On February 18, Kathryn and I celebrated our 36th Wedding Anniversary. We had a great celebration with the whole family at Mom’s house. A couple of weeks later, we asked Mom to come to our house to have corned beef and cabbage on St. Patrick’s Day. That week in March is always a busy because we all get together again on the weekend to celebrate Kathryn’s Birthday.
Not so fast… On March 9, when I went to visit one of my customers, there was a sign that said “Due to Covid19 precautions, vendors are not permitted on the facility.” I’ve been working at home since that date and we haven’t had a family gathering for 2 1/2 months.
How are your processing the events of the day? How are you properly taking note of the tragedy of over 60,000 deaths with mere changes in the ways our families and friends are interacting. How are we processing the plans that have had to be changed without losing sight of the the real tragedy that has taken place. This year I was planning on attending the Toastmasters Convention that was scheduled for Paris in August. The trip was going to include a visit to friends in Castellamonte, Italy where I would be able to see first hand the town where my Grandfather grew up. While it’s disappointing the convention got postponed until next year, that one year delay is a small price to pay compared to the real suffering.
Two articles in the Monday SF Chronicle struck me. First is a story is about a 24 year-old woman who was sharing a $4,900.00 apartment with four roommates. Prior to the shelter in place orders, three of people moved. Fortunately as the circumstances have gotten more complicated, they are making a deal with the landlord. https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Coronavirus-May-rent-is-due-and-many-in-Bay-15243652.ph
Then there are situations that while not tragic are unfortunate. This week, the SF Giants were suppose to visit Minnesota to play the Twins. For the first time Giant’s relief pitcher Tyler Rogers was going to be on the same Major League field as his twin brother Taylor. While in the grand scheme of things, everything should be alright in the Rogers family, it would have been special family event. https://www.sfchronicle.com/giants/article/Coronavirus-shutdown-costs-Giants-Tyler-Rogers-15239133.php
How do we process tragic events compared to plans that merely have to be adjusted because of Covid19.
- The tragedy of losing a family member to the virus vs the disappointment of wedding plans gone awry.
- The ordeal being sick in the ICU vs the empty feeling of your senior year of high school abruptly ending.
- Endless, dangerous hours working as a medical provider or first responder vs grandparents having to wait before they can safely visit their newborn grandchild.
As it stands now, there is very little stress in my quarantine activities. I miss golf and ballgames. While not fun, this is not much of a sacrifice. I can visit Mom but have to be wearing a mask, six feet away. I can also talk to her on the phone. I just wish whole family could get together for dinner at her house.
Please stay safe and well, and please and add your comments below. I’d love to hear how your managing your emotions and how you’re putting things into perspective as we navigate through this.
Lets find our needle of common ground in that haystack of fear.
Home | Let's Talk it Over 
Like you, Steve, my life hasn’t changed much. I’ve worked from home for the last 20+ years. I do miss being able to go out and do activities, but that’s a short-term problem. I was disappointed when my Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim hike was postponed till next year. I took a day and had a little pity party and the next day started a new running streak.
Still the farmgirl at heart, I don’t see it as a haystack of fear but rather a haystack of change and we have to find the opportunities within it!
LikeLike