2020… 2021… 2022… 2023…
The Covid Pandemic affected every single person in the world, each, in their own way. For many, it was a matter of being sick, and then waiting… sometimes impatiently… for life to return to normal.
For others, life has changed, substantially.
That was the case for me. I had, truly, no idea how much it would change, and how long it would take to get back to something resembling “normal”. And for me, it is a totally NEW “normal”, not much like it was prior to Covid.
“We plan, God laughs,” expresses a truth everyone can relate to. At every stage of life we make plans, setting out where we want to go and imagining what we will be like when we have “arrived.” But things have a way of turning out not quite as we hoped or expected.
I was living in a smaller “retirement” home, with a casita that I was using as an art studio. I wasn’t planning to ever move again. During the last 4 years, I’ve moved 3 times. It seems like everything I needed at any point in time was packed or in storage or in transit between houses.
I drove to the store, and to shopping whenever I wanted. Everything I needed was in close proximity to where I was living
Our only pet died before the pandemic started, and we made the decision to not have any more pets so we would be free to travel and do whatever we wanted without having to worry about leaving a pet in boarding or having someone take care of them.
I was working on my art almost daily, and keeping up with my blog regularly.
On the other hand, new things have entered my life, adding to a new challenges, but mostly joy.
I am now in a new, permanent (crossing fingers) home, in a different city. I have a small studio area. My neighbors are fantastic and I am enjoying where I live.
I drive very little, and right now, not at all. I’ve had the beginnings of cataracts for several years, but they are worsening. Recently, I had PDV’s in both eyes. One eye has a huge floater, and I can’t see well out of it, affecting my depth perception. Most shopping is further away than it has been in the past, making it more difficult.
On a positive note, I am enjoying a couple of new hobbies and rediscovering one I started at the beginning of the pandemic, and have connected with a local group to share and learn from.
We will, shortly, have at least one cat, again… probably two.
And best of all, our little family of my husband and myself has grown to THREE… We now have a wonderful, funny, 13-year-old honor student. They provide me with structure to my day, purpose, fun, surprises and most of all daily JOY!
So, even though I hear the echoes of God’s laughter… I’ve become “OK” with it.
Tandika*
p.s. With this post, I am resolved to continue posting, regularly. It may be art, it may be craft, it may be editorial… but whatever it is, I hope you find it interesting enough to look at and follow!