Friday, September 4, 2020

Lockdown Life

 Lockdown Life


Even though we are no longer on official lockdown, we are remaining at home as much as possible. Coronavirus cases are still on the rise in Kansas, though areas which follow mask mandates are showing some improvement. The start of school has been delayed until September 10. We are hesitant to allow Janey to return to school. She doesn’t care for remote learning, but we are seriously considering it for the first nine weeks. 

We will carry on with ordering groceries, eating takeout every now and then, declining invitations to parties or gatherings, and remaining safely at home.  When we feel restless, a walk or a drive helps to alleviate the boredom. Craig was able to take his mother out for a drive recently, and it was such a treat for her. 

When confinement first began, My husband was the restless one. He simply must have a project! He ordered lumber and rebuilt the play fort. We had intended to tear the old structure down, but when the grandkids got wind of it, they begged us to reconsider. When Craig finished that, he refurbished the shed. After that little project, he ordered more lumber and supplies and proceeded to completely rebuild our deck! I wasn’t much help, other than assisting with the application of sealer and ordering new cushions for our deck furniture. He did a great job, and it’s such a nice space now. 

Beginning to rebuild the fort

Much of our time is spent out here

Our spring planting was accomplished by ordering flowers and plants from a local nursery that offered curbside pick-up. We also purchased another bird feeder so that we’d have one directly in front of the living room window. It has given us hours of entertainment, especially when the squirrels attempt to get at the the food!

Chocolate-orange Black-eyed Susan

I love the vibrant color of this lily.

More recently, tragedy has befallen our family. A young relative died unexpectedly, and we are all heartbroken and grieving. Her husband and little  daughter are devastated. This was followed by a horrific accident in which our son-in-law’s foot was severed. He has months of recovery ahead of him, which includes more surgery. A daughter-in-law lost her car when it was destroyed by an electrical fire, and a niece became seriously ill with a condition unrelated to Covid. My hairdresser, who is also a friend, became ill with Coronavirus, as did her husband. She decided to retire because of the ongoing fatigue from the virus.  As for myself, I underwent cardiac ablation a couple of months ago. The surgeon is confident that the procedure went well and that I now have a perfect heart. While the operation was frightening and uncomfortable, I’m very glad I went through with it. I had lived with PSVT for over 50 years and I’m grateful for the technology which enabled me to have it corrected. 

We have become accustomed to the solitude and this new way of life, though we look forward to a time when these precautions will no longer be needed. How nice it will be to socialize with friends and family, dine out, and travel! I realize that those pleasures may be months away. They will be all the more special because of the wait. For now, we will continue to count our blessings and enjoy the little things. 

The surprise lilies are always a visual treat

May you and your loved ones be safe and well. 






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