I spend a lot of time running around trying to catch up with where I’m meant to be. There is always a to-do list, be it in respect of my home, work or writing responsibilities. Today, for example, I’m not in the office but have a parent-teacher meeting to attend this morning. Then, this evening, I’ll be putting on my ‘Dad Taxi’ cap to take two of the hatchlings to football and rugby training respectively. It never seems to stop.
Except it did stop. For over a year. The coronavirus pandemic brought everything to a juddering halt. There was no sitting in rush hour traffic, ferrying the kids hither and thither, even a trip to the shops was out of the question. We were at home, cocooned in our respective bubbles, surviving by binging on Netflix and huge tubs of honeycomb ice cream. Er…maybe just me then for that last bit.
All that extra time gave many of us time to think. Well, I did anyway. I resolved never again to take the hustle and bustle of everyday life for granted. Whereas before I moaned and complained about getting up early for work and having to go out in the evening to various events, I vowed never to do so again. For the hustle and bustle is what we call life. The novelty of sofa surfing soon wears thin as the days dragged into weeks, months and then a year of gloom and fear.
I can only speak for myself. Your situation may be very different. As Northern Ireland gradually moves towards normality thanks to the vaccine rollout, your part of the world may still be in the grip of lockdown. I hope that all changes for you very soon and you can return to the life you used to live. With perhaps a fresh perspective and a new gratitude for activities we used to regard as tiresome chores.
Black Thoughts 
Yes, we also sense that things are beginning to settle down. Our restaurant/bar terraces are open now and have been for a few weeks. And the vaccine roll-out here is gathering pace. We had our first vaccine just over 2 weeks ago and our next is on the 20th May. It was nice to watch the announcements on the UK News for once yesterday to see things getting back to near-normal. Good luck to the kids with their football and rugby matches. (I’m sure they have missed that more than anything). 😊
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Thank you. Sorry for the delayed response. It’s been a hectic week with work and other stuff. Yes…roll on normality 😊
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Excellent Stephen, thank you! May we all look at life we have with new and appreciative eyes and may our words and actions reflect this.
Chuck
BTW: yes to netflix binging, but my preferred ice cream flavor is cookies and cream.
c
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Thank you Pastor Chuck. I may have to experiment with this ice cream 🍨
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We are getting there! it feels weird, but good!
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Hallelujah 🙏🏻
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My life here in the great state of Montana, USA really didn’t change that much – except for my past-times. I sang in 3 performance choirs in addition to my church choir. I have definitely felt the loss of regular in-person church attendance and singing with a mass of voices in harmony. Other than that – I was considered an essential employee and still went to work every day – even while the rest of the community was in our temporary lockdown. In fact, I have never worked so much in my life! In a sense, I feel I missed out on the pandemic experience that you write of. But I am glad for that – as I live alone. This pandemic has definitely made that a more difficult and emotional state of being.
Our newly elected governor opened the state up completely the day he took office. It was back to BUSINESS! We have hordes of tourists invading or planning to invade our small community at the gates of Glacier National Park, meanwhile businesses can’t find workers willing to work after their extended unemployment with maximum benefits supplied by the government. It is definitely an interesting time.
I’m glad you are tasting the sweetness of life again!!
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Thank you. Glad your state is returning to normal as well. The vaccination programme seems to be doing its job. Let’s hope the bad days are now behind us all 😊
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This past year sure made me think life in a different light too.
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All of us, I agree.
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It took this pandemic to make me realize that I actually miss those friends I casually gripe about for various silly reasons. I’ve become so detached from everyone else I wonder if I can ever bounce back into my former social scene. Your post is making me think; thanks.
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Thank you. I hope you get back out there and can engage with genuine friends again 😊
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A tub of honeycomb ice cream sounds perfect right now!
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Most definitely 😊
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It has being a crazy year in South Africa. I miss the meal times with many friends and family. But what I recently love the most now, are the small gatherings of worshippers who meet on a Sunday morning in the neighbourhood park. Simple, pure and fresh. Just an hour of worship time heals the soul.
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Hoping you get back to what you most love very soon 😊
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Our governor announced last week that the remaining COVID restrictions will be lifted on May 28. Our indoor mask mandate will be lifted on July 1, possibly sooner, if Minnesota reaches a 70% vaccination rate (16 years and older). I’m ready. I think we’re all ready to get on with the business of living.
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Most definitely Sara. Roll on better days ahead for all of us 😊
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A quick update! With the new CDC guidelines stating that vaccinated people don’t need to continue to wear a mask inside (in most cases) our governor has dropped the indoor mask mandate. He’s still encouraging people to get vaccinated and/or continue to wear a mask if they wish but no state-wide mandate to wear one. It’s a little weird seeing “naked faces” but it was time. He’s also allowing for private businesses, school districts, cities…etc…to keep their mask rules in place. Other than that, we’re maskless in Minnesota!
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That’s great news. Seems like a very common sense approach on his part.
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You are right: Life should be enjoyed.
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Most definitely 👍🏻
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I have to remind myself of this every day, because we in New Zealand are very fortunate to be out the other side of lockdown. Thank you for this timely reminder, and I hope things continue on this positive trajectory! 😊
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Thank you. We are slowly edging towards normality. The vaccine is working 😊
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