Featured Refresh
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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 Do I know it could be rescinded at any moment if any variants around the world develop more threatening profiles?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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We hear a lot these days about the economic impact of the pandemic. Has this been on your mind? If so, tell us what you're thinking.
I sometimes help at a nearby farm. I help a fellow who had hoped to lease and farm full time, selling his wares at a farmers market and to upscale restaurants. Because of the economy he had to get a “real” job teaching so he wasn’t as dependent on the weather, and the fickleness of consumer spending to support his family. This year he did not even try any produce because of time restrictions he knew he was going to need for figuring out how to teach in this new world, so it’s just a handful of beef cows. They are pretty independent so it’s often just a head count, checking gates are closed, and water is available. I miss watching the tomatoes and or corn crops growing. The corn field went to pasture, and the hot house remains empty. There’s been limits put on every aspect of my life, and while I can stay home and isolate, With the cows I still get some interaction, some close contact with something living. This picture is Daisy, the one cow that allows touches. I know they all eventually end up at the “burger barn” but they have been my go to source of socialization during Covid. I’m hoping the owner can hold onto the land so I don’t lose this outlet as well as the many other activities that were part of my “normal” life.
October 12, 2020