From an article in The Atlantic:
By funneling our anxieties into empty cleaning rituals, we lose focus on
the more common modes of COVID-19 transmission and the most crucial
policies to stop this plague. “My point is not to relax, but rather to
focus on what matters and what works,” Goldman said. “Masks, social
distancing, and moving activities outdoors. That’s it. That’s how we
protect ourselves. That’s how we beat this thing.”
"Take a break", I am! And it makes me think, think, think too much! ...what is important...I have an emptiness in my stomach and heart, like I'm hungry for social or restaurants or anything normal...I fear it will never ever be the same again...I fear for the future of school for kids...I really fear for the amazing teachers out there who must change up their methods coming this Fall. I am reading more, enjoy that...I'm biking the neighborhood more, enjoy that...Making new recipes, enjoy that...keeping up with our harvest this year so far, enjoy that...Bob won't wear a mask in public as often as I do, so I worry about that...Are we strong enough to beat COVID if we test positive, I worry about that...I want to get togetherwith friends, make plans but then I cancel my thoughts and chicken out...What is right and what is wrong? I put on a necklace the other day, hadn't touched my jewelry since our 50th wedding anniversary. My makeup sits dormant almost every single day also. I think I want to get one of those "instashields", plastic like visor that hooks onto a cap and comes down over the nose and mouth without touching them. I fall apart more easily these days, while at the same time appreciating so much.We can't go to a bar, or church, or a restaurant and eat inside...There are no concerts with many people in attendance. Now they canceled Fall Badger Football and will return ticket holders' their money. Bob can still go fishing with a friend for an entire day and sit in the boat with the wind blowing, fishing, or daydreaming, looking at the big houses on the lake or other boats. One of my silly greatest joys these days is playing Hearts online with our kids. It's all quiet, sitting in my recliner, game moves quickly and we all try so hard to win.
39. The Suspect by Fiona Barton (Raina, Betty G & I read up at cottage 2020. Tense thriller that I loved)
40. The Mountain and the Sea by Kwame Dawes (an Audible original, island widow found naked black man on the road)
41. Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (I loved it!)
42. Ruthless River by Holly FitzGerald (a true adventure to the max, loved it)
43. All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (I enjoy this author and chose this book for Racy Readers)
44. Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. A slow start but then grabbed me hard. Have to say I loved it.
45. The Lies That Bind by Emily Giffin, enjoying but a slow read.
Mari sent me a box of books she has read and enjoyed. It was like an amazing gift and joy to receive this. In it was another book by Emily Giffin "Heart of the Matter". So for 2020, I may have to say that this is my favorite author of the year.
I loved this text from my friend Sharon.
"At my library for my 11:00 reservation. As exciting as finding a Cabbage Patch doll!"
(Then she shows me a pix of several books she had reserved and was picking up for Jim and herself and their trip out to visit Lauren.)
" Taking fewer clothes to Lauren's and more books :-) Gave me a lump in my throat to be there at the library. Better than any restaurant!"
Then another couple of texts from Raina.
First a pix of all the 6 books she's bringing up North to Conover as well as a pile for the boys.
"Sooooo excited. Just read all my book covers to Andy hahahahah. It was so fun. Then I asked which one he'd read first. And told him how exciting a pile of books is. He picked "The Playground".
That's a thriller.
Raina grew up loving the library from early on and I can still picture her sitting on one of our couches in Sheboygan surrounded by books, or that big 'ol brown recliner too, books galore.
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Gary and Mary visited us last week and it was so good to just beeeeeeeeeeee with someone to chat with, hang out with, drink and eat with, play cards with. Drove them to show our garden plot, the lakefront and boats and crazy people launching and taking out their boats, our cemetery, and a garden of my dreams in someone else's yard. So that was a little social to last for awhile. [Hey Mary & Lori, are you reading this blog post? If so, why don't you comment? Better yet, do you each have a blog and if so it's only fair that you would share the link with me, right?]
I want to age like sea glass.
Smoothed by tides,
but not broken.
I want my hard edges to soften.
I want to ride the waves
and go with the flow.
I want to catch a wave
and let it carry me
to where I belong.
I want to be picked up
and held gently by
those who delight in my
well earned patina and
appreciate the changes I went
through to achieve that beauty.
I want to enjoy the journey
and always remember that if
you give the ocean something
breakable it will turn it into
something beautiful.
I want to age like sea glass.
~ Bernadette Noll ~
