Week 3 - where I try and create "Normal"

Last night I got our weekly choir email. It was the first time something felt completely "Normal" in about 3 weeks. Yes, I've had classes, but those aren't normal because now they are online. Nothing is normal, but that email brought the tiniest bit of normal into my life.

It has been incredibly difficult to get into the swing of things during all of this. During week 1 I think I was in denial.

During week 2, I adopted a puppy so my entire life has been overcome with puppy training and puppy life.

So, now we head into Week 3. Week three where I know more, week 3 where even I am a little frightened of going into public spaces, week 3 where I just want something to do. I've seen so many people say "Wow, it must be great to be socially distant without kids or family" For the record, it's really not. It's incredibly lonely (but a puppy helps)

So, How will I head into week 3.
- I will get up and get dressed every day. (Yes, PJ's all day is comfy. But if I'm going to be productive, I need to get up and get dressed)
- I'll spend 2 hours a day on classwork.
- I'll continue training the puppy
- I'll start classwork for a free online class that I'm taking through Harvard.
- I'll start exercising everyday (beyond the 15000 steps that I'm getting with the puppy)

What are you doing to keep life normal?

I know some people are still keeping their daily trip to get coffee.
some are checking in with work colleagues every day.

What are you doing?

Social Distancing Day 1

I guess you could really call it Day 2, because yesterday was pretty much also social distancing because I didn't have school, but let's officially call it day 1.

So, I was supposed to be on a retreat this weekend. Yes of course I understand why it was cancelled, that doesn't make it easier. I decided that I still wanted to be outdoors. Yes, it is still safe to be outdoors during social distancing.

I reached out to a friend who I was supposed to be on the retreat with and she was also game.

So, that was a plan.

However, I got up early and decided to start my training for google classroom. This gave me an idea that I passed onto my Christian Education director at church, which turned into creating a possible google classroom for church and a possible activity for children and seniors alike. So, before 10 am I had:
- Started my google classroom certification.
- Created a potential idea for christian ed that would connect children out of school with seniors within the church.
- drank coffee.

I supposed I should have also cleaned my house, but why.

My friend came by to pick me up and I asked her if she wanted to hit up a favorite spot for breakfast and we went there. It was not at all crowded, and we ate outside, so we were able to continue with social distancing.

We took the very scenic route to my favorite place on the north shore and hiked around for over an hour, it was amazing.

Another scenic route so she could show me where our next retreat would be, then off to an AMAZING seafood lunch. LOTS of people, but we were all respectful of eachothers space and were sure to leave safe distances.

The scenic route home.

As soon as I walked in the door, my phone rang for an interview to adopt a pup.

Now, it's watching a movie and finishing my google classroom training.

It has been a day, a big day. I intend to not be lazy these next 2 weeks.

2019 - the year I learned to ask for help (also, not letting the crappy stuff dim the wonderful things)

At the end of 2018 a text message thread changed. My best friends and I frequently group text. Typically it involves pictures of children, pets, or just a funny reminder (usually involving the Indigo Girls). At the end of 2018 that thread changed. It became about updates.

My father in Law is in the hospital.
My aunt is in the hospital.
There has been an accident.

This thread kept us together. While three of us are on the east coast, we are scattered from Massachusetts to New York. The fourth is over 5000 miles away. This text thread kept us connected. It reminded us that we were there for eachother even if we couldn't be at eachother's side.

So, why does this text thread start off my 2019 blog post.

the end of 2018 and 2019 is where I learned that not only can I ask for help, but people will actually do just that, they will help.

In December of 2018 my aunts, mother, and I were camped out in an ICU waiting room waiting for an update, any update, as to how my aunt robin was doing. updates were slow, because updates are never quick in the hospital. It was a Saturday. I checked my email and saw the weekly email from our minister of Music about the next days service. There was no way I'd make it back, so I let her know that I wouldn't be at service on Sunday.

She quickly replied and asked if she wanted me to tell the choir. I said yes, because at this time all we could ask for were prayers.

Now, I'd been going to this church for about 2 years. It was my first year in the choir. yes, I know that most people go to their church for help, but this was really the first time I had done that.

Something happened that I didn't expect. My email box filled, my phone rang. Everyone just saying "we are here for you" "We are praying for you"

I returned to church and it continued. When she passed, I felt a wave of genuine support and kindness.
___
2019 continued. The text thread with my friends continued to be challenging. But we continued to be there for eachother, if only in short text messages.

___

Now, I have to be honest, not all of 2019 was bad. In Fact, some pretty great things happened.
- I was able to attend my sister's wedding in Florida

- I got to sit with my aunts for 3 hours and listen to their amazing stories from growing up, and I got to record their conversation.
- I took AMAZING classes towards my masters degree.
- I ran a 5k with amazing friends!

- I attended an amazing Arts Week in Deer Isle Maine with some fantastic students.
- I directed a scene for class.
- I spent most of my summer commuting to Boston on the Ferry

- I assistant Directed a BEAUTIFUL production of Silent Sky.

- I performed the Rutter Requiem and an incredible christmas program with our festival choir.

- I attended incredible live performances, including my first 2 full length operas.
- I completed my stereo system set up and continued to build my vinyl collection.
- I had another incredible week at camp casco

- I volunteered for the Closer to Free Ride again.


2019 has had some major blows to my life. Yes, it is the year I was diagnosed with breast cancer, yes it was the year that I got laid off from a job that I held for 11 years.  but it has also taught me that there are people in my life that will be there for me when I need them. 2019 taught me to ask for help. yes, I will always be the overly independent person that I've always been and don't ask if I need help when I'm carrying 12 grocery bags into the house, because I will NEVER need help with that .