Covid Life…Extended Play

There’s an old colloquialism we use for when we’re reaching a deadline or time limit. We say, ‘I finished it at the 11th hour’, right? Well, here we are at the 11th week. Gah. Who knew? Not me. While things have ‘relaxed’ a bit here in Ontario, we are still shopping with masks on, physical distancing and isolating. I’m guessing that’s still happening in most places. 2020 has, so far, been a time of slowing down, self-reflection and also some stress. But another old saying I like to apply is, ‘when life gives you lemons, make lemonade’. Actually, I never say that. Lol – But when you’re stuck in a situation that everyone else is also in, you have to make the best of it. For me and some pals from my ‘year’, 2020 was a milestone for us – we turned the big 6-0. The best laid plans (oh there’s another one of those sayings) of celebrating fell through to Zoom chats and sneaking in the back yard of a friend’s for a distanced celebration. Definitely memorable, if not what was on the agenda! Regardless, this will be a time for the history books. For me, that’s included walking Dre (a lot), finding new trails and nature perks, perfecting Zoom (yoga, book club, Euchre nights, work) and eating far too much. Life could be ‘much’ worse. I am grateful for the opportunity to pretty much live this out in comfort, if not in clothes with buttons and zippers. Waiting for the world to return to normal isn’t what most people want, and when the time comes to open the door, it’ll be interesting to see how we’ve changed, what we will change and how we will make the world a better place. It really needed a breather from us. I’m actually enjoying this strange journey. Tripping around without the usual traffic, crowds and noise, is pure joy!

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2018: A Year in the Life

As the sun sets on this year, we always reflect and generalize what those 365 days were; great, good, uneventful, bad.  Many people say to 2018, ‘Don’t let the door hit you on the way out’, but it wasn’t that kind of year for me.  There was sadness for sure; losing my Mom, and others who lost their loved ones (including two dogs close to my heart), saying goodbye to longtime friends who moved away (Kelly to the west and Stephen to the east), the trials and horrors in the USA, the world and even here in Ontario.  But there was also joy; inheriting a wonderful dog, great summer trips to friend’s cottages, and a year of firsts;  a week away on my own to a cottage, having a photograph in an exhibition, becoming part of a special and spiritual book club,  learning how to play Bridge, seeing a double rainbow, road-tripping for the first time with my lifelong best gal pal to fabulous Newfoundland, and driving Miss Daisy (aka Suzy Gregory), a woman I was a companion and later friend to for most of this year. I’m sure we’ve all experienced the good, the bad and the ugly this past year, but we do with every year that comes and goes.  It’s part of living.  If we look back there’s usually more of the ‘good’. Here’s a few snapshots of my 2018 and tonight I will raise a glass to one and all for a positive and exciting year ahead!

*featured photo: last night’s glorious sunset along Lakeshore Ave near Leslie St.

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