Silver Linings in a Cloud
It is 9:00am. I have walked the dog, fried eggs for breakfast, and wiped down all the frequently touched surfaces in the apartment. I’ve taken out the trash and the recycle, fed the dog, and helped my husband with his needs as a post-surgery patient. I’ve cleaned the dishes and started a load of laundry. Between care duties and the coronavirus, I have washed my hands 587 times. I’ve made coffee. I don’t drink coffee, but he does, and this is now part of my job, as are cooking, dog care, locking up at night, raising and closing windows, and a myriad of other things that I’m not very competent at. I am also trying to keep us free of COVID-19 infection.
I do not begrudge taking care of my husband post-hip surgery. I had both of my hips replaced, and for reasons I won’t go into, he is a MUCH easier patient than I was. I have not nearly begun to pay him back for the excellent care he gave me. I do wish we hadn’t been doing this in the middle of a pandemic.
But.
My husband’s hip problems also limited our Mardi Gras celebration to standing on an isolated corner waving at passers-by. Little did we know we may have been protecting ourselves from a potential coronavirus petri dish. Because of the surgery, we’ve been “sheltering in place” since March 5, almost two weeks now. (I was advised to do this with my first hip surgery during flu season, and we presciently adopted it for this surgery.) The end of February, we bought food and supplies for that period and, thanks to a phone call from a friend with a son in Washington State, added additional supplies for potential quarantine. While we have been steadily chomping through this food, we are still in fairly good shape.
I’m not saying these precautions will keep us safe. I am saying that the surgery has had a silver lining. That’s what I’m trying to do during this crisis: focus on the good. (I unfortunately have dropped my Lenten morning routine, but I’ll be damned if we haven’t been able to pretty much follow our Lenten Mediterranean diet discipline even with me, the non-cook, in charge).
We have a rooftop area in our apartment complex that we can access via elevator. We have been able to ride the elevator to the roof and sit in the sunshine. Alone, isolated, looking out over one of the greatest cities in the world.
Please be safe and take care of yourselves.
Donna Weidner
All the best to you Ellen…and a speedy recovery for the Mr.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
And also to you!
Emma
Yes, you were protecting yourselves without knowing. Good job.
Take care!! and hope to see y’all soon!!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Is that the definition of Grace (the theological concept, not your dog 🙂 ) love to you
Luanne
So glad you have an outdoor space!!! We do, too, and thanks to the gardener’s um gardening, it’s lovely. I wish I could share it with more, but then we wouldn’t be socially isolating! My best to your husband on his recovery. And please stay safe, both of you. I’m having to keep my mom in her place via phone (she’s in Michigan, and I’m in Arizona). It has got to be so lonely, and she doesn’t do well with alone time.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you for your recovery wishes—he is doing really well. I know it’s hard to be so far from your mom—-perhaps the extra phone calls are a silver lining? Best to you and yours
Marsha
Silver linings are always worth the search! Glad you’ve found one in this. We have hunkered down in Raleigh and send best wishes for good healing for Tom and good health for you both. xoxo
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Thank you, Marsha. Hope you and Van and all of yours stay safe. love to y’all
Elli
Glad the possibility of exposure was greatly reduced for both of you pre and post op. May your precautions keep you both healthy. And may your cooking do the same but also not stress you out ?!!
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I made chicken salad today from left-over chicken. Granted, Ryan had made the chicken so I started with a good base. Tom suggested we chop up egg in it. I thought that was crazy talk. But it was really good!
Joanne Corey
Glad to hear that you are safe and that your spouse is progressing in his recovery. My spouse is now working from home, allegedly until the end of the month, but everyone believes it will be longer. I am still able to visit my dad in his independent living apartment, but it may only be a matter of time before that is no longer permitted. We have moved my chapbook manuscript review scheduled for this weekend online, so, after that, one last round of edits and then sending it out to contests and publishers. FIngers crossed. I’m finding it difficult to write poetry in this time, but have been throwing things into my blog on occasion.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
I didn’t know you were working on a chapbook! How much fun and congratulations and can’t wait to read it!
Susanne
“Stay well” is our new mantra, eh? But do. Thinking of friends far and near.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Truth. And wellness wishes also to you.
Joanne Corey
This is an expanded and revised version of the chapbook that was a finalist for QuillsEdge Press months and months ago. It’s about my mom and her final illness. It’s called “Hearts.” I need to do some more revisions after the manuscript review, but, after that, I can send you a copy to read if you like. I’d just need to know an email address to send it to. If you are interested, you can send me a secure email via LInkedIn.
Ellen Morris Prewitt
Oh, how much fun! Yes, I’d love to get a copy. I’ll send an email via LinkedIn. Thank you!