“When this is over …” How many times have we said that? We want our lives back, but at the same time we are grateful we still have a life.
I’m trying to remember what life without the virus on every newscast is like. I used to go walking around shops, breathing the same air as others, without a mask. I could actually see the products without my glasses fogging up. We could plan weeks ahead to go to a restaurant for a meal, with friends, planning the day with no thought for ‘if’. And ‘if’ becomes a big hurdle. If they are open; if they allow more than 10 per room; if they are not just doing takeaway, if we are allowed out at all.
Living in regional Victoria we only had a couple of serious lockdown spells. Now as life starts to return somewhat to normal we hope those days will be behind us. As I write today we have only two cases of Covid-19 in Victoria. None in our area of Gippsland in fact, and although we remain constricted we have had very few cases at all for months.
I remember one day we wanted to shop after we had seen the doctor in the next small town, and we felt like criminals, although we did all the right things, informed everyone, took documentation, sanitised our hands, and masked up of course. We made sure we only went into shops one at a time, not both of us, even though at 81 lugging shopping around is not easy. I feel so sorry for all the people living alone, for the older ones isolated from family. Not everyone is computer savvy, so it’s not as easy to connect in some circumstances. We have used Zoom, and find more and more of our friends are using new technology now. So this horrible time has had a good effect in that way.
I have made more bread and cakes and casseroles than my body requires, so Covid diets are now the rage. All my friends are looking for ways to lose the extra kilos. By next winter I shall just about be the right weight. The cupboards have had a clear out, my wardrobe is also lighter, as when the charity shops opened recently I donated many bags of good clothing.
I found my past as I read diaries and letters, so many beautiful times came flooding back, and sad ones too. I write about all sorts, from cat’s bad habits, death and illness, children and parents, to my own philosophy, my deepest thoughts on life. The precious trunk has old bits and pieces that have a meaning to me. For 40 years I have scribbled my life record in diaries; all our yesterdays, the heartaches, the losses, the joys; I read them all and relived those times. So this enforced break has allowed a spell of reflection too – a way of making sense of a troubled time.
We have appreciated what we have, our time together, and being well enough to enjoy it. As friends seem to be having such hard times, the cruelty of life is brought home. It seems so much like turning the knife when people who are already frail have to face losing loved ones, and also have even more illness and medical emergencies thrust upon them. We have been married 61 years and are so appreciative of every day we have together. We are hoping now to enjoy a summer. Perhaps restricted still; perhaps in limited numbers, with less freedom than before. Yet I have a sense of excitement too, I can now shop in my local charity shop again, I can have fun buying great outfits for $2 locally. This Sunday I can go to a live music session outdoors under cover, have a meal and a coffee, enjoy the company of friends, all in our own town!
For our family in Melbourne I sincerely hope they get some better news soon. To me it seemed so wrong that one son who lives in a place with no infection at all has harsh restrictions. No golf because it’s more than 5 kilometres away, no shopping for the same reason. So they have had to not only miss their beautiful daughters meeting up, but had to shop in their only store – just a small place locally. They appreciate their beautiful home and have a beach close by so have coped. Yet I will be crossing fingers for them this weekend. Stay strong everyone, and I shall raise a glass when 2021 comes in, with a wish that it is better.