This colorful photo bursts with anticipation. It was taken just moments before our first group Thanksgiving dinner in two years. We were having a small gathering of our son and daughter in law, who got married during Covid, and her parents, who we were meeting for the first time. It was pre-Omicron, and — we’d hoped — post major Covid. Everyone was vaxx’d and boosted. We felt comfortable partaking in a careful, small-group setting. We cooked together, and ate, and shared stories, and laughed. It was simple, and seemed like old times. Here we are, one month later, facing the bleak winter months in another potential lockdown. We’re not sharing anymore, and can’t invite anyone in, it seems. Dr. Fauci says to stay away. Plans are falling apart. Though we have learned a few things, we’re back to Covid protocols. No hugging. No gathering. No nothing. Ugly masks. We try to find time every day to walk outdoors in the winter cold. Other than that, we’re inside, on our own, on our devices, conducting lives through phones and mail. Here we go again. How do we attach meaning to sitting indoors? Where do we find beauty? I’ll have to get back to you on that.
January 6, 2022
The past week has been nothing but eye opening and inspirational for me as I have found ways to make myself happy as well as friends and family around me. I went to a Black Lives rally at Wright state listening to inspirational poems and speaker such as my brother who was there detailing what students like I should ask myself to excel in the present and in the future. If I am still able to get up eat, touch,taste,smell, laugh, joke and be happy then I'm great.Through times like these you have to satisfy yourself cause you'll never be happy or care to even participate in activities.
October 10, 2020