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Counting Blessings, Even During Covid-19
Today was my Sabbath, and it started out as it usually does. But as the day wore on, I found myself feeling the fog and heaviness of the virus: fines being charged in Osceola County for not wearing masks, for one.
I still persisted in my time of prayer, meditation, and study. My restlessness was pervasive, so I finally went outside to admire my many orchid plants, removing old leaves, admiring the mix of white, purple, and yellow blossoms, and enjoying the thought of how the lanai would soon be crowded with color.
Then we went out to dinner to Beef O’Brady’s, a chain restaurant; the food is reliable and the staff is always friendly.
But it was closed.
A note on the door expressed the regrets of the owners to its faithful customers. I felt so bad. They just couldn’t make it. And I thought of all their wait staff who would probably find it hard to find jobs almost anywhere in the area, as restrictive measures continue to grow.
As we left the parking lot, I noticed a man parked with his trunk open. I looked over my shoulder and saw a sign that said “Masks: Adults and Children.” I didn’t think to stop, since we were trying to decide where to go for dinner. He’s probably just trying to get by and get through this time, as so many are. I wish I’d bought a mask.
We went to the restaurant in our development. It was open, but there was hardly anyone inside. They’ve been having live music lately, but the singer/guitarist wasn’t there. I don’t know if he left for a more profitable venue or if he was let go.
As empty as the restaurant was, I wondered how the wait staff was getting by on limited tips. We left an extra big tip for Santos, who is always friendly and polite.
When we got home, though, life seemed a bit brighter. We decided to walk around our cul-de-sac, which is brightly and beautifully decorated for the season. This year was our most abundant lighting ever. (More on the street later this week.) People drove by in golf carts and waved and said hello. It’s wonderful to know, especially this year, that we are bringing a little joy to our neighbors all over our development.
And then when we returned home, I saw that I had a voice mail. It was from the friend with whom I did a movement practice on Wednesdays on WhatsApp while she was in her Chicago apartment; she had become upset with my response to her Covid concern. She was about to return to Florida at that time. After our spat and her return, I texted about our practicing together; she politely said she wanted to take a break. Tonight was the first time she’s contacted me in weeks.
I’m so glad. And touched. She said she’d been very stressed over Covid and how it had affected her family. (I had no idea.) She said that although we had different views (she’s on the left), we had always been able to put them aside to maintain our friendship, and she just wanted to touch base.
I will call her in the morning. This is a time to come together and to move on.
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Beautiful.
Thank you, @hoyacon. Another light I can add to my day.
I wish people would care for other people’s economic well-being as much as they claim to care about their safety from the virus. There are blessings to be counted, but it involves shutting out the insanity long enough to focus on the real.
I do count my blessings and I have decorated my house to the nines with my Santa collection but I still feel overcome with sadness for those whose lives have been unnecessarily ruined. When I stepped outside this morning to get the paper the sky was bright blue and the air was sparkling and I remembered a time when that would have filled me with happiness and well being – but not today. I just feel that something is irretrievably lost. I don’t know where to find it.
Some people take my disdain for masks as being unconcerned about catching COVID. Not true. Even though I’m in a high-risk group, wearing a mask causes me difficulty in breathing. Because our city council used a shady political maneuver to reintroduce a mask mandate, I do zero Christmas shopping in town and all online. I can’t spend more than a few minutes in a store without having to lift the thing up and take a few deep breaths.
My wife and I recently found out a couple we’re friends with have both come down with COVID. The wife has been a nurse for over 40 years, and trust me, she followed all the guidelines to a T because her husband (mid-seventies) is currently undergoing treatment for cancer. Now she’s unable to be with her husband in the hospital even though they both have it (they’re married, for crying out loud).
Nonetheless, our family had the big Thanksgiving dinner with our three daughters, one of their friends, and the in-laws. This Christmas however, we aren’t planning on a big dinner because of the birth of our grandson, which now appears imminent (every day, my wife asks our youngest daughter, “Are you going to give birth today?”). So even with a lousy year in almost every aspect, it’s going to end with a bang for us, and we are thankful every day for family and friends – both in person and online.
How wonderful, @stad! Every new life is a celebration. Thanks.
Perfect reminder @susanquinn. Here in California, our effete, hollow brained, used-car salesmen of a governor has imposed selective lockdowns on us hoi polloi. And it’s really starting to grate on my nerves (not to mention my bank account). One of things that has bothered me most about the response to The Wuhan by far too many who live around me, is that they’ve used it as an excuse to become rude, tactless and graceless. Not to mention the rank hypocrisy of politicians in my state regarding lockdowns. I’ve forced myself to go back to the Good Book and some Greek classics. Focusing on all the many things that we all have to be grateful for is the perfect counter to the pettiness and hypocrisy of the Wuhan Hysterics. Tending your garden. Taking the extra minute to ask someone how their day is going. Going out of your way to acknowledge people as you walk past. Reconciling with a friend, as you have. All things that we have control over, if nothing else. I’ve found those seemingly small acts to be force-multipliers of gratitude, making me walk a bit lighter and feel less agitated, and hopefully making someone else smile, even for a moment.
God bless!
Then I’ve done my job, if it serves as a reminder, @nickplosser! I think at least some of the poor behavior also comes from people feeling battle weary, tired of the endless mandates, sick of the hypocrisy, and fearful about whether they are the next to catch the disease. Sometimes a little kindness will turn around their poor behavior, sometimes not. I’m so glad I don’t live in CA!
We are plotting a return to CA for Christmas. Governor Gruesom is doing all he can to thwart us but we are ahead of him. Yesterday, he announced a three week shutdown of the state (until 12/26, of course) which will also cause the hotel we usually stay in to be closed.
Hotels and lodging can stay open “for critical infrastructure support only.” From the OC Register.
However, my older son will be out of town so we can use his condo. Now, we have to scout out possible roadblocks on I 10 that would require cross country navigation.
Good for you, @michaelkennedy! Staying ahead in the game!
Good name!
We had Thanksgiving guests from CA and I used that sobriquet. Even though they are not leftists I think being in CA is rubbing off on them – they did not appear to be amused. Even though her husband did my friend would not even give me a hug – she has an extremely mild case of COPD and said she was being cautious. However later we sat shoulder to shoulder while I was trying to teach her how to download library books to Kindle and it didn’t seem to bother her being so close.