Ponderings

The Great Quarantine

Wait, we’re STILL in quarantine?

By this time last year, the entire world was experiencing some form of dread and fear of the unknown while shutting themselves up in their homes and staring at the television screen with sleep-deprived eyes.

We didn’t know what was out there. After shows like Bird Box, Containment, Virus, and even the strange one that specifically focused on adults and killed them or turned them into zombie-like blood-suckers, fresh in our minds, we felt an edge of terror wondering if this would be our final hour.

Daybreak – that’s the one with the kids surviving in a Lord of the Flies style. Took a heck of a lot of googling to find it.


I haven’t been sick for an entire year. Not a single cold or fever. Imagine all the germs we’re protecting ourselves from by sanitizing and masking up – or SUIT UP! as I like to say. I suppose that is something to be thankful for. And we didn’t lose our jobs which is itself a blessing.

But we’re still here, aren’t we? We’re still living this hellish nightmare of an invisible murderer. Let’s face it – there are no answers, and looking to government to “save” us like some cosmic Superman is childish. No one has the answers. Even this vaccine is still in trial stage. You know it. I know it. We all subconsciously hold our breath when someone we know gets the shot, like we’re waiting for hell to lay down its cards and we’ve just lost.

But you know, my body hasn’t felt this tranquil in years. I don’t have office stress. I sleep more. I’m spending more time with my husband – and I STILL like being around him. I’ll bet a lot of families are enjoying the same. I’m sure it’s hard with kids. But I bet it’s also nice. I bet relationships are growing stronger in ways you won’t realize until much later. I wonder if this will cultivate a grateful generation – just grateful to have friends and be connected, go to school, sit in class, and some day sit in an office or behind a register just grateful for what they have.

This is my hope. Let’s see what we gained. It might not come to harvest for years, but keep watering the seeds of your labor.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Raw

I Miss You; Part 3

We went to the local Renaissance faire the day after our wedding. We were engaged at the very same faire. We would have gotten married at the faire but – alas – too many restrictions. Bristol is a big part of our lives. It’s currently shut down because of Covid.

I miss it.

It has been a rough season. Physically, aside from being out of shape, my body finally feels rested and de-stressed. Mentally, I’ve been able to decompress. Emotionally, it’s taking it’s toll. One by one the events which define how we choose to live are being taken away. Hubby and I find small distractions along the way. We’ve discovered some pretty cool stuff from our otherwise lack of options. Still, sometimes social media sends a reminder. A faire friend might pop up. Someone mentions sassafras or cheese fritters. I feel an ache.

It’s not wrong to miss your old life. Nobody should tell you to toughen up or somebody in the world has it worse. That doesn’t matter. What does matter is you feel the loss. Pushing it away doesn’t make it any less real.

I hope you’re getting by these days. If you are missing something, write about it in the comments. Sometimes writing helps.

It helped me.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Ponderings, Raw

Quarantine Week #14

It is sometimes difficult to believe Covid-19 has impacted our world for so long, but here we are. It is currently our fourteenth week since Wisconsin schools shut down. Summer has arrived. Families are getting together. These are good things.

I have contemplated shutting down the “Quarantine Week” blog. Corona is in our world, ladies and gentlemen. It is an unfortunate reality, but we must adapt as well. We must now be conscience of our elders and immune compromised comrades. We’ll have to add Covid to our cough, cold, and flu season awareness. Everyone is talking about “new normal” or “going back to normal.” This is what you can come to expect.

On the positive side, we have seen some beautiful improvement to Earth and nature as a result of humans taking a break from being industrious. This is also good. Maybe more of us have come to realize there must be a healthy balance in our lives between work and rest. Remember to be a little more kind, a little more patient, and to be aware of others.

This has been,

Fanny T. Crispin

Raw

Quarantine Week #13

We’re easing back into it – this thing we call life.


Have you noticed the belt has gotten a little tight lately? Me too. I’m definitely less active working from home. This week, I took up running (you know, Couch-to-5K but probably more couch and less 5K.) It’s difficult to begin something you’ve never done before. Brand new to the sport, feeling like you’re doing it all wrong (I know, it’s running. Can’t really mess that up unless you biff in the middle of the street with all your Safer-at-Home neighbors judging you. It could happen.)

We’ve been working on eating healthier too – and wow, I almost spat out that oatmeal.

No sugar added, they weren’t kidding.

Geez.

Okay, I’m back with a lump of unprocessed sugar and some cinnamon. Sorry, but what a rude awakening. Beautiful morning, the sun is shining, the cat is frisky chasing imaginary bugs. Take a bite of breakfast and shock yourself into flavorless bitterness. I can’t believe my husband eats this oatmeal, but then again, he has a greater tolerance for things than I do. I can get passed the gritty texture if I don’t think about it too much.

Why are we doing this? Who makes this stuff and decides “Yeah, this is gonna be great. People will LOVE my oatmeal-powder concoction! These nuts are weird. I’m going to throw them in too!”

This has been enough of,

Fanny T. Crispin

Raw

Quarantine Week #12

Have you been watching the news? It’s all starting to sound familiar, isn’t it? There was a case identical to this a number of years ago. There were riots then, too. You know what this proves, doesn’t it?

People don’t change.


No pandemic blog post this week, friends. My heart’s not in it.

This has been,

Fanny