I have the funniest cousins, who can make anyone laugh during the saddest of times. They are a riot. We are on a Group Text, and when I begin to feel frustrated - I go there and read what they are saying to each other. No one can be sad around them. This morning they started this project: "You know you are quarantined when ..."
What a perfect idea. I decided to steal it. Before I write a BLOG, I choose a picture to inspire me. So, what does a quarantine picture look like? You see it now. It has to be about kids.
Kids came to mind.
One of my daughters has three kids - and the other has six kids. I'm locked down, alone, and even though I get lonely at times - I wouldn't trade lonely for parenting - ever. But especially during quarantine. I cannot even imagine how they are surviving. As long as they are posting funny things, I think everyone is safe ... but when I don't see them on Facebook, I get a little uneasy. I start calling the kids on their iPads to make sure everyone is still breathing and living in the house. I have to speak to them face-to-face to get the truth of the current situation. So far everyone looks happy. Whew. Don't make me come over there! Please.
YOU KNOW YOU ARE IN QUARANTINE WHEN... ALL THE amazing, great habits I painfully developed over the years, are gone. Now they mean nothing. They don't work, nor are they necessary. EXAMPLE: I was in the habit of drinking celery juice every morning - 16 ounces on an empty stomach. Wait 20 minutes afterward and eat a non-fat "breakfast" until noon. Then there's work until it's time to go home - deal with traffic. Go home, eat dinner, watch a funny show, and go to sleep around 9:30 ish - wake up early and start over.
Saturdays were reserved for doing something fun, cleaning house, doing laundry, and getting supplies. Now, I can do that anytime.
Sundays were reserved for Church. Now, everyone is praying 24/7 and there is no Church. Now, it's my responsibility to be spiritual, on my own. Seriously? It used to be fun to play hooky once in a while - now, not so much. It's between me and my Father in Heaven. I suppose that's a good thing.
I was a perfect specimen of health, discipline, and vitality. Content, happy and powerful. I was helping people all the time and saving the world in my own small way. I was never sad, nor frustrated, because I had it all together. It's been a program that worked well for me.
Now, not so much ... I don't know what time it is anymore - it doesn't even matter - and frankly, I don't even know what day it is. I woke up in the middle of the night last night and realized time is a misnomer. I got up and made dinner. I felt deliciously bad - as if I just robbed a bank, and enjoyed it. I ate my dinner and watched a movie. When the sun came up - I went to sleep. I mean, who cares? There's no one here to chastise me or tell me what time it is. When I woke up, at 3:00 pm, I did the morning routine - made celery juice. That works. And no one is here to stop me.
I noticed I was running out of bananas.
I could run out real quick and get some ... but it's now 7:00 pm, and everything is closed. Even the grocery stores which stay open later for old-farts, like me. But I missed the deadline. I could go during the day, but that's when I'm sleeping. I'll figure it out.
HERE'S WHAT I AM HEARING: I've reorganized my closets and drawers. Now what? My spouse lives in the front of the house, I live in the back. We meet for dinner. We try to wear masks, but it's hard to eat. I've watched every Hallmark movie. I can't see across the street, because the air is so thick with boredom. Now I have a crockpot working 24/7 - so I can eat dinner whenever I feel like it. Brilliant.
NOW ADD KID STORIES:
My neighbor called, "you know I love you, and the kids, but one of your 3-year-olds, I think it's Lily, is in my backyard, making a lot of noise. It's only 7am." Who knew? How does the neighbor know what time it is? The kids don't. And who cares. You can sleep later.
These kids never stop eating. We can't keep enough food in the house.
The kids love to let the dog out of the house. They laugh as we run screaming down the street trying to catch the dog. By the time we get back to the house - there's no food left. The kids are quietly reading a book. The room is trashed but they look like angels.
Please add your stories.
SUGGESTIONS
1. KEEP A SENSE OF HUMOR
2. USE THIS TIME TO COMPLETE PROJECTS
3. DRAW CLOSER TO YOUR FATHER IN HEAVEN
4. DRAW CLOSER TO FRIENDS AND FAMILY - Not in person? OK Social Media works.
6. THINK KIND THOUGHTS AND KNOW THIS WILL NOT LAST FOREVER ...