“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
Babe Ruth
Covid-19 continues to hold our nation hostage. Or not. I really thought social distancing would be in the rear-view mirror by now; but it looks like it’s still hanging on, due to at least partly because people have bought into a false narrative that discredits the science. But I choose to be an optimist, and I’m ready to start taking small steps towards going back to normal life.
I confess, a year and a half ago I was actually Cloroxing the mail!
We would leave the mail in our mailbox all week and only pick it up on Monday mornings. Then we would don gloves, place the mail in our garage and spray it with a diluted Clorox solution. After a day or so, we would carefully transfer it to the house!
Time for Change
Back then, we did not know what we were dealing with. Today we have a deeper understanding, thanks to scientists, not politicians. Yes there are hold-outs who are dying everyday because they refuse to take this pandemic seriously. But this is not my focus today.
My intention is to carefully start piecing together segments of life as it was before the pandemic, but with a twist. There will be some aspects I will chose to improve upon. The past couple of years has forced us away from old family rituals and caused us to create new ones. I’ve learned to question why and how we do everything.
Why Do We Stay Here Through Winters?
My mother passed away over a year ago. My daughter is grown and happily married. My husband and I are both retired from the work force. The timing is right for taking to the highway.
The Ocean is Calling
I long for the beach. Whether it’s the balmy southern shores of the Carolinas or the rocky cliffs of Maine, I’m in!
I’m not one for swimming in the ocean, or even sun-bathing. However, I do love beach combing and walking barefoot in the cool sand.
There’s nothing quite as healing as the saline-infused sea foam air. I find the the sound of the waves to be very relaxing. And the little girl in me is always looking for the perfect sand dollar!
Why Hold Large Dinner Parties?
Not so long ago, we used to host dinner parties with a dozen or more guests at a time, thinking people would reciprocate the gesture. We’d roll out the red carpet and invest time, effort and money into ventures that in the end just left us exhausted with a big, messy house to clean!
Scaled-down Gatherings
We’ve since learned having small dinner parties allows us to keep a good conversation flow. We can all fit around our cozy dining table, which seats a maximum of six people.
And did I forget to mention “there will be wine?”
What I’ve Learned
- I need my family and friends
- I don’t need any televised sports events
- I like binge-watching tv shows, especially British dramas
- Some daily chores are a total waste of time
- Never judge a person solely by their social media posts
- Every night is date night
- Read every day. Read.Every.Day
- I don’t need wine, but I do need coffee
- I really enjoy my alone time
- Yes to yoga, meditation and daily walks
It All Starts Today
From cloroxing the mail to taking charge and learning new ways of living better, it’s up to us what happens next. So far, I’ve been lucky that the Covid-19 pandemic has not impacted me very much. I know this is not the case for everyone and my hope is that we all can come out of this challenging time relatively unscathed with positive attitudes.
How are You Coping During the Covid-19 Pandemic?
I’d love hear from you.
Thank you for reading! – Barb, the River Blogger (Btrb)
Feel free to reblog anything I post. I welcome all comments and discussion
The River Blogger 
Don’t forget about leaving your pharmacy loot in the garage for 3 days before bringing it inside!
Great read as always Barb! Your true free spirit shines in your blog!
Thank you, Karen. Your comments mean a lot to me. 🧡
as usual, great writing and interesting topic –
Thank you, guys! 💕
I got my Pfizer booster Wednesday and achy tired the next day, but today, I’m ready to face the world without worries. Now that we’re vaccinated, it’s time live our adventures and happiness again. Take care.
Have fun! You’re safe!
I did and now. Thanks.
I just love reading your blogger. You are such a great writer, oh and I used to wash all my groceries before bringing them in the house.. I’m talking EVERYTHING! and the mail… well it would sit in the garage for 2 days to “unwind” in case it had covid.
Keep up the writing! I love to read it and I LOVE YOU TOO SIS!
A***
Thank you! ❤️ I’m glad to know we weren’t the only ones to wipe stuff down. We would go to the grocery store and “take a bath” with hand sanitizer when we got back to the car! Thanks for reading. I appreciate your comments!