In Search of the Very
Just searching for the good stuff .
Remembrance
It was only a short time ago that everything was so different. Covid changed us as it shifted and morphed into what it is today. Are we better because of it? Stronger?
What are your thoughts ?
Gratitude
12 Comments on “Remembrance”
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Where I’ve Been
I had just retired, as well. Thank the gods. I found myself lucky to be able to avoid so much of the struggle of the pandemic. I had no job to worry about, secure finances, no family at home, my property is gigantic so on quarantine I was nowhere near trapped. I just re-read my COVID journal from November 2020 and I was freaking out about the poor transition of power after the election – valid. I was also talking about this new person in my life, Pedro, who seemed reliable and calm, whom I hadn’t met yet in person. <3 Sadly, I think the past years have left me more cynical and more bitter than before. I used to believe more strongly in the good of people, but now I am much more aware of the bad in people – which I would prefer not to know. I am more shell-shocked, more financially nervous, more suspicious of people. We spent two years practicing not being close to people – no hugs, no handshakes, no kisses. My SIL was just saying this week, "My heart aches for anyone who is 13 years old." One of her son's last year in school in person was 4th grade. School at home for two years. Then this year is his first year back in school in person, and it's 7th grade. 7th grade was my most hellish year ever. Imagine having it amplified in this crazy way by a pandemic. There is so much fallout. I just heard yesterday that the supply chain backlog of waiting container ships at Port of Longbeach, CA has finally cleared out. That took two and a half years! It's distressing for me to even think about all the repercussions that will not unravel for years to come. There are GOOD things too, just all disruption: better pay for blue collar workers, more unions intent on helping people, more awareness of minority groups, definitely more people recreating in the outdoors, more awareness of globalization, and maybe a better sense of who's got our backs.
Oh, yes, you have described it all so well. I believe there is “more to be revealed” when it comes to writing any sort of epilogue. But even that can’t be considered until the threat has passed and I don’t think we’re there yet. Many of the long term effects, good or bad, won’t be known for a decade (or maybe two) so we can’t really look for a solution without naming the problem. I like to believe that young brains are resilient. It’s the young hearts I worry about.
In my “covid journal” I worried what would happen to love. I wrote about connections and short circuits and a world without touch. I had real fear that our human interactions might take the kind of hit you don’t recover from. I don’t think that fear was realized, (thank the gods for that), but I do think people in general are more cautious and more suspicious. We live in the shelter of each other. We simply have to find our way back onto a shared path.
We must find our way back to that path.
I may be even more of a recluse than I already was. I did see more family though, since they mostly lived with me for 8 months. I doubt my grandsons will remember, but they will be told the story. What never would have happened is probably what will have the longest effect on me personally. I worry about the long term effect on those little guys though, that maybe can’t even be seen yet. They missed school, they missed socialization, they missed activities they might have thrived in but that were cut short and not returned to. But other things take their place. I expect it will even out. Long term, I agree, other things will have a bigger impact. But is the sharp right turn in this country and others, sharper because of the pandemic, and the person who was president during it?
I was happy to re-read the Gratitude post.
It’s interesting to me that you would say you might be more reclusive, because I’ve been so impressed by how engaged you are with the world. I went from an incredibly “people-y” job to near isolation with Covid. It was a dramatic adjustment, but for me, I felt like it helped me gather closer the important things (and people). Four quarters instead of twenty nickels. I agree that there is much to be concerned about and I hope I live long enough to witness the healing. As far as your boys, even if the details fall away, they will always know they were loved. You did right by all of them. (And thank you for reading the Gratitude post)
One interesting change is that so many people are thinking about exactly this question. What are the lessons, what changes to keep, what losses to mourn? It will take time to process, with uncertain answers and different conclusions for different people. But I’d like to think that people have entered a more thoughtful phase.
You make such a good point. I agree that one of the things that many of us share, are the questions. And just as the answers will be different, I imagine the questions are different as well. I’m so glad for the “thoughtful” phase you’re describing. It is only in that way that we will find the path. Thanks for sharing*
Better and worse, stronger and weaker, emptier and more full, happier and sadder. As always it’s a mix, isn’t it? I’ve been trying to think of a good metaphor for these past years, a roller coaster with the slow ups and headlong plunges, a merry-go-round with unending ups and downs as we go round and round, bumper cars… I guess it’s been a wild ride. And I’m holding on. Thank you thank you.
Yes, my friend, it’s been like a combination of kaleidoscope and snowglobe. Uncertainty abounds. I suppose if I really think about it, uncertainty is nothing new but those pendulum swings are wild. Hanging on right along with you. So glad you’re here*
That is a very good question. I am leaning towards society not being changed dramatically, but admittedly this could be because of the position Alma and I were in during this time. We are retired, so work was not an issue, we were just getting settled into our house, we were far from family anyway and have not really established a very large friend base here yet, and finally, we are prone to be stay-at-homes anyway. We had no aversions to wearing a mask nor any reluctance to get our vaccines.
Obviously, many others were affected dramatically. My niece lost her husband to Covid and so she will be left with raising 4 children. There are tens of thousands in her position. Working from home was a huge change and is still going on but to a much lesser degree. People have reevaluated the work that they do, and this probably would not have happened to the degree that it did. Schooling has shown a negative effect, but it is not known if this is just a temporary blip or will be longer lasting.
I think it will take a decade or more to be able to see what lasting changes were created. My guess is that this will pale in comparison to climate change challenges that are upon us, water shortages, and the problems we face with the sheer numbers of people on our planet.
I had just recently retired so I was aware of it all in a different way too. I can’t imagine how it might have been had it happened in 2019 when I’d have still been working. There were some changes that I welcomed: less traffic for months and quieter trails. But I think you’re right it is likely to be years before we can measure so many things. And I couldn’t agree more about the impacts of climate. We are living in scarcity in many respects and we need to begin investing now in solution if we will ever find our way through. I hope I live long enough to see meaningful change take root. Thanks for sharing*
I could have written that same first paragraph.