My dad is in a facility where COVID19 has been discovered, my newly unemployed son is living in a city where the virus is running amok, my mother’s online grocery order has gone missing and she is nearly out of food.
I should be heartsick tonight.
And yet.....
God is strong when we are weak. He is drawn powerfully to the needy. He is always present even in the midst of apparently unstoppable calamity.
My parents and son are isolated from others with no end to this pandemic in sight. They should feel lonely and terrified,
And yet....
All three of them have expressed hope that God will reach out to them even in their loneliness and fear about the future. Their attitudes about their own situations add to my trust in God and help keep me calm when my spinning, turbulent emotions threaten to overwhelm me.
There is great geographical distance between us. I am helpless to do anything for them.
And yet......
God is with them even though I can’t be. I am not actually helpless. I can pray with faith that God is there watching over them, regardless of it looks like.
The world appears to have been abandoned by God.
And yet......
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
The Phone Call I Didn't Want To Get...Sigh....
I just got a call from Dad's facility. One of the residents tested positive for Covid-19 last Friday. The whole place is in panic mode because they have been so very vigilant about keeping the residents and staff members from exposure. The ward administrator who called me today was in tears as she told me the situation. Dad tested negative for it when the testing was done last week, so he is confined to his room for the next several weeks. The head honchos are conducting a full trace of every person who had contact with the ill resident over the past month and that won't be many people because the place has been in lockdown most of that time. So it has likely come from someone else inside the place. Sigh..... I feel so badly for everyone there. Dad is very confused and thinks that HE has a virus, not THE VIRUS, but some other kind of virus. He had Mom in a panic this afternoon when she talked to him so I checked back at his facility and he has no viruses that any of them are aware of. The poor man. Poor Mom. The only thing that keeps me from being completely upset is that with all the lockdowns in place I couldn't do one thing for them even if I lived in their city. It makes being this far away bearable. So, if you've a leading to do so, please say a prayer for my dad and for all the residents and staff in his facility. Thank you SO very much.
Good OLD Days pf Entertainment
I've been taking advantage of the enforced time at home to watch some of the old movies I enjoyed years ago. For whatever reason we currently have some free preview weeks of the Hollywood Suite movie channels. In the past few days I have laughed all over again at The Full Monty, Funny Girl, Tootsie, 9 to 5, Diehard and even Ferris Buehler's Day Off. Some of them are well done, some not, but all still amuse me to no end, other than to achieve complete escape from the daily realities of my own life. Thank you to SaskMax, our tv provider, for bringing in these old shows that make me feel so good and make me laugh heartily.
Keeping Up Appearances.....
....simply is not possible for those of us women who are unable to cut and style our hair without assistance from a professional stylist!
I am thinking that even once the hair salons open again....those that have not gone bankrupt by the forced closures due to The Virus That Shall Not Be Named...are going to be dealing with so many people wanting appointments that it could be another two months before some of us will be able to get an appointment scheduled!! Aiii yiiii....
While what my hair looks like is not my life's biggest priority right now, I do admit I am finding it difficult to look at myself in the mirror as the hairdo I have right now begins a transition into the "well, now it is too long to control properly, but not quite long enough to tie back either...aaaaaarrrrgghh" stage.
It has now been over 8 weeks since my last hair cut. In another 8 weeks I am going to look like a woman who is part of certain polygamous cults; a woman whose hair is rarely, if ever, allowed to be cut! O my goodness.
It is a good tribute to my hairdresser that despite my hair being almost two inches longer than it should be, thus far the style is holding its shape. I can only hope that when this enforced isolation of the nation comes to an end that she will still be employed and available to start cutting it once again. My hair is miserable to work with and to find someone as wonderful as Danielle to wrangle it into place is rare indeed.
Sigh....well....my husband has questioned for years what my hair would look like if it grew long again. He is getting his wish. He will not be happy with the answer!!
I will post BEFORE and AFTER photos when THE DAY I GET TO RETURN TO THE SALON finally arrives! Should be good for a giggle or two!
I am thinking that even once the hair salons open again....those that have not gone bankrupt by the forced closures due to The Virus That Shall Not Be Named...are going to be dealing with so many people wanting appointments that it could be another two months before some of us will be able to get an appointment scheduled!! Aiii yiiii....
While what my hair looks like is not my life's biggest priority right now, I do admit I am finding it difficult to look at myself in the mirror as the hairdo I have right now begins a transition into the "well, now it is too long to control properly, but not quite long enough to tie back either...aaaaaarrrrgghh" stage.
It has now been over 8 weeks since my last hair cut. In another 8 weeks I am going to look like a woman who is part of certain polygamous cults; a woman whose hair is rarely, if ever, allowed to be cut! O my goodness.
It is a good tribute to my hairdresser that despite my hair being almost two inches longer than it should be, thus far the style is holding its shape. I can only hope that when this enforced isolation of the nation comes to an end that she will still be employed and available to start cutting it once again. My hair is miserable to work with and to find someone as wonderful as Danielle to wrangle it into place is rare indeed.
Sigh....well....my husband has questioned for years what my hair would look like if it grew long again. He is getting his wish. He will not be happy with the answer!!
I will post BEFORE and AFTER photos when THE DAY I GET TO RETURN TO THE SALON finally arrives! Should be good for a giggle or two!
Hearing Good Things About My Mom!!!
Last evening I had a long conversation with an old family friend who helps mom out a lot when she needs groceries, rides to the doctor and the like. Of course he is unable to do anything for her at the moment with the pandemic and all the fallout.
However, he called me last night to say that Mom has, for the first time in her life, been phoning him once a week to see how he is faring. He is delighted. He figures it has been at least 20 years since my mom called him, rather than dad being the one to make the connections. He also told me she is calling other long time mutual friends once a week to check on them as well. Mom? Picking up the phone and reaching out to friends of her own volition???? She even called a nephew in Quebec recently to check on his emotional well being after his long time friend passed away. WOW! Way to go MOM!!! 😀
Then I talked to Mom herself. She has made all her new arrangments on her own for getting her eye injections next month, has set things up with the specialist who is revamping the schedule so that emergency treatments like Mom gets can still be done, but with only one patient in the office at a time so there is the opportunity to thoroughly disinfect the room between patients. She has decided how many days more she is going to wait before calling her doctor about her recent morning of tests, if she doesn't hear from him by today. She is out of her suite walking the hallways each day to try to build up her stamina for walking again. Apparently she has been watching the other women in the facility and comparing the energy and mobility between the women who walk regularly for exercise and those who don't walk much at all. She is determined to keep herself in the first batch of mobile, active women as long as she can. I have been very concerned about her lack of energy for walking for the past year or more and now she shares the concern and is trying to do something about it. I am SO PROUD of her. She has had to take on so much in Dad's absence and after some rough, emotional, frightened weeks, she is learning to cope! WOW again!
The weather has taken a turn for the worst today. It is the beginning of spring, the month of March turning to April on the prairies. If this is as bad as it is going to get before the warm weather comes to stay, we are fortunate indeed! It has been drizzling rain outside and by this afternoon the temperature will be dropping below zero as the rain continues to fall. Overnight the water will turn to slick ice that will cover every street, sidewalk, porch, step, vehicle and the rooves of all the buildings. Then tomorrow the ice will end up covered with some snow. I can't think of a more perfect time to be housebound actually! 👏 Parts of Alberta have a windchill of -21C this morning....brrrrrrr....I don't think we will get that cold here by the look of the forecast, but who knows? There was a touch of freezing rain on parts of Vancouver Island yesterday, so anything is possible.
I am glad that my friend who stops by every morning was sensible enough to stay home today....although if a person has the proper attire, it would be a great day to walk around the lake! Today, the pathway I can see from my place has been completely deserted all morning! Perhaps my friend has been able to get out there this morning. I do hope so as she finds it difficult being so isolated since she is so social.
Each morning I wake up to more emails from friends keeping in touch and I think of more people to get in touch with myself to check on their welfare. Without the present day technology that allows for online socializing I don't know what I would do to keep myself connected to reality. There are so many worries about my son and about the world in general that being able to keep in touch online is keeping me grounded. My husband and I were talking about the "old days", when letters were mailed out and received days, weeks or even months after the events the writer was describing had taken place. We all managed just fine and thought ourselves blessed to be getting news from others in that way. It was all we had other than telegrams for conveying news of emergencies or unexpected joys.
My husband is still working away on the income tax, nickeling and diming what we owe down to its lowest amount, whittling away little by litte by using new tax laws and possibilities that apply to us. Bless him for all his efforts to save us a few dollars. Being stuck at home has actually been a good thing for him to be able to collect his thoughts, organize his writing projects, help his friends in the various mens' group learn how to connect online, watch some tv without worrying about "wasting time" and sleep in each morning if he wants to. Good things for him.
However, he called me last night to say that Mom has, for the first time in her life, been phoning him once a week to see how he is faring. He is delighted. He figures it has been at least 20 years since my mom called him, rather than dad being the one to make the connections. He also told me she is calling other long time mutual friends once a week to check on them as well. Mom? Picking up the phone and reaching out to friends of her own volition???? She even called a nephew in Quebec recently to check on his emotional well being after his long time friend passed away. WOW! Way to go MOM!!! 😀
Then I talked to Mom herself. She has made all her new arrangments on her own for getting her eye injections next month, has set things up with the specialist who is revamping the schedule so that emergency treatments like Mom gets can still be done, but with only one patient in the office at a time so there is the opportunity to thoroughly disinfect the room between patients. She has decided how many days more she is going to wait before calling her doctor about her recent morning of tests, if she doesn't hear from him by today. She is out of her suite walking the hallways each day to try to build up her stamina for walking again. Apparently she has been watching the other women in the facility and comparing the energy and mobility between the women who walk regularly for exercise and those who don't walk much at all. She is determined to keep herself in the first batch of mobile, active women as long as she can. I have been very concerned about her lack of energy for walking for the past year or more and now she shares the concern and is trying to do something about it. I am SO PROUD of her. She has had to take on so much in Dad's absence and after some rough, emotional, frightened weeks, she is learning to cope! WOW again!
The weather has taken a turn for the worst today. It is the beginning of spring, the month of March turning to April on the prairies. If this is as bad as it is going to get before the warm weather comes to stay, we are fortunate indeed! It has been drizzling rain outside and by this afternoon the temperature will be dropping below zero as the rain continues to fall. Overnight the water will turn to slick ice that will cover every street, sidewalk, porch, step, vehicle and the rooves of all the buildings. Then tomorrow the ice will end up covered with some snow. I can't think of a more perfect time to be housebound actually! 👏 Parts of Alberta have a windchill of -21C this morning....brrrrrrr....I don't think we will get that cold here by the look of the forecast, but who knows? There was a touch of freezing rain on parts of Vancouver Island yesterday, so anything is possible.
I am glad that my friend who stops by every morning was sensible enough to stay home today....although if a person has the proper attire, it would be a great day to walk around the lake! Today, the pathway I can see from my place has been completely deserted all morning! Perhaps my friend has been able to get out there this morning. I do hope so as she finds it difficult being so isolated since she is so social.
Each morning I wake up to more emails from friends keeping in touch and I think of more people to get in touch with myself to check on their welfare. Without the present day technology that allows for online socializing I don't know what I would do to keep myself connected to reality. There are so many worries about my son and about the world in general that being able to keep in touch online is keeping me grounded. My husband and I were talking about the "old days", when letters were mailed out and received days, weeks or even months after the events the writer was describing had taken place. We all managed just fine and thought ourselves blessed to be getting news from others in that way. It was all we had other than telegrams for conveying news of emergencies or unexpected joys.
My husband is still working away on the income tax, nickeling and diming what we owe down to its lowest amount, whittling away little by litte by using new tax laws and possibilities that apply to us. Bless him for all his efforts to save us a few dollars. Being stuck at home has actually been a good thing for him to be able to collect his thoughts, organize his writing projects, help his friends in the various mens' group learn how to connect online, watch some tv without worrying about "wasting time" and sleep in each morning if he wants to. Good things for him.
Monday, March 30, 2020
Aaaah, **The Younger Generation....Tee Hee
Today is The Doing of the Income Taxes at our house! Yay and Blecch Pooey both at the same time.
We thought we would complete them today, but my husband came across a change in benefits since the last tax year that may qualify him for some more tax assistance. He won't have the answers he needs until tomorrow, so we will have another day of this. If it works out it may be worth the wait and the extra work and stress of following it up. We shall see......
Earlier today we had a chat with the **young accountant who pays my husband for his parish work. After we spoke with him we each had the giggles. He has arranged now to pay my husband electronically and the man is SO grateful because it is "saving me a TON of work!!!" Hmmmm....in my younger days, and even now in my older days, I have not found nor do I now find the writing of a cheque, putting it into an envelope, sealing the envelope, stopping at the post office on my way past, stamping the envelope at the post office and depositing it into a post box an actual TON of work! hahaha The fellow lives in a tiny rural hamlet. There is one post office only a few blocks from his office. So now, having to write out one cheque and mail it translates to a TON of work.
Inconvenient when all the other payments he makes are electronic? Yes.
A TON of work? No. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
It has been a good day with emails and phone calls and porch/sidewalk face to face visits. Slowly we are getting busier every day with all things ministry and social. The new technologies for group meetings take a lot of time to figure out and set up. The amount of intercessory prayer time for the world around us each day keeps me very busy and could probably go for 24 hours a day if I had the strength to pray that much. We agreed this morning to participate in my church service once again this coming Sunday morning. I will read the Scriptures and my husband will do the prayers. Since his Zoom evening vespers service was successful for his parish last night, my husband will do the same next Sunday night, Palm Sunday. Then on Easter Sunday I will enjoy my church service online in my office and my husband will lead his church service online in his office. Two church services going on in 2 different rooms in our suite. Kind of fun!
Today an American military hospital ship has apparently docked in New York harbor and is bringing a thousand beds to help out with the COVID-19 situation there. The crew is setting up a tent hospital in Central Park. As a mom with a son in NYC, even this bit of news provides a small measure of comfort as I sit here thousands of miles away, trying to trust for my own family's safety as much as I do for the safety of others and their families.
So, another day coming to a close. I am grateful for all the friends and family who are keeping in touch. The sun came out on this warm day and that is always encouraging. Tomorrow will see snow and rain showers and much cooler temperatures, so that made today even more special. Just standing out on the porch this afternoon for a few minutes was a lovely break.
We thought we would complete them today, but my husband came across a change in benefits since the last tax year that may qualify him for some more tax assistance. He won't have the answers he needs until tomorrow, so we will have another day of this. If it works out it may be worth the wait and the extra work and stress of following it up. We shall see......
Earlier today we had a chat with the **young accountant who pays my husband for his parish work. After we spoke with him we each had the giggles. He has arranged now to pay my husband electronically and the man is SO grateful because it is "saving me a TON of work!!!" Hmmmm....in my younger days, and even now in my older days, I have not found nor do I now find the writing of a cheque, putting it into an envelope, sealing the envelope, stopping at the post office on my way past, stamping the envelope at the post office and depositing it into a post box an actual TON of work! hahaha The fellow lives in a tiny rural hamlet. There is one post office only a few blocks from his office. So now, having to write out one cheque and mail it translates to a TON of work.
Inconvenient when all the other payments he makes are electronic? Yes.
A TON of work? No. hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
It has been a good day with emails and phone calls and porch/sidewalk face to face visits. Slowly we are getting busier every day with all things ministry and social. The new technologies for group meetings take a lot of time to figure out and set up. The amount of intercessory prayer time for the world around us each day keeps me very busy and could probably go for 24 hours a day if I had the strength to pray that much. We agreed this morning to participate in my church service once again this coming Sunday morning. I will read the Scriptures and my husband will do the prayers. Since his Zoom evening vespers service was successful for his parish last night, my husband will do the same next Sunday night, Palm Sunday. Then on Easter Sunday I will enjoy my church service online in my office and my husband will lead his church service online in his office. Two church services going on in 2 different rooms in our suite. Kind of fun!
Today an American military hospital ship has apparently docked in New York harbor and is bringing a thousand beds to help out with the COVID-19 situation there. The crew is setting up a tent hospital in Central Park. As a mom with a son in NYC, even this bit of news provides a small measure of comfort as I sit here thousands of miles away, trying to trust for my own family's safety as much as I do for the safety of others and their families.
So, another day coming to a close. I am grateful for all the friends and family who are keeping in touch. The sun came out on this warm day and that is always encouraging. Tomorrow will see snow and rain showers and much cooler temperatures, so that made today even more special. Just standing out on the porch this afternoon for a few minutes was a lovely break.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Good Therapy
After our first aborted sleep last night from neighbour noise after ten beautiful, quiet nights, I decided it was time to work off the frustration by catching up on housework I have been ignoring all week. How I could have been that far behind when I can’t go out anywhere is confusing, but I righted the wrong today. Vacuuming, scrubbing floors, dusting, wiping blinds...good stuff! I still have three rooms to clean, so will likely finish them tomorrow afternoon. Ooooh, it feels good!
The UNFORTUNATE side effect of the government’s decision to put a moratorium on evictions, apart from those inspired by violence, for the next three months is that neighbours like ours can now take advantage of the edict and make life a living hell once again for people like ourselves who need to sleep during the night.
My prayer now is that if the neighbours do not decide to leave, some incredible surprise opportunity for US to leave by the end of April or May will present itself. The new lease we arranged starting June 1st, has not yet arrived in the mail or at our complex’s leasing office, so until we sign it we still have the opportunity to get out. We truly believe we are supposed to stay after seeing answers to prayer indicating that we should, but it is possible of course that we are wrong. Is it a bad thing to hope that we made a mistake and we are actually going to get out of here? Sigh....
Even as I am writing this there is more noise erupting next door as some of the partiers awaken. The fellow that moved out ten days ago is parked outside cursing at one of the girls as she makes her way out to join him. It breaks my heart to hear people calling each other ugly names and making threats over nothing. Lord, where are you in the midst of this? What are we to do? Is there anything else we can do to help this situation?
How much housework is it going to take to relieve my returning stress over this situation? Thanks to new laws arising from the corona virus messing things up next door again, there is also no way for us to be going to view alternative accommodation for ourselves.
I am just wondering out loud here. I am fine, feeling better from doing something productive and knowing that despite my complaining the Lord is dealing with this ongoing situation. He can be trusted to work this mess out.
The UNFORTUNATE side effect of the government’s decision to put a moratorium on evictions, apart from those inspired by violence, for the next three months is that neighbours like ours can now take advantage of the edict and make life a living hell once again for people like ourselves who need to sleep during the night.
My prayer now is that if the neighbours do not decide to leave, some incredible surprise opportunity for US to leave by the end of April or May will present itself. The new lease we arranged starting June 1st, has not yet arrived in the mail or at our complex’s leasing office, so until we sign it we still have the opportunity to get out. We truly believe we are supposed to stay after seeing answers to prayer indicating that we should, but it is possible of course that we are wrong. Is it a bad thing to hope that we made a mistake and we are actually going to get out of here? Sigh....
Even as I am writing this there is more noise erupting next door as some of the partiers awaken. The fellow that moved out ten days ago is parked outside cursing at one of the girls as she makes her way out to join him. It breaks my heart to hear people calling each other ugly names and making threats over nothing. Lord, where are you in the midst of this? What are we to do? Is there anything else we can do to help this situation?
How much housework is it going to take to relieve my returning stress over this situation? Thanks to new laws arising from the corona virus messing things up next door again, there is also no way for us to be going to view alternative accommodation for ourselves.
I am just wondering out loud here. I am fine, feeling better from doing something productive and knowing that despite my complaining the Lord is dealing with this ongoing situation. He can be trusted to work this mess out.
Friday, March 27, 2020
Just Slightly Envious
I have to confess the teensiest tad of envy directed toward neighbours in one of the other buildings in our court who are in the process of moving out of here. They are getting out before the next freezing rain and snowfall predicted for early next week. They are getting out before the arrival of the next onslaught of returning geese and their never ending deposits of poo on the lawn. They are getting out before the gophers and rats and spiders make their spring appearances. They are getting out before their building becomes so needful of repairs it is unsafe for habitation.
I have not formally met this woman and her daughter, although they have lived in our court for a couple of years, but we have smiled and nodded and exchanged the occasional pleasantry in passing. So, I certainly don’t have the right to go bouncing over there to ask them where they are going. (or if they will puleeeeeeeze take us with them) Maybe if I knew the details of their lives I would not be so tempted to feel envious. Maybe this is not a happy move......although just getting out of this broken down old complex would have to be some kind of positive in my opinion.
Whatever is precipitating their move, I hope they are going somewhere wonderful that brings them much happiness in the future. Maybe at this time next year it will be OUR turn to make a break for it!
Penelope phoned again this morning. She was all ready feeling well enough after yesterday’s surgery to get going on the physio exercises for her joint replacement! Pretty cool! She told me a cute joke: A little boy asked his grandmother how many years old she was. She replied that she was 73. “Oh!”, her grandson responded. “And did you start at one?” hahaha Cute!
I have not formally met this woman and her daughter, although they have lived in our court for a couple of years, but we have smiled and nodded and exchanged the occasional pleasantry in passing. So, I certainly don’t have the right to go bouncing over there to ask them where they are going. (or if they will puleeeeeeeze take us with them) Maybe if I knew the details of their lives I would not be so tempted to feel envious. Maybe this is not a happy move......although just getting out of this broken down old complex would have to be some kind of positive in my opinion.
Whatever is precipitating their move, I hope they are going somewhere wonderful that brings them much happiness in the future. Maybe at this time next year it will be OUR turn to make a break for it!
Penelope phoned again this morning. She was all ready feeling well enough after yesterday’s surgery to get going on the physio exercises for her joint replacement! Pretty cool! She told me a cute joke: A little boy asked his grandmother how many years old she was. She replied that she was 73. “Oh!”, her grandson responded. “And did you start at one?” hahaha Cute!
Thursday, March 26, 2020
Blessings and Bright Spots in the Midst!
Aiii yiiiii....what a time the world is having, eh? Yikes! The pandemic gets more frightening by the day. However, we have had some bright spots the past couple of days!
Birthday wishes for my husband and anniversary greetings for our special day have poured in over internet and phone. There have been cards in the mail and a couple of very unexpected financial gifts from friends. Wow, how blessed are WE?? A friend brought us a bottle of wine the other day and we will have some of that with our dinner tonight.
We had a good SKYPE session with our son in NYC today. He has overcome some of his depression and is having a better outlook recently. He has been listening to some podcasts by a Roman Catholic theolgian that have ministered deeply to him. We are going to listen to one of those podcasts tonight.
Mom was able to exit her facility yesterday for her very important medical tests and it was no problem at all. The taxis were lined up to take her because their business is starting to suffer somewhat now in her city. She has permission for a trip to her eye injection appointment in two weeks' time as well.
My husband has been SO busy with preparing videos for his parish for the next few Sundays, as well as Zoom'ing with various mens' groups, that he has hardly noticed he hasn't left the suite in ten days. He is truly happy!
I realized how many good lessons I learned about being isolated from living in a small town some years ago where I had no real friends and there were no services in town to wander around to during the day. So, I am feeling really good about this brand of isolation!
A friend from church is keeping herself from going crazy at home by going out for a 1 hour walk each morning on the deserted streets. She comes by here almost every day, phones me from the sidewalk outside and then I put on my coat and go out on the porch to chat with her from a safe distance. How cool is that???? Her life would be so busy otherwise that I would only see her at church for the most part. She is lonely and so we have a chance to keep each other company each morning. I love it.
We have been signing up for several online services that we have never bothered with previously, preferring to continue to be motivated to get out and take care of things in person. Well, now we can't safely to that, so we finally decided time for each of us to less of a Luddite and get with the technology. YAY!
Penelope had her lumpectomy today. The intial biopsy on the lump revealed nothing but calcium, so here's hoping that actually is all that is going on and thus end any more surgeries and worries. Thank you Lord that she at least has some real hope here.
Our relative had rather a miraclous event yesterday during some lab tests. He had to have a scan related to his recent cancer surgery, but some other issues that have arisen since then meant he was to have a different type of scan as well....AND the earliest booking he could get for that was April OF NEXT YEAR!!!! Dear Lord..... Anyway, while he was having his scan yesterday he asked if it was possible at all to have the other scan at the same time, was there ANY way this could happen?? Puleease???? Pretty please???? Well, unbelievably, the tech actually contacted the doctor who wanted the second scan, got that paper work faxxed over to the lab and our relative had that scan as well! That NEVER happens!!! Thank you LORD! Now he will get both sets of results together at his follow up appointment. Again, THANK YOU LORD!!! Amazing!
The sun has come out at the end of a rather gloomy day today. It is just blazing out there and there are a few puffy clouds in the blue sky. What lightens a person's dull mood more than some precious sunlight at the end of March? So lovely!
Tonight I am going to invent some kind of yummy chicken dish for dinner. All my husband wanted for his birthday yesterday was to make whatever he wanted for dinner: cheesy scrambled eggs with salsa, salad without lettuce and spicy falafal balls. Yes, it DID taste good! It did so!! (AND BONUS: it wasn't lentils and rice! hahaha)
So, off to clean up the chicken and think of something really yummy to do with it for our meal. I have some ideas that will work I think. This will be a nice anniversary even though we are stuck at home.
Birthday wishes for my husband and anniversary greetings for our special day have poured in over internet and phone. There have been cards in the mail and a couple of very unexpected financial gifts from friends. Wow, how blessed are WE?? A friend brought us a bottle of wine the other day and we will have some of that with our dinner tonight.
We had a good SKYPE session with our son in NYC today. He has overcome some of his depression and is having a better outlook recently. He has been listening to some podcasts by a Roman Catholic theolgian that have ministered deeply to him. We are going to listen to one of those podcasts tonight.
Mom was able to exit her facility yesterday for her very important medical tests and it was no problem at all. The taxis were lined up to take her because their business is starting to suffer somewhat now in her city. She has permission for a trip to her eye injection appointment in two weeks' time as well.
My husband has been SO busy with preparing videos for his parish for the next few Sundays, as well as Zoom'ing with various mens' groups, that he has hardly noticed he hasn't left the suite in ten days. He is truly happy!
I realized how many good lessons I learned about being isolated from living in a small town some years ago where I had no real friends and there were no services in town to wander around to during the day. So, I am feeling really good about this brand of isolation!
A friend from church is keeping herself from going crazy at home by going out for a 1 hour walk each morning on the deserted streets. She comes by here almost every day, phones me from the sidewalk outside and then I put on my coat and go out on the porch to chat with her from a safe distance. How cool is that???? Her life would be so busy otherwise that I would only see her at church for the most part. She is lonely and so we have a chance to keep each other company each morning. I love it.
We have been signing up for several online services that we have never bothered with previously, preferring to continue to be motivated to get out and take care of things in person. Well, now we can't safely to that, so we finally decided time for each of us to less of a Luddite and get with the technology. YAY!
Penelope had her lumpectomy today. The intial biopsy on the lump revealed nothing but calcium, so here's hoping that actually is all that is going on and thus end any more surgeries and worries. Thank you Lord that she at least has some real hope here.
Our relative had rather a miraclous event yesterday during some lab tests. He had to have a scan related to his recent cancer surgery, but some other issues that have arisen since then meant he was to have a different type of scan as well....AND the earliest booking he could get for that was April OF NEXT YEAR!!!! Dear Lord..... Anyway, while he was having his scan yesterday he asked if it was possible at all to have the other scan at the same time, was there ANY way this could happen?? Puleease???? Pretty please???? Well, unbelievably, the tech actually contacted the doctor who wanted the second scan, got that paper work faxxed over to the lab and our relative had that scan as well! That NEVER happens!!! Thank you LORD! Now he will get both sets of results together at his follow up appointment. Again, THANK YOU LORD!!! Amazing!
The sun has come out at the end of a rather gloomy day today. It is just blazing out there and there are a few puffy clouds in the blue sky. What lightens a person's dull mood more than some precious sunlight at the end of March? So lovely!
Tonight I am going to invent some kind of yummy chicken dish for dinner. All my husband wanted for his birthday yesterday was to make whatever he wanted for dinner: cheesy scrambled eggs with salsa, salad without lettuce and spicy falafal balls. Yes, it DID taste good! It did so!! (AND BONUS: it wasn't lentils and rice! hahaha)
So, off to clean up the chicken and think of something really yummy to do with it for our meal. I have some ideas that will work I think. This will be a nice anniversary even though we are stuck at home.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Part Two
Oh what fun I am having today looking at the old pictures (dreadful quality in this day of digital, eh??) and remembering those times I have not thought about in many a year!
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| My Glamorous Inlaws |
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| My Dad and his mom circa 1937 |
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| My Pop and Grandma circa 1950 |
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| Mom, me, Pop and Grandma 1966 |
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| Mom, her parents and me 1968 |
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| Our son and my dad 1980 |
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| The son 1980 |
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| What the heck do I do with this thing? 1981 |
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| Gonna Build Us a House, Yup, Yup, Yup!! 1981 |
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| Christma 1990 |
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| Play It Louis! 1992 |
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| Father and Son 2000 |
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| Mother and Son 2014 |
So This Is Fun...For Me At Least! (Part One)
My husband has been scanning old family photos and so I will post a few here for your amusement. Oh my goodness....how age and (hair) (glasses) (clothing) styles all change over the years! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
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| Parksville Summer of 1968: Mom not impressed with bugs and grit at the beach |
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| End of term school dance 1969 |
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| Cheerleading in Junior Highschool 1969 (took second place in competition) |
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| Me with mom and my most beloved paternal grandpa: Pop in 1970 |
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| My husband when I met him, 1972 |
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| Yup, him again |
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| Me 'n' The Parental Unit 1974 |
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| Relaxing after our Wedding From Hell 1977 |
Monday, March 23, 2020
Here's a Great Time Filler For Those Unavoidable Grocery Shopping Days!
What a fun afternoon I had today! I spent over two hours tracking the handful of groceries and other items we need, driving from store to store wearing my face mask and latex gloves, seeking the ever elusive facial tissues, toilet paper and bleach. There were none of those things in any of the 5 major grocery stores I looked in, but I eventually found a few packs of toilet paper at a convenience store that in usual times I would never have thought to even look in. These are not usual times. There were about 8 packs left and customers were only allowed to buy two at a time. I just purchased one, knowing how many seniors live near this store and who likely have limited time and resources to go shopping anywhere farther away. I do still have a few rolls at home, but with the complete run by the hoarders, I decided I would be wise to pick up an extra pack in case there is no more delivered for a long time to our city. Still no bleach, but I did also find a 6 pack of facial tissues. It took me over two hours to locate and purchase less than one hundred dollars worth of product because of all the driving around I had to do. CRAZY!
All the clerks are wearing gloves now, some have masks, some have plexiglass panels to separate them from us. ALL expressed appreciation for my own mask and gloves, which more than made up for the Ignoramous Woman who tsk'd at me and said quite loudly, "How ridiculous!" with great disgust. Well, I hope she doesn't pay the price for not taking better care of herself and refusing to distance herself properly in the store, as I wouldn't wish cornonavirus on even her.
So, once I finally arrived home with my bags of groceries I got to spend a good 30 minutes or more wiping down all the items and bags with disinfectant and drying them off. That is a good way to pass the time on grocery buying days! Good to know! I wiped off every single can, bottle, bag, cardboard box...you name it, I disinfected it. It felt good to know we have enough soap and water and towels to do that each time. YAY!
I am so thrilled that none of the grocery carts require a quarter or a dollar to release them for use by the customers now, there is no charge for bags of any kind, other than some of the cloth bags, but at Sobey's the charge per reuseable bag is now only fifteen cents. Most places won't let you bring in reuseable bags anyway, but at least plastic bags are available for free or a low charge at the cash registers.
We will be set for produce and dairy products now for quite a few days. The produce section at my closest market seems to have been quite well stocked from the start, only short occasionally on fresh ginger and garlic. Most of the other foods I need are out of stock there and have been for the past two weeks. So much for the unbroken supply chain from the warehouses, but a truck can only hold so much and if people insist on hoarding then the rest of us will have to adjust to shortages for several weeks to come.
That's life in a time of pandemic!
All the clerks are wearing gloves now, some have masks, some have plexiglass panels to separate them from us. ALL expressed appreciation for my own mask and gloves, which more than made up for the Ignoramous Woman who tsk'd at me and said quite loudly, "How ridiculous!" with great disgust. Well, I hope she doesn't pay the price for not taking better care of herself and refusing to distance herself properly in the store, as I wouldn't wish cornonavirus on even her.
So, once I finally arrived home with my bags of groceries I got to spend a good 30 minutes or more wiping down all the items and bags with disinfectant and drying them off. That is a good way to pass the time on grocery buying days! Good to know! I wiped off every single can, bottle, bag, cardboard box...you name it, I disinfected it. It felt good to know we have enough soap and water and towels to do that each time. YAY!
I am so thrilled that none of the grocery carts require a quarter or a dollar to release them for use by the customers now, there is no charge for bags of any kind, other than some of the cloth bags, but at Sobey's the charge per reuseable bag is now only fifteen cents. Most places won't let you bring in reuseable bags anyway, but at least plastic bags are available for free or a low charge at the cash registers.
We will be set for produce and dairy products now for quite a few days. The produce section at my closest market seems to have been quite well stocked from the start, only short occasionally on fresh ginger and garlic. Most of the other foods I need are out of stock there and have been for the past two weeks. So much for the unbroken supply chain from the warehouses, but a truck can only hold so much and if people insist on hoarding then the rest of us will have to adjust to shortages for several weeks to come.
That's life in a time of pandemic!
Good, Bad and Indifferent
It seems that those three categories fit all of life’s situations. Like yesterday for instance.
The Good:
—my husband was able to fix my computer issues with a change of cords and a can of contact cleaner
—we took a short walk together around our neighbourhood late yesterday afternoon after trying to walk around the lake, but not feeling comfortable with the large number of people who were ignoring social distancing on the paths
—online church services were more meaningful than we expected them to be with Zoom allowing the congregation at my church to still see each other on the screen
—Kat delivered a carton of her wonderfully tasty butter chicken that paired well with the flavouring mix we added to some couscous
The Bad:
—our stress over our son’s situation in NYC remains high
—I found out my mom cancelled her lab tests again when something she heard on the news caused her to panic and she spent the weekend sleepless and crying over her impulsive decision...again
—my husband’s family member is awaiting a scan and finally received his date: April 2021!
—neither of us is keen to have to go out tomorrow to try to track down some necessary grocery items
—this is the first time in months I will have to miss my ladies’ prayer meeting that has kept me grounded in tough times
—our city has 56 known cases of The Virus and three of them appear to be from public transmission rather than directly travel related.
—with grocery store clerks now receiving danger pay and major product shortages in the stores due to hoarding, I wonder how much grocery prices are going to rise
The Indifferent:
—I am quickly running out of books to read but don’t care all that much as the stories seem irrelevant compared to what is happening in the real world
—do art, read books, play games, watch tv, study theology, pick lint out of my navel....meh....
—yet another meal of lentils....or rice...or soup made with lentils and rice...
So, that about covers yesterday. What fun shall I have today inside this ever shrinking suite?
The Good:
—my husband was able to fix my computer issues with a change of cords and a can of contact cleaner
—we took a short walk together around our neighbourhood late yesterday afternoon after trying to walk around the lake, but not feeling comfortable with the large number of people who were ignoring social distancing on the paths
—online church services were more meaningful than we expected them to be with Zoom allowing the congregation at my church to still see each other on the screen
—Kat delivered a carton of her wonderfully tasty butter chicken that paired well with the flavouring mix we added to some couscous
The Bad:
—our stress over our son’s situation in NYC remains high
—I found out my mom cancelled her lab tests again when something she heard on the news caused her to panic and she spent the weekend sleepless and crying over her impulsive decision...again
—my husband’s family member is awaiting a scan and finally received his date: April 2021!
—neither of us is keen to have to go out tomorrow to try to track down some necessary grocery items
—this is the first time in months I will have to miss my ladies’ prayer meeting that has kept me grounded in tough times
—our city has 56 known cases of The Virus and three of them appear to be from public transmission rather than directly travel related.
—with grocery store clerks now receiving danger pay and major product shortages in the stores due to hoarding, I wonder how much grocery prices are going to rise
The Indifferent:
—I am quickly running out of books to read but don’t care all that much as the stories seem irrelevant compared to what is happening in the real world
—do art, read books, play games, watch tv, study theology, pick lint out of my navel....meh....
—yet another meal of lentils....or rice...or soup made with lentils and rice...
So, that about covers yesterday. What fun shall I have today inside this ever shrinking suite?
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Church Online Went Well This Morning! YAY!
My husband and I enjoyed our first online church service this morning. Working out the sound quality with our somewhat elderly lap tops was a bit of a challenge, but my dear husband just kept working on the system until the problems were solved and we could enjoy the Zoom contact with the pastor and other members of the congregation. Certainly this has been an edifying and encouraging morning for us both and hopefully for everyone else who participated in this morning's fledgling attempt to use group technology. YES!!
My husband also spent quite a few hours over the past few days setting up the speaker system and importing pink noise programmes into my room, through my PC, so that I can sleep to the droning tones of the idling jet engine, while he prefers to sleep with the sound of a babbling brook lulling him through now smaller amount of night noise courtesy of the next door neighbours. We each have our own systems now, so we are both sleeping better.
Of course with good technological news there is always something else going on that is not quite as wonderful. Sigh...... At 6:23am my computer shut itself off with a couple of blaring beeps. So of course I woke up wondering what was going on. My husband turned it on again 90 minutes later when he woke up and all was well for over two hours when it beeped and shut itself off once again. Sigh....AAAAAAARGH!!! Computers are capable of hate, I have decided, particularly MY computers. 'Twas ever thus it seems over the years with various models I have used.
My husband ran every scan and check up it is possible to run and there was no problem discovered. So, he decided there must be a glitch happening in the power source. He has sprayed "de-yukky-fier" on to all the plugs and cable ends and is hoping there has simply been a build up of gunk somewhere in the system. There is no money for a new desk top for me and likely not a store open in which to purchase one if there was! Since my six year old iPad doesn't have all the capabilities of my desk top I really need my PC to continue to work. If there is a problem with a power cord then I pray he can find it soon and replace it.
Today I am determined to fix my mind on the small details of daily life and also on whatever small positive thoughts, events and situations that come across my path. I cannot rid the world of the coronavirus, I can only ask God to set up the boundaries of containment and to end the crisis as soon as possible.
My husband also spent quite a few hours over the past few days setting up the speaker system and importing pink noise programmes into my room, through my PC, so that I can sleep to the droning tones of the idling jet engine, while he prefers to sleep with the sound of a babbling brook lulling him through now smaller amount of night noise courtesy of the next door neighbours. We each have our own systems now, so we are both sleeping better.
Of course with good technological news there is always something else going on that is not quite as wonderful. Sigh...... At 6:23am my computer shut itself off with a couple of blaring beeps. So of course I woke up wondering what was going on. My husband turned it on again 90 minutes later when he woke up and all was well for over two hours when it beeped and shut itself off once again. Sigh....AAAAAAARGH!!! Computers are capable of hate, I have decided, particularly MY computers. 'Twas ever thus it seems over the years with various models I have used.
My husband ran every scan and check up it is possible to run and there was no problem discovered. So, he decided there must be a glitch happening in the power source. He has sprayed "de-yukky-fier" on to all the plugs and cable ends and is hoping there has simply been a build up of gunk somewhere in the system. There is no money for a new desk top for me and likely not a store open in which to purchase one if there was! Since my six year old iPad doesn't have all the capabilities of my desk top I really need my PC to continue to work. If there is a problem with a power cord then I pray he can find it soon and replace it.
Today I am determined to fix my mind on the small details of daily life and also on whatever small positive thoughts, events and situations that come across my path. I cannot rid the world of the coronavirus, I can only ask God to set up the boundaries of containment and to end the crisis as soon as possible.
And I Think I’VE Got It Rough! Not Really!
While we are worried sick some days about our son in NYC as that is now the COVID19 epicentre of America, we have friends in another province who are living a true nightmare over their family members overseas.
One of their daughters and her husband have been teaching at a university in China. They left China for a teachers’ conference in Thailand two months ago and have been awaiting permission to return to China ever since. Things were looking hopeful two weeks ago as cases in Wuhan began to drop, but their university in a different area of China has neither reopened nor made definite arrangements to complete the term online. In the past few days the spread of COVID19 in Thailand has accelerated and so our young friends made the decision to return home. They found a flight out for tomorrow. We pray they will be able to get out and home safely and avoid viral infection.
This same family has a son in university in New Zealand. Things were going well for him and it appeared he would be able to stay there to ride out the disaster more easily that he could return. However, that all changed two days ago and he had to scramble to get a flight back as far as Vancouver yesterday. Hopefully he was able to be on that flight, but how he would get from Vancouver to his home province was still a mystery when he left for the airport in New Zealand.
The entire family has spent over 48 hours booking, cancelling, rebooking, cancelling, rebooking as flights get cancelled by the airlines and prices fluctuate between nine hundred and nine thousand dollars for the same flightpath being taken by the various airlines. There is price gouging everywhere.
While arrangements for a safe quarantine site for all the kids and spouses are being made by their parents, who are at high risk for infection themselves due to underlying health problems of their own, there is an uncle in the family with serious issues as well. He has been very ill and incapacitated by pain and paralysis for a number of years. He is scheduled soon for a leg amputation and emotionally he cannot cope. His son had a car accident last year and is a quadriplegic. The son attempted suicide the other day, failed in his attempt and is now in the psychiatric ward at the same hospital as his father, but there is a legal restraining order that prevents them from seeing each other due to a shared criminal offence that occurred many years ago. So, they cannot comfort each other in their distress. Of course neither of these men can have any visitors due to the hospital lockdown. So, another upset for our friends.
Despite my worry about my son, I know where he is. I know that right now he is healthy and surviving even though his stress is high. I have only one child to worry about. My parents are as safe as it is possible to be. My husband’s family are healthy, self-isolating and taking every precaution.
Lord, please protect our friends’ family members and show them you are present in the midst of their many fears and travel trials. Thank you, amen.
One of their daughters and her husband have been teaching at a university in China. They left China for a teachers’ conference in Thailand two months ago and have been awaiting permission to return to China ever since. Things were looking hopeful two weeks ago as cases in Wuhan began to drop, but their university in a different area of China has neither reopened nor made definite arrangements to complete the term online. In the past few days the spread of COVID19 in Thailand has accelerated and so our young friends made the decision to return home. They found a flight out for tomorrow. We pray they will be able to get out and home safely and avoid viral infection.
This same family has a son in university in New Zealand. Things were going well for him and it appeared he would be able to stay there to ride out the disaster more easily that he could return. However, that all changed two days ago and he had to scramble to get a flight back as far as Vancouver yesterday. Hopefully he was able to be on that flight, but how he would get from Vancouver to his home province was still a mystery when he left for the airport in New Zealand.
The entire family has spent over 48 hours booking, cancelling, rebooking, cancelling, rebooking as flights get cancelled by the airlines and prices fluctuate between nine hundred and nine thousand dollars for the same flightpath being taken by the various airlines. There is price gouging everywhere.
While arrangements for a safe quarantine site for all the kids and spouses are being made by their parents, who are at high risk for infection themselves due to underlying health problems of their own, there is an uncle in the family with serious issues as well. He has been very ill and incapacitated by pain and paralysis for a number of years. He is scheduled soon for a leg amputation and emotionally he cannot cope. His son had a car accident last year and is a quadriplegic. The son attempted suicide the other day, failed in his attempt and is now in the psychiatric ward at the same hospital as his father, but there is a legal restraining order that prevents them from seeing each other due to a shared criminal offence that occurred many years ago. So, they cannot comfort each other in their distress. Of course neither of these men can have any visitors due to the hospital lockdown. So, another upset for our friends.
Despite my worry about my son, I know where he is. I know that right now he is healthy and surviving even though his stress is high. I have only one child to worry about. My parents are as safe as it is possible to be. My husband’s family are healthy, self-isolating and taking every precaution.
Lord, please protect our friends’ family members and show them you are present in the midst of their many fears and travel trials. Thank you, amen.
Saturday, March 21, 2020
These Romans Are Crazy! Hahaha👻
At 10:15pm Kat contacted me. She wanted to know if we were still awake because she wanted to drop something off on our doorstep. With her compromised immune system even the two meter social distancing is not safe enough for her, so she would have to put the something on the porch and leave. So, when she arrived at 11:00pm that is exactly what she did. There on our doorstep was a package of a dozen eggs, exactly what we need and have not been able to find in the stores, plus a nice bottle of 🍷 wine so we can celebrate our upcoming anniversary. 💑
How kind and generous is this woman? We are blessed!
How kind and generous is this woman? We are blessed!
Thanks John!
My friend John sent this out to me today and I laughed SO hard because I could see myself telling the same story as the fellow below...back in the days when I was still courageous enough to take the chance! hahaha Read on:
A RETIREE'S LAST TRIP TO COSTCO!!!
Yesterday I was at Costco, buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet Owen, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant?
So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.
I told her it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I had stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.
Well, I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard.
Costco won't let me shop there any more. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
Forward this (especially) to your retired friends...it will be their laugh for the day.
A RETIREE'S LAST TRIP TO COSTCO!!!
Yesterday I was at Costco, buying a large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet Owen, the Wonder Dog and was in the check-out line when a woman behind me asked if I had a dog. What did she think I had, an elephant?
So because I'm retired and have little to do, on impulse I told her no, I didn't have a dog, I was starting the Purina Diet again. I added that I probably shouldn't because I ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care ward with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.
I told her it was essentially a Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is to load your pants pockets with Purina Nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The food is nutritionally complete, (certified), so it works well and I was going to try it again. (I have to mention here that practically everyone in line was now enthralled with my story.)
Horrified, she asked if I ended up in intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I had stopped to pee on a fire hydrant and a car hit me.
Well, I thought the guy behind her was going to have a heart attack, he was laughing so hard.
Costco won't let me shop there any more. Better watch what you ask retired people. They have all the time in the world to think of crazy things to say.
Forward this (especially) to your retired friends...it will be their laugh for the day.
Friday, March 20, 2020
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom........
My husband is helping me get set up with a Zoom account so that I can participate in the services and prayer meetings my church is holding now that our building is closed for the duration of the pandemic. I will also be able to participate in the book club meeting next week. I am delighted there is such a good way for us to communicate even though we cannot be together in the same room. This is a cool technology to be able to use at such a time as this. YAY! I MAY even be able to run this connection myself once I learn how and I MAY even enjoy it??? Depends how well I can get it to work I guess. I have a long, tried and true record of not being able to get something technologically simple to work, only to have my husband appear, push all the same computer keys that I just pushed and have everything work just fine, no problem. Sigh....computers hate me on sight! They hate me on sight even more than babies do...babies AND computers! Sigh....
Well, here's hoping. Tomorrow morning our book club is going to have a trial run at seeing if we can manage to connect. Should be a hoot!
Well, here's hoping. Tomorrow morning our book club is going to have a trial run at seeing if we can manage to connect. Should be a hoot!
Think "Pirates of Penzance"
A friend sent this to me yesterday. I LOVE IT and have been singing it all morning!
So Which Is It To Be Then?
I was reading an online article last night and thinking back to the time we lived in Tokyo. In Japan, China and other oriental countries, the wearing of a face mask is the polite and sensitive thing to do. Although it is recognized that the wearing of such a mask doesn't often stop bacteria and viruses from being transmitted, it is the proper way to let the people around you know that you are suffering from some kind of respiratory illness that could be contagious. It gives the folks around you the option to stand well back of you if they want to. It is a sign, an alert, a socially responsible thing to do if you have to be out and about when not feeling well. To go out into the public realm without that mask brings confrontation for your insensitivity and mockery for lack of social consciousness.
Here in Canada it seems to be culturally the opposite! When people whose culture encourages and often enforces the wearing of face masks when suffering illness come to Canada they too often get a response very different than the one they are used to in their home countries. I have seen and heard the response with my own eyes and ears in the past two weeks in banks and grocery stores and even on the street. The response is either mockery that "These foreigners are too stupid to know that wearing a mask will not prevent the spread of COVID-19!" or direct confrontation: "How dare you buy up all the masks our hospital and other care workers need to do their jobs safely?? HOW DARE YOU???" These are both direct quotes. They both made me feel ill when I heard them being uttered. As I noted in the previous paragraph, the "foreigners"wearing the masks are not stupid, they are attempting to be polite and sensitive. As far as buying masks our care workers need instead, I am fairly certain the masks they are wearing came to Canada with them from their home land and likely several years ago when they first came to our country. The ones I wore this week when I went out to shop are left over from a package I purchased in Japan nearly TWENTY YEARS AGO!!! So, I dare anyone to publicly accuse me of stealing masks from our overworked nurses and doctors!
So to wear or not wear the masks...which is it?
We as consumers are getting quite a mixed message:
1. Make certain you have enough food and supplies for a 14 day quarantine period.
2. Don't hoard groceries, there is lots of food in the warehouses to be trucked in.
So which is it?
It seems the majority of people who shop in my neighbourhood have taken position #1. In the grocery stores where I shop most often there have been no eggs, flour, sugar or butter since last weekend. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were sold out long before the weekend and the supplies have either not been replenished yet or else there was another run on the new supplies and I missed out by the time I got to the stores.
In my neighbourhood Shoppers Drug Mart tiny grocery section yesterday there was one middle aged woman filling her cart in the canned goods department. She literally put every single tin of soup, vegetables and premade meals like canned stew into her own cart. Within 30 seconds she had personally stripped the shelves bare of all canned foods. I thought that the clerk at the cash register would enforce the new rules about how much of any one product you are allowed to purchase but that didn't happen. So, nearly three hundred dollars in canned goods later, the woman exited, leaving four empty shelves in her wake and taking more food than any one person needs for a two week time period. She was quite pleased with herself, announcing loudly that SHE wasn't going to starve to death and tough %#@%## for everyone else. It was disgusting and also disturbing. I have seen little evidence in the shopping habits around here that would indicate people are willing to sacrifice for or even work together with others in the same situation that faces us all. Fear is a strong motivator toward selfish behaviour and we all struggle with it at different times and in different circumstances.
Our son is seeing the last of his work and pay cheques now. He was supposed to go to work this coming Sunday for a full day's pay, but he just phoned to say that Sunday is the day that "shelter-in-place" legislation will be imposed upon NYC. This afternoon he and his girlfriend are heading out to the bustling markets to try to get some more food into both their places of residence so they can eat properly and stay safe over the coming weeks. He is certainly dreading the separation, as is she. At least his roommates will still be around his building, while her roommate has gone to Long Island to be with her family. We are praying that all of them will be safe from the virus and that no losses of life will occur in their community of artists. Our son is preparing to restore his old social activist stance to see how he can help advocate for the artistic and other communities who will suffer great financial blows and long term losses in the next couple of months.
Shelter-in-place.
Go out for groceries and pay your bills because there is not yet a programme in place to limit buying or enforce delayed paying of rents and utility bills.
Again, which is it??
The world is a confusing place right now.
Here in Canada it seems to be culturally the opposite! When people whose culture encourages and often enforces the wearing of face masks when suffering illness come to Canada they too often get a response very different than the one they are used to in their home countries. I have seen and heard the response with my own eyes and ears in the past two weeks in banks and grocery stores and even on the street. The response is either mockery that "These foreigners are too stupid to know that wearing a mask will not prevent the spread of COVID-19!" or direct confrontation: "How dare you buy up all the masks our hospital and other care workers need to do their jobs safely?? HOW DARE YOU???" These are both direct quotes. They both made me feel ill when I heard them being uttered. As I noted in the previous paragraph, the "foreigners"wearing the masks are not stupid, they are attempting to be polite and sensitive. As far as buying masks our care workers need instead, I am fairly certain the masks they are wearing came to Canada with them from their home land and likely several years ago when they first came to our country. The ones I wore this week when I went out to shop are left over from a package I purchased in Japan nearly TWENTY YEARS AGO!!! So, I dare anyone to publicly accuse me of stealing masks from our overworked nurses and doctors!
So to wear or not wear the masks...which is it?
We as consumers are getting quite a mixed message:
1. Make certain you have enough food and supplies for a 14 day quarantine period.
2. Don't hoard groceries, there is lots of food in the warehouses to be trucked in.
So which is it?
It seems the majority of people who shop in my neighbourhood have taken position #1. In the grocery stores where I shop most often there have been no eggs, flour, sugar or butter since last weekend. Hand sanitizer and toilet paper were sold out long before the weekend and the supplies have either not been replenished yet or else there was another run on the new supplies and I missed out by the time I got to the stores.
In my neighbourhood Shoppers Drug Mart tiny grocery section yesterday there was one middle aged woman filling her cart in the canned goods department. She literally put every single tin of soup, vegetables and premade meals like canned stew into her own cart. Within 30 seconds she had personally stripped the shelves bare of all canned foods. I thought that the clerk at the cash register would enforce the new rules about how much of any one product you are allowed to purchase but that didn't happen. So, nearly three hundred dollars in canned goods later, the woman exited, leaving four empty shelves in her wake and taking more food than any one person needs for a two week time period. She was quite pleased with herself, announcing loudly that SHE wasn't going to starve to death and tough %#@%## for everyone else. It was disgusting and also disturbing. I have seen little evidence in the shopping habits around here that would indicate people are willing to sacrifice for or even work together with others in the same situation that faces us all. Fear is a strong motivator toward selfish behaviour and we all struggle with it at different times and in different circumstances.
Our son is seeing the last of his work and pay cheques now. He was supposed to go to work this coming Sunday for a full day's pay, but he just phoned to say that Sunday is the day that "shelter-in-place" legislation will be imposed upon NYC. This afternoon he and his girlfriend are heading out to the bustling markets to try to get some more food into both their places of residence so they can eat properly and stay safe over the coming weeks. He is certainly dreading the separation, as is she. At least his roommates will still be around his building, while her roommate has gone to Long Island to be with her family. We are praying that all of them will be safe from the virus and that no losses of life will occur in their community of artists. Our son is preparing to restore his old social activist stance to see how he can help advocate for the artistic and other communities who will suffer great financial blows and long term losses in the next couple of months.
Shelter-in-place.
Go out for groceries and pay your bills because there is not yet a programme in place to limit buying or enforce delayed paying of rents and utility bills.
Again, which is it??
The world is a confusing place right now.
Thursday, March 19, 2020
My Great Escape: What Else Ya’ Gonna Do On Such A Beauty Day?
The utility bills came today. They needed to be paid.
My son is having a birthday soon. His card needed to be mailed.
The temperature is -5C and the sunshine made a gorgeous winter day. It needed to be enjoyed.
What was a body to do with these circumstances? It needed to get outside and run errands, is what.
And so, I donned a medical mask, a pair of operating room latex gloves, and away I went to pay and mail. What a perfect day for a walk. Social distancing along my route was not a problem. I saw only nine other pedestrians along my usually busy route. Even the vehicular traffic on the usually busy thoroughfare was reduced by two thirds. It was a marvellous walk! The post office and bank staff were appreciative of my mask and gloves, in fact the teller at the bank was wearing gloves as well.
I feel much calmer now about staying inside for the next couple of weeks. As far as groceries and financial obligations for the next few weeks we seem to have everything taken care of so I am grateful. It is time for proper self-isolation now.
My son is having a birthday soon. His card needed to be mailed.
The temperature is -5C and the sunshine made a gorgeous winter day. It needed to be enjoyed.
What was a body to do with these circumstances? It needed to get outside and run errands, is what.
And so, I donned a medical mask, a pair of operating room latex gloves, and away I went to pay and mail. What a perfect day for a walk. Social distancing along my route was not a problem. I saw only nine other pedestrians along my usually busy route. Even the vehicular traffic on the usually busy thoroughfare was reduced by two thirds. It was a marvellous walk! The post office and bank staff were appreciative of my mask and gloves, in fact the teller at the bank was wearing gloves as well.
I feel much calmer now about staying inside for the next couple of weeks. As far as groceries and financial obligations for the next few weeks we seem to have everything taken care of so I am grateful. It is time for proper self-isolation now.
The Joy of a Jet Engine!
Well, for last night at least the neighbours were as good as their word about not slamming around in the stairwell beside us all night long. Long may it last. Yes, they were still up all night talking in loud voices and laughing like hyenas, but no worries.
I would not have heard anything had I not had to use the washroom overnight. In the bedroom we are being granted the gift of sleep because of the recording of an idling jet engine. It has both high and low frequencies that drown out the sound of voices and laughing and the normal squeaking of floors. With the leaving of the young stair thumper yesterday, I enjoyed six consecutive hours of unbroken sleep. Oh how grateful I am. When I turned out my bedside lamp last night I asked the Lord if I could please sleep for six hours before needing to get up and in His mercy my request was granted. I still have time to doze again before I have to get up and eat breakfast. Hallelujah!
My husband’s travelling cousins made the flight from Tel Aviv to LAX yesterday. They are in an airport hotel, supposedly making it into the Calgary airport sometime this evening. After having to pay over six thousand dollars to change their flights out of Israel to an earlier day, this trip has been a costly venture. Now if they can please come home in good health and not have to add cases of COVID19 to their travel woes. At least they are back in North America! Thank you Lord!
A friend from church just sent the message that she fell on the ice last night and sustained a serious hip fracture. She is in the lineup for an OR to have emergency surgery. Her own husband will not be allowed in to visit her because of the pandemic, so her recovery in hospital will be a lonely one, followed by isolation at home for several weeks. Please pray for Bonnie.
Another friend is having a lumpectomy today...three weeks after joint replacement surgery. Please pray for the best outcome for Penelope. The lump is, fortunately in a precancerous stage and encapsulated within the duct. It was found as a result of a mammogram! Ladies, get those mammies grammed!
So, what new wonders will today bring to us? Am I going to be sorry I asked? Aiii yiiii.....
I would not have heard anything had I not had to use the washroom overnight. In the bedroom we are being granted the gift of sleep because of the recording of an idling jet engine. It has both high and low frequencies that drown out the sound of voices and laughing and the normal squeaking of floors. With the leaving of the young stair thumper yesterday, I enjoyed six consecutive hours of unbroken sleep. Oh how grateful I am. When I turned out my bedside lamp last night I asked the Lord if I could please sleep for six hours before needing to get up and in His mercy my request was granted. I still have time to doze again before I have to get up and eat breakfast. Hallelujah!
My husband’s travelling cousins made the flight from Tel Aviv to LAX yesterday. They are in an airport hotel, supposedly making it into the Calgary airport sometime this evening. After having to pay over six thousand dollars to change their flights out of Israel to an earlier day, this trip has been a costly venture. Now if they can please come home in good health and not have to add cases of COVID19 to their travel woes. At least they are back in North America! Thank you Lord!
A friend from church just sent the message that she fell on the ice last night and sustained a serious hip fracture. She is in the lineup for an OR to have emergency surgery. Her own husband will not be allowed in to visit her because of the pandemic, so her recovery in hospital will be a lonely one, followed by isolation at home for several weeks. Please pray for Bonnie.
Another friend is having a lumpectomy today...three weeks after joint replacement surgery. Please pray for the best outcome for Penelope. The lump is, fortunately in a precancerous stage and encapsulated within the duct. It was found as a result of a mammogram! Ladies, get those mammies grammed!
So, what new wonders will today bring to us? Am I going to be sorry I asked? Aiii yiiii.....
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Remember the Old Days......
.....when the person with the case of Corona was the person you WANTED to be with????? hahahahaha (think about it, you old hippies)
Aiiiii yiiiiii.....we are nearing the completion of our first day of self-isolation and I am wondering how we will get through the rest of this virus disaster without going stir crazy!! These weeks of enforced isolation are going to try our creative patience I think! It isn't that there isn't lots to do to occupy us, it is just the thought of not being able to see anyone in person for possibly a month or more that is kind of freaky. Once again, Lord thank you for phones, email servers and SKYPE!
Life with the noisy neighbours took another interesting turn today after another all night yelling, slam banging event. The recording of an idling jet engine kept us unaware of most of the noise until 4am and then the noises cranked up to highest volume and we were done with the whole idea of sleeping. By 6am the young fellow's guitar, shoes, duffel bag and various items of clothing were scattered all over the back lawn and between our cars in the parking lot. One of the girls turfed them out there just before 6am, with an accompanying slam of the back door that shook the entire building. She even unplugged his car heater cord! (See, we won't REALLY be bored during isolation...the neighbour drama will keep life interesting, right???)
Everything sat out there, huge, wet, fluffy snowflakes coming down and covering it all, until about 10:30am, when the now barefoot young man staggered outside to retrieve his shoes and the guitar. The clothes sat outside until about 4pm, looking very icy and abandoned under the fresh snow. At that point the fellow came back out with a few other items, put them into his car, pulled the icy clothes off the lawn and parking lot to toss into the back seat, wrapped up the heater cord and turfed it into the trunk. Then he got into his car and drove away. SO FAR he has not returned, but the night is young and life next door rarely begins prior to midnight.
Shortly after he drove away, three men arrived. The noise began to rise once again, but at least there wasn't any yelling. It was happy noise. My husband suddenly took a notion that it was time to get himself over there to make an appeal about the night time issues. He took over a can of soda for each of the four folk in the suite, introduced himself and gave them their little gift, then made his appeal for less yelling and banging around at night. The tenant girl asked if that meant they had better start being quiet immediately. He told her that they had every right to live their lives during the day and it was up to us to cope with that noise. He said that he and I would be extra quiet during the day when they are sleeping, if they would stop yelling and banging around on the stairs at night. One of the visiting men said he felt that my husband was making an appeal for mutual respect and that the tenant girls should honour it. Then they formed a circle, held hands and the same man prayed a prayer to Jesus that we could all respect each other and he thanked God for good friends/neighbours living next door.
So....either that was for real, or it is just part of the con game, we don't know. Time will tell. All I know is that it seems that there is some kind of reason I don't understand yet as to why all this business with these neighbours is going on. Did this impromptu prayer happen because one of the tenants has realized over the past three months that they are living next door to a minister and wanted to make themselves look as if they too are followers of Jesus? I suppose we will find out soon enough.
My husband is now on the same page as myself with these people: we have made every appeal we know how to make now, we have deliberately shown ourselves friendly, we have made a bargain together by verbal agreement and in prayer. So, if there is any more noise keeping us awake at nights we will simply have to keep contacting the management company until they get so tired of us they will finally do something about the problem. Otherwise we do hope that things can work out long term between they and we.
We had our intial phone call this morning with the leasing agent for our suite. We will definitely be able to keep our present rent credit and she is asking the company for a little bit more of a credit as well, perhaps only another twenty five dollars, but at this point, that is a big help. Here's hoping. Just knowing we will not lose the credit we have is most helpful. We will not have to be trying to rent a different suite and move in the middle of a pandemic! Thank you Lord!! Another answer to prayer.
We were going through photos today for a project we are doing for our son and found the last photo taken of my husband sitting at one of his desks in the office prior to his job ending 15 months ago. I am glad to have a record of it:
Aiiiii yiiiiii.....we are nearing the completion of our first day of self-isolation and I am wondering how we will get through the rest of this virus disaster without going stir crazy!! These weeks of enforced isolation are going to try our creative patience I think! It isn't that there isn't lots to do to occupy us, it is just the thought of not being able to see anyone in person for possibly a month or more that is kind of freaky. Once again, Lord thank you for phones, email servers and SKYPE!
Life with the noisy neighbours took another interesting turn today after another all night yelling, slam banging event. The recording of an idling jet engine kept us unaware of most of the noise until 4am and then the noises cranked up to highest volume and we were done with the whole idea of sleeping. By 6am the young fellow's guitar, shoes, duffel bag and various items of clothing were scattered all over the back lawn and between our cars in the parking lot. One of the girls turfed them out there just before 6am, with an accompanying slam of the back door that shook the entire building. She even unplugged his car heater cord! (See, we won't REALLY be bored during isolation...the neighbour drama will keep life interesting, right???)
Everything sat out there, huge, wet, fluffy snowflakes coming down and covering it all, until about 10:30am, when the now barefoot young man staggered outside to retrieve his shoes and the guitar. The clothes sat outside until about 4pm, looking very icy and abandoned under the fresh snow. At that point the fellow came back out with a few other items, put them into his car, pulled the icy clothes off the lawn and parking lot to toss into the back seat, wrapped up the heater cord and turfed it into the trunk. Then he got into his car and drove away. SO FAR he has not returned, but the night is young and life next door rarely begins prior to midnight.
Shortly after he drove away, three men arrived. The noise began to rise once again, but at least there wasn't any yelling. It was happy noise. My husband suddenly took a notion that it was time to get himself over there to make an appeal about the night time issues. He took over a can of soda for each of the four folk in the suite, introduced himself and gave them their little gift, then made his appeal for less yelling and banging around at night. The tenant girl asked if that meant they had better start being quiet immediately. He told her that they had every right to live their lives during the day and it was up to us to cope with that noise. He said that he and I would be extra quiet during the day when they are sleeping, if they would stop yelling and banging around on the stairs at night. One of the visiting men said he felt that my husband was making an appeal for mutual respect and that the tenant girls should honour it. Then they formed a circle, held hands and the same man prayed a prayer to Jesus that we could all respect each other and he thanked God for good friends/neighbours living next door.
So....either that was for real, or it is just part of the con game, we don't know. Time will tell. All I know is that it seems that there is some kind of reason I don't understand yet as to why all this business with these neighbours is going on. Did this impromptu prayer happen because one of the tenants has realized over the past three months that they are living next door to a minister and wanted to make themselves look as if they too are followers of Jesus? I suppose we will find out soon enough.
My husband is now on the same page as myself with these people: we have made every appeal we know how to make now, we have deliberately shown ourselves friendly, we have made a bargain together by verbal agreement and in prayer. So, if there is any more noise keeping us awake at nights we will simply have to keep contacting the management company until they get so tired of us they will finally do something about the problem. Otherwise we do hope that things can work out long term between they and we.
We had our intial phone call this morning with the leasing agent for our suite. We will definitely be able to keep our present rent credit and she is asking the company for a little bit more of a credit as well, perhaps only another twenty five dollars, but at this point, that is a big help. Here's hoping. Just knowing we will not lose the credit we have is most helpful. We will not have to be trying to rent a different suite and move in the middle of a pandemic! Thank you Lord!! Another answer to prayer.
We were going through photos today for a project we are doing for our son and found the last photo taken of my husband sitting at one of his desks in the office prior to his job ending 15 months ago. I am glad to have a record of it:
Tuesday, March 17, 2020
Stop the World! I Want To Get Off!!!!
I am hanging onto my last nerve as best I can over the COVID-19 related closures and hygiene edicts, social spacing etc. Aiiii yiiiii.....I think I would be less stressed if it wasn't for the position my son is in down the States. He is living surrounded by chaos, confusion, simmering maliciousness, the threat of violence and no federal plan for each state to organize itself around. As he says, "People don't live in New York City because they want to stay home!" He will be financially okay for the month of April, but May is going to be a nightmare barring the intervention of God...something God has made a habit of in his life the same way He has in our lives, so I am managing not to worry unduly yet about that problem. I am more concerned about what he is facing from certain portions of the population, particularly in his neighbourhood filled with a particularly volatile cultural group. So, again, we pray and trust the Lord for his safety.
The hair salon that confirmed my tomorrow's appointment with me yesterday just phoned again to confirm they will actually be closing at the end of business hours today. It makes total sense. A stylist and client are breathing in each other's faces for the entire procedure. I am glad they are taking things seriously. I guess I can spend my spare time finding new ways to style this overly long mop of elderly woman hair. Thank you Jesus for curling irons!!! Now, Lord, if you could improve my skill with that iron...just the bittiest bit...okay?
There has been a never ending stream of emails from various businesses, church groups and restaurants we frequent advising us of the ceasing of their activities effective immediately. As of Friday all the schools will be closed, likely until the start of the next term in September. University and other classes that can be done online are making that switch as quickly as they can. Pools, arenas, theatres, choirs, the symphony orchestra, churches and other public places are all closed now. My husband will miss going to the libraries, that is for sure. For now we still have transit service, but not sure for how long. Some doctors are closing their offices and doing online diagnoses, dentists have been advised to perform emergency work only. I am proud of our province for being so pro-active and trying to keep everyone safe instead of waiting until one of our present presumptive cases of COVID-19 becomes confirmed as our province's first case of the actual viral infection. It is mostly the economic fallout that frightens me, to be honest. So many people are going to be like my son: one month without work may be okay, but after that it is going to be a disaster.
My sister-in-law put some things into perspective when she wrote to me this morning. As she mentioned, our parents and grandparents went to off to fight in global wars. At this point, on the prairies, all we are being asked to do is to stay at home and sit on the sofa watching Netflix! Thank you Lord!
Yesterday we had a rather long appointment at the bank, trying to figure out what we are going to do if we lose any more monthly income due to repercussions from COVID-19. It was kind of a depressing appointment, so we decided we were going to make one final restaurant visit in honour of an upcoming birthday and anniversary, by which time it is likely most all the restaurants will be either open only for take out or closed all together. We went to the Knotted Thistle pub for Guiness burgers and club house sandwiches and had a fantastic time. There were only two other customers there, kind of typical for a Monday anyway, so we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly having a private celebration of our lives thus far. It was a LOT of fun!
This morning I went banking and grocery shopping. The grocery I went to was busier than usual for a Tuesday morning, but hardly crowded. There were only a few gaps in product on the shelves, so that was nice. In Canada we have a lot of product stored in the various grocery chain warehouses, so it will take some time to become seriously short of food and other supplies. I am grateful for that. By the time I arrived home I had sanitized my hands three times and then they were washed twice within the first ten minutes of arriving back at our suite. I am doing my due diligence! This afternoon four of my prayer group ladies are meeting together. We all have hand sanitizer and the spacious living room we meet in will afford us the opportunity to practise social distancing.
My husband will begin the process today of contacting the leasing agent for our units and finding out if we are going to be able to keep our rent credit or whether we are going to have to prepare for a move the first of June....if we are all still under the threat of COVID-19, we won't be able to move! Aaaaaargh....how does this all work, right??? hahaha SO, I am praying very hard that we can stay here for another year. Once the ban on travel is lifted and people can move about normally again we have to get to Calgary to move my mom. That may not happen for another three or more months, so wow....life is SO interesting.
Some days it is a bit too interesting for this old woman! Hahaha!
The hair salon that confirmed my tomorrow's appointment with me yesterday just phoned again to confirm they will actually be closing at the end of business hours today. It makes total sense. A stylist and client are breathing in each other's faces for the entire procedure. I am glad they are taking things seriously. I guess I can spend my spare time finding new ways to style this overly long mop of elderly woman hair. Thank you Jesus for curling irons!!! Now, Lord, if you could improve my skill with that iron...just the bittiest bit...okay?
There has been a never ending stream of emails from various businesses, church groups and restaurants we frequent advising us of the ceasing of their activities effective immediately. As of Friday all the schools will be closed, likely until the start of the next term in September. University and other classes that can be done online are making that switch as quickly as they can. Pools, arenas, theatres, choirs, the symphony orchestra, churches and other public places are all closed now. My husband will miss going to the libraries, that is for sure. For now we still have transit service, but not sure for how long. Some doctors are closing their offices and doing online diagnoses, dentists have been advised to perform emergency work only. I am proud of our province for being so pro-active and trying to keep everyone safe instead of waiting until one of our present presumptive cases of COVID-19 becomes confirmed as our province's first case of the actual viral infection. It is mostly the economic fallout that frightens me, to be honest. So many people are going to be like my son: one month without work may be okay, but after that it is going to be a disaster.
My sister-in-law put some things into perspective when she wrote to me this morning. As she mentioned, our parents and grandparents went to off to fight in global wars. At this point, on the prairies, all we are being asked to do is to stay at home and sit on the sofa watching Netflix! Thank you Lord!
Yesterday we had a rather long appointment at the bank, trying to figure out what we are going to do if we lose any more monthly income due to repercussions from COVID-19. It was kind of a depressing appointment, so we decided we were going to make one final restaurant visit in honour of an upcoming birthday and anniversary, by which time it is likely most all the restaurants will be either open only for take out or closed all together. We went to the Knotted Thistle pub for Guiness burgers and club house sandwiches and had a fantastic time. There were only two other customers there, kind of typical for a Monday anyway, so we enjoyed ourselves thoroughly having a private celebration of our lives thus far. It was a LOT of fun!
This morning I went banking and grocery shopping. The grocery I went to was busier than usual for a Tuesday morning, but hardly crowded. There were only a few gaps in product on the shelves, so that was nice. In Canada we have a lot of product stored in the various grocery chain warehouses, so it will take some time to become seriously short of food and other supplies. I am grateful for that. By the time I arrived home I had sanitized my hands three times and then they were washed twice within the first ten minutes of arriving back at our suite. I am doing my due diligence! This afternoon four of my prayer group ladies are meeting together. We all have hand sanitizer and the spacious living room we meet in will afford us the opportunity to practise social distancing.
My husband will begin the process today of contacting the leasing agent for our units and finding out if we are going to be able to keep our rent credit or whether we are going to have to prepare for a move the first of June....if we are all still under the threat of COVID-19, we won't be able to move! Aaaaaargh....how does this all work, right??? hahaha SO, I am praying very hard that we can stay here for another year. Once the ban on travel is lifted and people can move about normally again we have to get to Calgary to move my mom. That may not happen for another three or more months, so wow....life is SO interesting.
Some days it is a bit too interesting for this old woman! Hahaha!
Sunday, March 15, 2020
The End of Another Era
Our very first parish church was closed several months ago and yesterday it was deconsecrated as it has been sold. It was certainly not a surprise that the tiny and ever shrinking congregation was unable to keep it going any longer, but still, seeing the photos of the building that were sent to us yesterday by a friend there, made us feel kind of sad. Good-bye St. Mary's. You gave us a good start to this crazy priesthood life.
Waiting For the Other Shoe To Drop...On a Daily Basis Now. Thank You COVID-19!
Our church decided to hold services today, but there were certainly some changes to our usual routine in deference to the SK health board rules for public meetings. While technically churches here at this time are not subject to the same rules as other larger gatherings, we wanted to honour each other and keep the meeting as safe as possible by taking some precautions.
When I arrived for the Sunday School class I was met at the door by the senior pastor and informed that there would be no class. Our poor teacher is terribly ill with stomach flu and couldn't make it. Instead the music minister took on the duty of talking to us about some possible Christian responses to this viral pandemic, gave us some history on how Christians have dealt with these things in the past by stepping up to the plate and continuing to help others in need, while continuing to take precautions. We each had to go and wash our hands properly before entering the room and the pastor took attendance in case any of us does contract symptoms. It is a way to try to trace the point of contact. We sat in chairs that were 7 feet apart.
After that very sobering session, we all went up to the main sanctuary for the church service. We were funnelled into the worship space through the center doors. On the way in we had to use the hand sanitizer provided. We had to sign in, then if we brought an offering we put it into the plate there at the door, rather than have to pass the plate to each other down the pews later on in the service.
It was a good service. Although attendance was down noticeably, there were still far more people there than I expected to see. The pastors seemed quite encouraged by how many chose to attend. Again, in the pews each family group or single person sat 6 to 7 feet away from the next.
Waiting for the shoe to drop: was this our last service for the next few mnoths? Will it be wiser to just cancel them from now until the pandemic crisis begins to ease? Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute we await news.
This afternoon we SKYPE'd with our son in NYC. His city is about to go into full lockdown and he is quite stressed by it. He has brought in lots of food, although there is not yet any scarcity of food items. His boss has sanitized the work studio and has put a series of shifts together so that all 3 employees can continue to work at least half time, but will each take a separate shift so they are working alone at all times. He has left cleansers that each one will have to use to clean the space for the next employee coming in.
Our son's art show in May, his first in the USA, has now been indefinitely postponed. He is very grateful to have received recently the last payment for paintings he sold earlier this year. It means he will be able to pay his rent for April. Not everyone will be that blessed. He and is girlfriend live only a 15 minute bicycle ride apart, but they are both concerned about how long people will be isolated within their homes. Since they both have roommates, it will be nearly impossible for the two of them to get together without being viewed as posing a risk to the other roommies. Our son is not good at being alone for too many days in a row. So, we are setting up a SKYPE schedule in hopes all of us can be encouraging to each other over the coming weeks.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop: how crazy are people there going to become as food and public services dwindle? They don't seem to have the types of COVID-19 testing centres that we are fortunate to have here. Paranoia runs rampant during pandemics and NYC is too big to expect everyone in it to remain calm.
For ourselves, my husband and I plan to take each day as it comes. We will keep abreast of the daily COVID-19 updates and follow the rules as best we can. Several of our upcoming weekly meetings have all ready been cancelled and in each case we think that was a wise decision.
When I arrived for the Sunday School class I was met at the door by the senior pastor and informed that there would be no class. Our poor teacher is terribly ill with stomach flu and couldn't make it. Instead the music minister took on the duty of talking to us about some possible Christian responses to this viral pandemic, gave us some history on how Christians have dealt with these things in the past by stepping up to the plate and continuing to help others in need, while continuing to take precautions. We each had to go and wash our hands properly before entering the room and the pastor took attendance in case any of us does contract symptoms. It is a way to try to trace the point of contact. We sat in chairs that were 7 feet apart.
After that very sobering session, we all went up to the main sanctuary for the church service. We were funnelled into the worship space through the center doors. On the way in we had to use the hand sanitizer provided. We had to sign in, then if we brought an offering we put it into the plate there at the door, rather than have to pass the plate to each other down the pews later on in the service.
It was a good service. Although attendance was down noticeably, there were still far more people there than I expected to see. The pastors seemed quite encouraged by how many chose to attend. Again, in the pews each family group or single person sat 6 to 7 feet away from the next.
Waiting for the shoe to drop: was this our last service for the next few mnoths? Will it be wiser to just cancel them from now until the pandemic crisis begins to ease? Day by day, hour by hour, minute by minute we await news.
This afternoon we SKYPE'd with our son in NYC. His city is about to go into full lockdown and he is quite stressed by it. He has brought in lots of food, although there is not yet any scarcity of food items. His boss has sanitized the work studio and has put a series of shifts together so that all 3 employees can continue to work at least half time, but will each take a separate shift so they are working alone at all times. He has left cleansers that each one will have to use to clean the space for the next employee coming in.
Our son's art show in May, his first in the USA, has now been indefinitely postponed. He is very grateful to have received recently the last payment for paintings he sold earlier this year. It means he will be able to pay his rent for April. Not everyone will be that blessed. He and is girlfriend live only a 15 minute bicycle ride apart, but they are both concerned about how long people will be isolated within their homes. Since they both have roommates, it will be nearly impossible for the two of them to get together without being viewed as posing a risk to the other roommies. Our son is not good at being alone for too many days in a row. So, we are setting up a SKYPE schedule in hopes all of us can be encouraging to each other over the coming weeks.
Waiting for the other shoe to drop: how crazy are people there going to become as food and public services dwindle? They don't seem to have the types of COVID-19 testing centres that we are fortunate to have here. Paranoia runs rampant during pandemics and NYC is too big to expect everyone in it to remain calm.
For ourselves, my husband and I plan to take each day as it comes. We will keep abreast of the daily COVID-19 updates and follow the rules as best we can. Several of our upcoming weekly meetings have all ready been cancelled and in each case we think that was a wise decision.
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