14. DAILY MUSINGS DURING THE PANDEMIC COVID 19 - FACE TO FACE

It's been 2 weeks of daily sharing my thoughts here.  I'm going to stop doing this so regularly.  But I will continue to contemplate, journal, and blog about this time in our history and how my family, friends, community, and I have been impacted.

Today, confusion.  There is so much pain and anxiety around this and I find so much gratitude and joy in each day too.  Maybe that's just how life goes and this has made us all raw enough to realize it.  We are not lost in the fever dream of busy-ness or nonsense -- in things that are so crazily unimportant. We are in this moment of survival, of caring for each other, of appreciation.  At least that's true for me.

I'm sure there are some who are just pissed off, or ignoring the whole thing, or so frightened that they can't find any peace.  And of course, I'm only talking about those of us who are "well" and not those fighting off the virus, or fighting for their lives.  Or those risking their own lives to fight on our behalf in clinics and hospitals.

One big thing today -- Hub and I went for our usual walk at the waterfront Marina.  Fresh air, sunshine, breezes, and a few strangers to smile and nod at, when suddenly a woman came jogging toward us, slowed and said, "Don't I know you?" with a big smile on her face.  I was stunned!  Here was an "in the flesh" woman I know; a new friend I've made in a FB group where we support each other in going sugar free, eating healthy, and moving our bodies.  I've only met her in person a few times, but we shared deeply in posts and messages online.  We've found a lot in common and a common bond of working toward good health.

We stopped to chat, both smiling awkwardly and sort of in awe, to see someone real that we know.  She said, "I feel like crying".  I realized tears were welling in my eyes too.  We stood far apart (way more than 6 feet), smiling and allowing tears, then moved on to chatting about this and that before parting again.

In this time of physical distancing, even with Zoom and social media and all the rest, I realized in those few moments how much I've missed the face-to-face reality of another person to see and talk with (well, besides Hub).  I realized that what we take for granted is indeed precious.

I hope we all come out of this healthy and with a new perspective, with a new vision for a better way to live.

At least, that's the view from here. ©