Friday, March 13: Seismic shifts
What a strange and beautiful day. I left early on a birthday hike to celebrate my friend’s 40th birthday. We had the Twin Sisters trail to ourselves as we hiked through mounds of freshly fallen snow. I shared my Middle Eastern date cookies with her as a birthday treat. I had just brought them back from Michigan three days earlier. As we hiked, we processed the strange potential things that might happen, and we pondered the impact of recent social encounters and future plans.
Sharing cookies… that feels thoughtful and delightful and celebratory.
It was my kids’ last day of school before spring break. I knew I would arrive home post-hike to shifting sands.
And then the onslaught of virtual communication rushed in—every entity I am involved with is sending out emails of closure and postponement.
My kids dance around the living room celebrating the news of a second week of spring break, a.k.a., enrichment week, as the world is shutting down.
Saturday, March 14: Queen of flexibility
In normal life, I work 4 very fulfilling, part-time jobs—mainly, nonprofits, self-employment, and contract work. I am queen of finding rhythm with flexibility and faith through many changing seasons of my various jobs. And half my work is already virtual.
I got this.
Bring on change.
Bring on the unknown.
Bring on kids at home and the anticipation of spring.
Let’s keep dancing around the living room and watch as many movies as we can think of, and eat large bowls of white cheddar popcorn.
Sunday, March 15: Clean hands and pure hearts
This is ominously exciting. The CDC cancelled church gatherings of 150 or more, but our small community group is getting together to watch it virtually and enjoy Sunday brunch together. In the celebration of slowing down the pace of life and being together, there is a growing sense of urgency for quarantining. Some have opted out of our physical gathering.
Keep your hands clean and move to toe touches and elbow taps.
🎶 Give us clean hands, give us pure hearts
Let us not lift our souls to another
O God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face O God of Jacob
O God let us be a generation that seeks
That seeks your face O God of Jacob 🎶
I timed it… this chorus is a solid 30 seconds of prayer AND proper hand washing.
I love finding hope, meaningful connection, and laughter in challenging situations.
Monday, March 16: Plans proceed but toilet paper is scarce
We have summer camp coming up in July. Kids need their wellness checkups. It’s going to be a highly productive spring break. I got two out of three kids went in the health clinic for physicals and vaccinations. People wore masks and signs were posted about being cautious.
Toilet paper is a weird crisis. We forgot to pick up our usual stash at Sam’s Club last month. Oops! I feel more and more compelled to join the bandwagon of fear and scarcity. Don’t panic… we’ll find some.
In the restroom at the local medical center for my kid’s wellness checkup…
Experiencing a new kind of temptation 😳🧻🧻
Tuesday, March 17: A cold coming on
Ella’s wellness checkup is cancelled. That seems to be the new rhythm. Most things left on the calendar are also being cleared. I feel a cold coming on and my mind trails to all the places I’ve been and the people I’ve touched. I start to rethink some of our spring break interactions… and sharing date cookies.
Wednesday, March 18: Rhythm in chaos
When the winds of change disrupt normal life, I find it helpful to hold on to a familiar chorus—a loose framework of routine and rhythm. I enjoy a morning cup of coffee with my Sweet. I run the empty track at the middle school. I do regular bouts of Pilates and prayers.
My throat is sore and I dig out the thermometer. No fever. All three times.
My mom calls. She’s worried about our lack of toilet paper. My dad unpacks meat from his freezer and finds our favorite kind of Greek cheese at the restaurant depot. We arrange a socially distant walk at a park halfway between our cities. No hugs. No kisses. Just a transfer of food items and a lovely stroll. The sun is in full shine, but road signs are flashing to brace for an impending winter storm.
Still no fever. I would feel horrible if I were the one to compromise my parents’ health in their late 70s.
Thursday and Friday are cold and dark and snowy. No place to go. Every cough makes me a little nervous. Still no fever. Ella coughs and sniffles. No fever.
Saturday, March 21: Keep baking, keep running, keep dancing
The week went by so quickly. It wasn’t much of a spring break—except for excessive movie watching and creative baking and spontaneous dance parties. Keeping our rhythm–Saturday pancakes. The dog park is perfect for social distancing. Another run on the middle school track while the gym is closed and the weather is decent.
On My Mind 