Reset

Yesterday, all Covid restrictions, including masks, were lifted in Saskatchewan. Something like 453 days ago they began.  Things are now back to “normal”.   Who’d have ever thought this day would come?   I sure do hope it stays.   I’m not sure when I will feel comfortable being without a mask so I plan on still using them sometimes as I increase my social frequency.   

I am just home from 5 days in Bredenbury and 5 days at the lake.  A much needed reset indeed.   Even my back is feeling better these last few days.  I can’t believe it.  The calendar is starting to slowly fill with commitments and activities.  Dare I even dream of a winter vacation again! 🤞🏼

Here’s hoping we are on to better days in our new normal now.

Retirement 2.0: Year 3 Reboot

 It is 33 degrees and sunny out.   We are in the beginning of a “heat dome” that promises record breaking heat for the next several days. 

 Today marks the beginning of year 3 of being a retired person!  And what a year it’s been.  In many ways, I’m glad to see year 2 end.  A year marked with pandemic isolation, pivoting, uncertainty and fear.  However, changes are coming.  I’m past my 2 week second jab waiting period, I have plans to go home on the weekend (finally), I’ve had a beer and appetizers on a deck, my social circle is widening...and I am glad.   I missed small talk and socializing. 

My days have become much the same and so I am looking forward to a new,  more “normal” routine that includes more time with other people, more purpose, more direction.  I have secured an LLI tutoring position for the fall and am cautiously optimistic about returning to San Diego this winter despite the land borders still being closed, as of today.   But the vaccination rates are increasing (over 70% provincially/nationally) and the cases declining (only 17 provincially yesterday and well under 100 for about 2 weeks now).  All mask and other restrictions are being lifted provincially on July 11.  So, unless some great curveball is headed our way (which I don’t discount entirely), surely to God better days are here.   I hope so because his has been really challenging, especially his last month as I’ve had some knee and back issues that have made getting around more challenging.   Thank God for acupuncture, chiropractors, physio and rest.  It’s improved a lot.  It’s not back to “normal” yet, but it’s better than it was.   Hopefully it will return soon.   

So, here’s to turning the page to better days both mentally and  physically and a return to the retirement I had envisioned and planned for.  Cheers to better days.  

Covid Project: Complete

Today I marked the “end” of Covid with my first haircut in 16 months.    

Time to start anew!

Reset

Ok.  So.  Now what?  

I’m 2 days post-second jab.  Had briefer and milder side effects overnight on Saturday.  The worst seems to be over now.  

And so, I keep wondering....”what now?  How long will a mind shift take to take hold.”

I’ve been fighting a terrible back the last two weeks but after much chiropracturing, acupuncturing, x-rays and physio, I seem to be over the worst of it.  I absolutely hate being debilitated and that is how I have felt lately.   It’s terrible.   

Now I make my list of things to do at the end of June once another 2 weeks have passed.  A movie, home to see Brenda, to the lake to see Deed, a beer on a deck with friends, daring to  turn my mind toward planning for next winter in San Diego.   Nothing out of the ordinary...and yet completely impossible for the last 15 months.   Sad, but true, yet once again seemingly within the realm of possibility.   

I feel gun-shy having been through 3 waves/lockdowns but know that the vaccine is the seeming game changer this time.  At least, that’s what the logical conclusion seems to be.

I sure hope the “new normal” contains the aforementioned examples as possibilities/realities because extended isolation sucks. 

I Stuck It To Covid

And so, the wait is over.  I just walked to Shoppers and had a Pfizer vaccine, 9 weeks and 5 days after the first AstraZeneca one.  I mixed and matched.  After much thinking and debating.  And counting and wondering.  And worrying and mulling. 

So let the chips fall where they may.  I am so very grateful to be in the 11.08% national and 16.3% provincial minority to be fully vaccinated.  How lucky am I?    I wonder if I’ll have side effects again like last time? 

It feels a bit surreal.  Like limping over the finish line.  That was a long 15 months of waiting, wondering and worrying.  Let’s turn the page to a better, brighter chapter now, shall we?

Who Da Thunk It?

 Well, I just did a thing!!!   Thanks to Shelley Hosaluk’s connections, I now have one of my paintings hanging in a real, legit art gallery.   And it’s on sale....FOR 60 BUCKS!!!   😂😂.  Never would have imagined it.  Crazy! 

Endless...

 ...and so it continues.   No, not continues, drags on.   In what seems like an endless loop of Groundhog Days.  The checks and balances don’t ever really seem to tip to the side of optimistic change.

Vaccines are here...yes.   So are these wicked variants.

Vaccine supply is increasing....so are hospital cases and stays.

It is indeed like a race and we never seem to get ahead.

Yesterday I cancelled my reservations for San Diego in January.  My first payment was due on the 15 and it just seems too uncertain to make any kind of international travel plans.  The land borders are still closed.  It looks like numbers might soon start to plateau/decline but they aren’t there yet.  It only seemed fair to Pete to give the reservation up so he can try and book a more certain rental.  It seems like the prudent thing to do and then readdress the travel situation in the fall and hope something is available, even if it’s for a shorter or a different time.   I think that’s the best/all than can be done at this time.

I’m now past the 3 week mark of having my first jab.  On one hand, I feel more confident and secure when I need to go out but, on the other hand, I’ve been questioning how this affects my day-to-day living.  I did go for a massage.   I wonder about going home though and or doing things like going to a movie.   I’m certainly not comfortable going to a restaurant yet. It appears things are changing, but they sure seem to be remaining the same.

My prediction is that May will continue to be nasty-in terms of high numbers and hospitalization.   But....we are to receive 2 million vaccines a week, starting this week, in May and June.   This will add to the 33% of us who have already had our first one, so it can’t NOT start making a difference....right?   I think my mid-June,  more people will start getting their second jab and we will start to see a slow and steady improvement and a turn toward better, easier days.   I have to believe this.  

My days feel all the same.  Leisurely mornings with coffee and the news, walking, audiobooks, painting and then, suppertime...it’s always freaking suppertime!

I know things could be worse.  I really do.  And I try not to counter that with “yes, but it could also be so much better”.   

Patience.   Focusing on the positive.  Appreciating the moment.  Counting blessings.   Good health.  Safety and security.  Walks.  Warmer weather.  Longer days.  No work stress.  

These remain my focus until thoughts of travel and unencumbered time with friends and friends can become normal again and we can break this endless loop that has become life in covid times.