Getting Through

These past two and a half years have been like no others forall of us. We each experienced them in varying unexpected ways, sometimestragic, sometimes just okay, and others joyful. At least that was my reality.

I found myself retired from teaching sooner than planned. I also found isolation a great excuse for gaining ten pounds – I still can’t explain why Ididn’t just get outside and cycle. Fear of the dreadful unknown virus? Depressionabout the state of our world?

In June 2020 I became a grandmother. With the strength of a mini tornado, Jackbrought a new kind of intense joy (and fear) into my life. When my daughter’s familyleave ended, I began caring for him a few days each week. I watched and learnedfrom this tiny bundle of new life, always acutely aware of the gift, theprivilege, I enjoyed by having him close, aware that others suffered from notseeing, smelling, holding loved ones – new and old – because of isolationmandates. My husband, daughter, son-in-law, grandson, and I made a pod of five. Wegot through together.

And I wrote. Over time, my scribbles turnedinto a manuscript. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it yet, but the process ofwriting Pandemic Baby: Letters to My Grandson Before He Could Read helpedme get through these past few years, in the way of all creative work, throughthe temporary escape from the day-to-day.