Is This Real Life?

COVID-19. Pandemic. Sheltering-in-place. Is this real life or will we wake up soon?

No longer does this feel like the twenty-first century. Our “new normal” has shifted and today seems more like a bizarre movie script with enough twists and turns to surprise (and dare I say delight?) even the hard to impress film critic. (Click-to-Tweet)

Except COVID-19 isn’t a movie script or a multi-layered plot devised from someone’s overactive imagination or creative musings.

It’s a real virus—a crisis event—of global proportions.

I still scratch my head when I think about it. How something like this could occur in my lifetime, my children’s lifetimes, and our world, our nation, be so ill prepared for it?

Schools and businesses shuttered. Streets vacant. People corralled in their homes. Hospitals maxed to capacity. A shortage of medical supplies. A rationing of paper goods, if stores are fortunate to have any in stock at all.

The list goes on.

Granted, I’m not an epidemiologist, a scientist, or health expert, but it’s my understanding that experts in these fields expressed concerns in years past regarding our lack of preparedness. What happened?

Well, my thoughts would only be conjecture, and that really isn’t the point of today’s blog (though, I’d really love to know).

And anyway, hindsight is 20/20.

Real life for our family looks like this.

For now, since my husband works in an essential services field, he still leaves for work each morning. That could change. He’s prepared to work from home if he has to.

Our college gal is home indefinitely. Instructors are attempting new teaching methods in wake of this unprecedented season. Meanwhile, our daughter is missing rites of passage that come with being a last semester senior. Spring Formal. Club trips. Memory-making with her BFFs. Contemplating the possibility of no formal commencement. No photo ops in her cap, gown, and honor cords she worked so hard for. No closure to these past four, life-changing years that officially transition a college kid into adulthood.

Our son, who’s an educator. is sheltered in place and working from his home. He’s utilizing all available resources to keep his classroom on track and as in sync as possible, despite the upheaval. Innovative thinking is his strong suit, so this blip on the radar may derail his calendar timeline, but I have no doubt that he’ll rise to the challenge.

Since working from home is already my jam, I’m used to screen time and solitude. Other than our county’s shelter-in-place ordinance, I’m still doing what I’ve always done. (Click-to-Tweet)

I’m hunkered down at my computer, in editing mode, and taking brief social media respites as needed.

Now, I did recently meet with an unexpected malady.

I’ve injured my upper back.

Who knew that straining a huge vat of spaghetti noodles could be so dangerous?

Honestly, I didn’t even correlate the two until some time later.

When the first pains hit between my shoulder blades, I truly wondered if I might be having a heart attack.

Could it be? I popped a few baby aspirin just in case.

I’d just received a clean bill of health from my PCP a few days prior. My labs were fantastic. Cholesterol numbers, especially, looked awesome. If those numbers had been off, I would have been more concerned.

Since x-ray and imaging services at many PCP offices are non-operational at this time, and there weren’t additional symptoms, I decided to self-monitor.

Still, the discomfort has been pretty intense. Quite painful, actually.

I’ve experienced childbirth twice. This is worse, if that tells you anything.

My upper back hurts. My ribs hurt. It hurts to take a deep breath. I’m unable to sleep more than a few hours.

And oh, yes. Did I mention I’m working through copy edits?

Because deadlines don’t wait. Not if you’re a contracted author.

Then there’s Daddy.

For those who’ve followed along, my father is in the latter stages of Alzheimer’s. Understandably, his facility is on lock-down and allowing no visitors. So…the daddy who I used to see frequently…I haven’t seen in three weeks. Three long, lonely weeks. (Click-to-Tweet)

For a daddy’s girl, this is tough.

When this season passes, will he still remember me? My voice? My hug?

I honestly don’t know.

I’m leaning in, friends.

Leaning into God and this new normal.

I’m using this time to self-reflect.

I’m examining goals.

Dreaming new dreams.

Praying bolder.

Believing bigger.

This time saddens me, but I’m thankful, too, for so many blessings.

Here’s to our journey.

Godspeed.

 

***

PLEASE SHARE

 

Likely, your world has shifted. Ours has, too. What a “new normal” looks like for our family.

(Click-to-Tweet)

 

Image Credit: birgl/Pixabay

 

 

How is COVID-19 impacting your life?

What acts of heroism have you witnessed?

 

***

Just a reminder that reading is a great pastime.

During our nation’s holding pattern, it’s the perfect season to read those books and stories you’ve wanted to, but haven’t had time.

While some book orders are being held up in warehouses, e-books are an ideal option. They’re easy to download, relatively inexpensive, and best of all—germ free. 

Please continue buying books and spreading the word about your favorite authors. ♥

Much Love and Many Blessings,