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Have you been part of any social gatherings lately? If so, what was that like? What impact did the pandemic have, if any?
Indeed I have! After two years of limited and tentative get-togethers, it feels like there have hardly been any social opportunities I HAVEN'T taken advantage of In the past seven days I've: * Had a leisurely and entirely enjoyable hour and a half lunch with a colleague at a popular and busy restaurant * Attended a planning meeting for a weekend camping trip that subsequently got cancelled due to wildfires * Taken the day off from work to run errands, including buying chicken feed at a farm supply store, shopping for clothes at a second-hand store, and getting groceries at a big box store * Played board games for several hours at my friend's art gallery with two other friends * Hiked a seven mile trail in the mountains with a party of six * Watched a movie at the local art house theater All of these, except the hiking, was not possible at various points in the pandemic You better believe I appreciate the chance to do all the things now that restrictions have been lifted Is it risky? Sure! Do I know it could be rescinded at any moment if any variants around the world develop more threatening profiles? Yes! "You only live once" has never seemed more applicable
May 6, 2022
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Mourning my own as I gaze upon the English mourning The pandemic stole my right to mourn I remained huddled in my home My friends Were buried on zoom. My colleagues, friends, advisors Passing after shutdown March ‘20 And yet a year later I sought To set aside a memorial moment. In lieu of wakes and shivas Along with my in-person hugs I sat through Prince Philip’s service Mourning all my losses in a royal setting Taking time for silence and grief Thank yous for the Royal Family For this moment set aside to grieve. I engaged with the service, half listening, My own departed held no titles,no heraldries Philip’s honors appropriate for queen’s mate. I was gifted the time to observe and reflect Upon dear friends some younger than he They had died, as he, untouched by covid. I sat before the flat screen and mourned Remembering each friends’ kindness, each one’s care. The army-green Land Rover turned at Windsor gates With a bear skin helmeted officer standing in salute I marked the passing month by month of friends And on this day I transformed the regale spectacle Into my own service remembering my own losses Internally I stood in salute and prayed for each My own special persons, grateful for this timely solution.
April 23, 2021