzles and cooking challenges. I learned how to give my husband a decent haircut, I learned to bake bagels that keep me from longing a trip to NY. I learned how to make fresh mozzarella and ricotta from the leftover whey. I learned how to make milk bread, baguettes and sour dough from the starters I made from scratch. (Betty White and Estelle Getty) I have never baked this much in my life!
This weekend we will Spring ahead. And Spring I shall. I have made some gains in my life. I have booked some small events, I started walking every day with my husband. I look forward to hearing the lake wake up as the days pass. I received my first Covid vaccine! My second is coming right up. I feel like I can breathe again. I look forward to having life come back to the new normal. One thing I hope is I pay more attention to the the people next to me on the plane, and I never again forget how lucky I am.
I hope you too have survived this pandemic. I hope you have food on your shelves, toilet paper in the bathroom and enough cleaner to keep you healthy. I hope you have someone in your life that thinks you are funny and makes you laugh. I hope you can get out and go for a walk. I hope you find some spring in your step. I hope you are surrounded by support no matter how you may need it. I hope the loneliness and depression lessons. And you know if you need help, please reach out.
Eat good food my friends.