Back In The Saddle

Well, I am working again!   I am 3 1/2 weeks into my Fall contract of LLI tutoring at Pleasant Hill.  And I’m loving it.  I work with 3 Grade 3 students (Sebastian, Braxton and Amber) for 3 50-minute, one-on-one periods a week.  This was exactly what I needed.  It gives structure to my days/weeks, a nice sense of purpose and some extra cash in my pocket....hopefully to be used next winter for travel.   I have even decided to do it again in January and found out yesterday that I am able to.  Originally I was only hired for the Fall, as I’d hoped to be away this winter, but it looks like, once again, it would be most prudent to stay put, so I will do this instead.  Which is fine.  Far from ideal, but fine.   Which is how most things are these days.  😖🥴
 

September

September.  A mix of oh, so good and endless and increasing bad.

Bills wedding was wonderful.  Perfect weather, lovely event, a wonderful reprieve of “normalcy” for a couple of days among family and friends.   A hint of hope and better days ahead.   

I also worked at the federal election (which resulted in basically no change in government) and my tutor training.   Some river walks and painting and an overnight trip at Elk Ridge to take in the beautiful fall colours to enjoy this unseasonably pleasant weather lately.   These are the good things.

But...the covid numbers are out of control, the hospitals are in danger of collapse, Dr. Shahab has projected a “fall and winter of misery” as Saskatchewan and Alberta reap the “rewards” of our short-cited and ill advised political directives from summer decisions and directives.  So sad.  And so unnecessary.  And no end in sight.   It feels fucking bleak.

Summer 2021

 People went back to work today.  The nip of fall is in the air.  Night is falling earlier.  Must be the end of August.

What a summer.   Fires.  Drought.  Days of endless heat.  Vaccinations nowhere near where they need to be.  Border still closed t Canadians.  Delta virus surging.   Saskatoon a current hit spot and we have more cases in the city than we ever had.   

Fucking endless.

My constant battle is how much to open myself up to.  Been home and to the lake three times.  Have registered for a painting and a glass class.   I’m scheduled to begin tutoring after Thanksgiving.  I’m reticent to begin singing again, but it is on the docket.   

Living vs existing vs just being alive.   How to balance?  I just don’t know.

I best decide cause it’s gonna be another year living like this, and winter is coming soon.   I’ve abandoned plans and hopes of San Diego once again, but maybe Vancouver Island in January.  I find it so hard to make any sort of long term plans.

Bill’s wedding in two weeks.  So nervous about mixing with all the strangers.

This is NOT where I had hoped we would be.  I shudder to think of what is yet to come before we can consider this episode in time as “the past”.  I feat it won’t be any time soon.

Thankful for these reconnections over the summer, as well as a few hours with Mona  who was home with the family for a wedding.   Silver linings...

I

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.