How are You?
Hi, y’all. How are you doing? Is it going okay? Tell me the truth. I’ll start.
If you’re Christian like me, it’s the Advent season leading into Christmas but all the churches are closed. If you’re American like me, it’s the transition period between presidents, which is going swimmingly. If you’re female like me, it’s the day the first woman scored in an SEC football game, Sarah Fuller kicking for Vanderbilt University. If you’re human like me, it’s I-don’t-know-what-day of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has killed 1.6 million people and, despite all the talk about a vaccine, will be with us until next spring at the earliest.
So, I ask again: how are you doing?
If you’re like me, and your eyes keep sliding away from your gratitudes, here are some photos:
Awesome Advent to all Y’all
Susanne Fletcher
Honestly? I miss hanging out in person with friends. I’m Zoomed out, out of focus, often out of breath. But. My family is all physically healthy so far and, though there are 5 adults under the roof of a 1600 ft. townhouse, not killing each other. As Canada is dependent on other countries for a vaccine, having foolishly relinquished the nation’s health and food security to NAFTA, or whatever the hell it’s called now, we won’t have mass vaccination until well into the summer. So. That’s that. On the upside, the kinks should have worked out by then.
I think Santa is scarier than Godzilla in your photo. My kids were terrified of Santa when little. Sensibly so. What kind of nutbar encourages children to sit in the lap of a stranger?
To end on a cheerier note, I’m making biscotti to give to friends. I’ll hang a bag with a nice bit of ground coffee on their door nob and imagine we’re enjoying it together.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I didn’t know that about the vaccine in Canada. Listening to the roll-out here, I do think I’ll be in the summer group as well, which makes it hard for me to find immediate hope in this development. It’s as if my hope tape measure can only extend by about ten days. What does give me hope is your biscotti. And the photos of your precious little pup. In his shoes. ❤️ Thank you for letting me know how it’s going for you.
Amy Wilson
Hi Ellen, I was thinking of you with gratitude the past 2 days. For We R Writing. I am crafting and leaving small items made from nail enamel and tin can lids at strategic places in my neighborhood, like recently where I saw a syringe in a ditch. I am in St Claude neighborhood and we walk a line between poor people and addiction and hunger and gentrification. I decided to leave items in unexpected places, for the taker. Loaf of bread on a park bench. Etc.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, Amy. This brought tears to my eyes. Your gestures will live with people for years to come. If I can exchange gratitudes, thank you. ❤️
emma
Hi Ellen – and an awesome Advent to you as well! Thus far, it’s been quite peaceful. I am part of the Moderna vaccine trial, so I am getting excited to see all those crates of Pfizer vaccine going out – knowing that Moderna will be next. I had side effects. 85% of people who got the real vaccine did not have side effects. So I’m part of the 15% who did. Mild ones. Slight swelling, rash and warm skin at the injection site (after 2nd injection). Otherwise all went away in 24 hours and no problems since. That was almost 6 months ago. I have hope in seeing all those vials loaded up that we are getting closer to getting some type of normal back. As in the seeing friends and family and getting hugs kind of normal. I’m not going anywhere for Christmas, will be here alone, just as I was on Thanksgiving. The trial site docs say no matter if you’ve had the vaccine or not it is best to wear a mask whenever you go into a public place or are around others, and avoid crowds, especially indoors. She says we will all be wearing masks for the next several months at least. Perhaps to the end of 2021. The trial lasts into 2022, because they need to know how long the vaccine lasts in our bodies. I suppose the CDC will give us guidelines when we can take the masks off and gather in groups again. As the country gradually reopens regular indoor dining, churches resume worship and social events begin to reoccur, we will all have to remember how we are to “be”. Things will never be the same. Our lives will be different. I have no idea how that will turn out or how my life will be different. I am seeing this Advent time as a contemplative space to see how to structure my life (or not) post-Covid. But mostly acedia has set in and I am not certain of much of anything except the sun will come up tomorrow.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I remembered you were in the trial, but didn’t know which one. That’s interesting about the length of the trial…I had no idea about masks through the end of next year. I’m fine with wearing a mask, but that also means the anxiety about being around unmasked folks will continue through the end of next year, which is a real bummer. And you taught me a new word: acedia, which of course I love. Hope to see you soon, masked. 🙂
Joanne Corey
Glad to hear that you are part of the Moderna vaccine trial. One of my nephews was involved with the development team. My spouse, adult daughter, and I are all part of the Pfizer trial. We are hooping they will unmask it soon and offer the placebo group the vaccine so they will have even more long-term data to analyze.
Luanne
How am I? Marginally better from your Godzilla because I saw bits of a Godzilla movie last night and it looked just like your guy! But I realized I don’t feel well today, from the Valley Fever, so I am bummed that it’s not going going gone. And I’m a nervous wreck from being afraid of everything: people, packages, anything that might carry covid. Other than that, I’m great :). Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
You’ve seen the Godzilla movie! I’m jealous. My sister is in grad school in Flagstaff, and I don’t know enough about AZ geography to know where that is in relation to you, but I often think about your Valley Fever and COVID. I hope it dissipates from your lungs–I have come to hate these “lesser” forms of life that have so affected our lives.
Marie A Bailey
I am better now that Moscow Mitch finally congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. Thank you for asking and for sharing your lovely photos. I love the one of Godzilla and Santa. Humor is necessary at all times of the year, but especially this year. I do try to keep my gratitudes in front of me. The trick for me is to slow down and take in my surroundings, whether I’m home with my husband and cats or out in Nature. Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I do rely on humor, Marie. And your daily treks into nature inspire me to do the same. Merry Christmas to y’all too!
Joanne Corey
We’ve had a rough couple of weeks here with my dad being in the hospital and the aftermath. Yesterday, we finally got him admitted to the rehab unit of his senior community, which is comforting because he may finally have appropriate care, but it means he will be in quarantine for 14 days and we may not be able to see him even after that, depending on what the virus is doing. The silver lining is that he will be able to receive the first dose of coronavirus vaccine on Dec. 30 because rehab is part of the skilled nursing unit.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
It seems like every action in this time, even the very beneficial ones, also carry a risk. But the vaccine being available early to him is truly a godsend.