Sunday, March 7, 2021

SHIFTING PERSPECTIVE

First, regarding my last post.  No.  No one had an affair.  So stop wondering.

Second, I'm letting my shock, grief, and rage about the previous administration go.  He/they have used up enough of me.  I'm focusing on the current Administration...the one I worked so hard to get elected and we did!  And now we bear the fruit of our labors with all the good things that are coming to pass, most notably the passing of the American Rescue Plan yesterday that will help millions of Americans in so many ways.  The headlines say the Senate passed the plan but that's not really totally accurate:  the Democrats in the Senate passed it.  Not one Republican voted for it.  We won the Senate and now we can help people in spite of Republican obstruction and head-scratching, gob-smacking lack of compassion.  I'm sure all who voted for these R's will turn down any financial aid coming their way.  Hopefully they will sign their checks over to food banks or something.  That would be nice, huh?

As for the Covid year.  That still rages on, but I'm noticing that most of my friends now have at least one shot in their arms, many of us have both.  Again, this is thanks to the Biden Administration coming in and doing the work the previous administration ignored (like having any plan at all for increasing vaccine production and distribution).   The U.S. is currently administering 2 million doses a day.  The plan is to have vaccine ready to go for every American by mid-May.  This is phenomenal.  

Maybe this summer my whole family will be vaccinated.  

Already Hub and I have our full immunity, as does my daughter in law who works in health care, and Son Two has one dose in after becoming eligible as a childcare provider -- he supervises a childcare program (among many other programs) and pitches in with the kids at his park district supervisor job.  Now it's just Son One and Son Two's wife to go and we can all breathe (literally) in the same room together a little easier.  (The granddaughters lag behind, but they have learned well that physical distancing and mask wearing is just a part of their childhood lives.  Our 6-yr old now reminds me I'm getting too close.)  Anyway, I'm basically awed and elated at the turn-around that seemed so hopeless only a couple months ago.

Also, regarding my last post.  I said I was 70.  Nope.  Turns out I'm 45.   I know, I know.  Over the last year I've noticed my hair has turned grayer and the wrinkles and sags in my face more pronounced.  So what?  I just read an article that played on the "only as old as you feel" theme about growing older and what to do about it.  HAHA  As if there is anything to do about it but accept it, right?  Anyway, I decided I feel 45.  I liked being 45.  I was definitely a grown up.  I had learned some stuff.  Sure I was sad and overweight and stressed by trying to be the perfect mother, wife, community organizer, etc etc.  But there were some good parts too and besides I'm not trying to repeat being 45 -- in so many ways I like myself better now; I'm healthier, happier, wiser.  But the chronological number seems off.  Inside I feel about 45.  

I know 70 isn't old, exactly, unless I spend a wee bit too much time gaming life expectancy, and then there is a bit of a shock.  But as my 11 year old granddaughter posited recently, "Grandma, do you think you'll set the record for living the longest?"  "Well, I don't know honey, what's the record?"  "I think it's like 130 or something...I think you can do it Grandma, cuz you do yoga and eat super healthy food."  "Hmm...well, yes, then I think I'll shoot for that!"  LOL  So sweet, but hey why not?  We are only as old as we feel.  And when I'm 130, I'll probably feel about 70 and that will feel damn good!

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

Photo Credit: www.pixabay.com

5 comments:

  1. I went through a mini depression when I turned 70 and I expect I'll have another next year when I hit another decade marker. I suspect comes with the territory because we all start examining our life's accomplishments and failures when the big numbers come.

    I agree that we've wasted enough time on our past president and I only hope he'd quit being relevant to his cult and that Donnie Junior doesn't try to take his place.

    Funny, but I never for a second thought that you or your husband had an affair. My impression? That you are kind of like Barbara Streisand's character in "The Way We Were"---totally throwing yourself into causes until you burn out from the stress and exhaustion of it all, not having enough energy left over to take care of the home front so to speak. And that your husband's idea of retirement was more along the lines of laying back, travel, having fun. Okay, I admit that I don't always comprehend what I'm reading so if I'm wrong, it's my lack of reading skills and not your lack of writing skills is what gives me this impression.

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    1. Well,that is ONE of the issues between my husband and me. But it's HIM who has thrown himself into the climate change work nearly full time, then yes, he wants to "play" so takes off alone to do the things he enjoys that I don't. We spend plenty of time together too, but we are now doing a much better job of prioritizing each other and not taking each other for granted. It's been WAY more complicated than that with many other issues, but we are getting there. We spent part of this morning making travel plans to see places and do things together -- new adventures await!

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    2. I've always loved Barb's character by the way and that movie is one of my ten favorites of all times. So I meant that comparison as a compliment in case you couldn't tell. LOL

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    3. And I didn't mean to lay blame at his feet. We are both too busy at various times. More playtime is called for.

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