Beautiful, Laura .... How many of us here besides me would love to join you !?!?* My mouth is watering over that sumptuous feast...omg ... and I would be there with a gift just for the beignets (and the Perrier Jouet ?) Congratulations! ?
Happy Anniversary!
My husband & I have remarked on how little our lives have changed, since we're both highly introverted and, although we like doing things with people, we rarely initiate or are invited so most weekends it is just us at home anyway. (My moon is in Cancer, so home is my happy place.) He is still working at the office (considered essential business) and I am busy teaching online, so we don't have more free time than usual. I do miss seeing my students and teaching online is more work in some ways, especially since I've been reaching out to try to support my students. I also miss seeing my colleagues, although I'm lucky to say hello to them once a week, but still... We've had meetings on Zoom, but I freeze on camera and only attended one, with video and sound muted on me. I tried a Zoom call with my family on Easter and had to hunch down and turn my face away in order to say anything coherent--my brain just fires off wildly and I can't think and get super anxious. While I don't have a diagnosis, I am not neurotypical, and it will take longer than this quarantine period to train my brain to adapt to that mode of communication. It took many years for me to be able to handle phone calls, and I still prefer to write rather than call my elected reps because it takes me so long to plan and psych myself up for the call and then to get my nerves to settle afterward--like, that's half my day right there!
Last week my husband turned 50. Our plan was to visit friends of his in Nova Scotia this summer, but we stopped planning that trip when the virus hit, since everything is so uncertain, especially travel. My son and I did our best to give him a special day with a homemade chocolate cake, and 50 paper hearts hanging from the ceiling throughout our 800sqft home, each with something we love or appreciate about him written on it. A few friends of his drove by at our dog-walking time to say hello and wish happy birthday from their cars. It was funny--I am so very guileless that pulling off a surprise for someone is difficult for me, and he was ready to start the walk 10-minutes before I told his friends we'd be out in front of our house. He likes to be surprised, so I didn't want to spoil the plan and I had to flounder around finding silly reasons to stall, like changing my shoes, using the bathroom longer than normal, etc. He is so patient and sweet, but I could tell he was wondering what was up with me by the time we finally walked out the door. It worked out, and he felt loved and appreciated.
Apart from the anxiety, which I've got a handle on now, the hardest part has been grocery shopping. I try to focus on being grateful that we even have money for food and that I am well enough to venture out, but boy, do you see how things are different out there! My normal shopping routine is pretty intense--my husband cals it the Kessel Run--because I go out at 8am on Saturdays to avoid the crowds and go to 4 or more places. I plan our weekly meals and know what I need and what things cost, and I work in the Co Op and the tailgate market to buy what we can afford from local growers and get the rest from Trader Joe's & other stores. But now these stores are open at different times, and you have to wait in line; the mask makes my glasses fog up, and the anxiety in the air is pretty thick. When I get home I want to cry, but instead I'm busy washing my hands and wiping down my car and the doorknobs, etc. Normal shopping will be such a breeze after this!
With Georgia opening soon, and North Carolina getting pressured, I am just praying that our state holds tight and they make a solid plan with lots of testing before they try to go back. There's very little testing happening here now and access is an issue.
@bluebelle sounds wonderful, healthy and sane. Plus the puppy, omg what a sweet baby. Enjoy.
@laura-f Happy blessed anniversary. Your plan sounds wonderful. Cheers! Here’s to many more beautiful anniversary celebrations. Enjoy each minute. These moments are really the things that matter. Love of family, gratitude, joy for what we are given and our people to share it with. I may start raising a glass in your honor right now. ???❤️
I loved your response so very much. You are truly living and learning and rising to each new challenge with an immense amount of love and strength whether you or anyone else can truly see the depths of your gifts or your level of living the healthiest and simplified life we all need to be adapting towards.
Never doubt your own unique gifts or your purpose in this world and continue to speak your truths as you navigate your way to blossoming into the fullness of this new path and challenging journey.
Sending big hugs and joining your heron dreams each time one lands on our property or soars above in all its majesty through both hazy and clear blue skies.
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