A Fresh Start

/ Ann Coleman

When the pandemic first hit, I hated hearing people say, “things will never be normal again.”  It seemed to be such a pessimistic view, and predicted a future I didn’t want to face.  I didn’t want to live the rest of my life in fear of a virus, and honestly, I resented the suggestion that I would have to do just that.  It was almost as bad as people saying they didn’t mind the lock downs because they liked staying home.  I like to stay home too, but there’s a huge difference between choosing to stay home and having to stay home.

Now I realize I probably misunderstood what people were saying.   I think they really meant that our lives would never be exactly the same as before.  And that, of course, is true.  Many people lost loved ones, others lost their livelihoods, and everyone discovered just how quickly life can change for the worse.  I don’t know that I’ll ever feel truly comfortable in a crowded room again, or trust that I can find everything I need at the store.  The past three years have changed me.  But the good news is, not all of those changes are bad.

Before the pandemic, I left my house regularly to run errands, shop, go to work, etc., and never once thought, “Is this outing worth the risk?” If I wanted or needed to go somewhere, I simply went.  But after March 2020, I began to think carefully before venturing out of my house.  Suddenly, I knew exactly what my priorities were (caring for my grandson, helping shelter dogs, shopping for necessities) and what commitments and activities I was willing to give up.  Living through the pandemic helped me better distinguish between what I need and what I want.

And when gathering with my friends and relatives became potentially dangerous, I quickly learned which relationships I was willing to put on hold and which ones were too important to live without.  My immediately family became my “social bubble,” but I was very intentional about staying in touch with friends and extended family through phones calls, texts, and e-mails.  (I never did figure out how to work Zoom.)  I may not have been able to enter my Mom’s apartment, but I dropped off provisions and later, meet her outside for a socially-distanced visit.  Nothing emphasizes how much people mean to us more than the thought of having to live without them.

In this post-vaccination world, I’m back to doing many of the things I did before Covid hit.  But the truth is, I’m really not the same person I was three years ago.  I always wondered how I’d handle a crisis, and now I know. (My husband’s cancer diagnosis in June 2020 was a part of that lesson.)  I’m more willing to try new things.  I have a better sense of my true priorities, and I think I can see both my strengths and weaknesses more clearly.  And those are all good changes.  Sometimes, “not going back to normal” isn’t such a bad thing after all….

104 thoughts on “A Fresh Start”

    • I’m so sorry…..it’s hard enough losing a loved one, but even worse when you can’t have a proper funeral with friends and family. Covid robbed us of so many things!

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  3. I think the past three years have changed us all Ann, reassessing our priorities, making us realise what’s important and how we want to spend the rest of our lives. I know mine will never be the same again. May your year be filled with all that makes you happy, grateful and at peace. Much love. 💗

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  4. Like you, I’m not the same person I was before the pandemic. Long periods of isolation made me choose carefully how, and with whom to spend precious time. My husband was also diagnosed with cancer during the pandemic; his compromised immunity still means that we are cautious about attending events with large groups of people. We cherish the social bubble of our immediate family plus a few trusted friends. With the protection of vaccines, I’m more confident about attending my book clubs and bridge groups. We are not ready to go to the theatre much less to do the travelling we previously enjoyed. I wish you all the best in the new year. Enjoy the new, post-COVID person you’ve become!

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    • Yes, the pandemic changed us, and having a spouse with cancer is also life-changing, and when you combine the two it’s a lot to deal with! We were lucky in that the chemo my husband had didn’t lower his immune system, but we still had to be careful because getting Covid or being exposed to Covid disrupted his treatment schedule. We are out and about more now (both fully vaccinated) but we still avoid large crowds and unnecessary risks. And thanks for your kind words…..I do like the “new” me a bit better than the old one!

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  5. What an insightful and positive post Ann! You have found self awareness in the changes that were necessary to get through these last 3 years and that’s not easy or something everyone is able to do.

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    • Thanks, Deb! Trust me, it was a struggle, and the changes in the way I look at things are something I’ve only recently realized. I don’t always understand things as they are happening. For me, those “aha” moments come when I look back and reevaluate what has happened. But I now realize that as hard as Covid was, it did enable me to mature a lot, and that’s a good thing!

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  6. My life has definitely changed and, like you, some of that is good, some not so good. But, it sure helped to get our priorities straight. What I really hoped would change is that humans would become smarter about our interactions with nature, we’d learn to trust science, and we’d realize that we are better when we work together for the common good. Sadly, that didn’t happen as much as I would have liked.

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    • No, it didn’t happen much at all! It seems that it’s just the opposite: people are stressed and frustrated, and busy taking it out on anyone who they believe is different. I don’t want to fall into that trap, so I’m intentional about trying to use the experience to be my “best self,” you know? Thanks for the comment, Janis!!! It’s always good to know others feel the same way.

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  9. Great post Ann. We got used to going out and doing things without thinking and perhaps did not appreciate them as much as we should have. Now, we must be more thoughtful, based on our situation and comfort level with Covid and other things. Hugs are more considered and more precious, as our face to face gatherings. We can have fun without throwing caution to the wind. Hope you and your hubby are both doing well. Allan

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    • Yes, we really do appreciate what we used to take for granted, don’t we? And like you, we’re living our lives without taking crazy risks. It’s a balance that I think we’re getting better at as we go along. And thank you, at this point, we’re both doing fine!

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  10. I could really identify with this. There really are things that have changed, both for the good and bad. And it’s better to concentrate on the former than the latter.

    >

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  11. I think the pandemic, at the risk of minimizing it, was just another, albeit tragic, event in the life of us baby boomers that shaped and continues to shape us. JFK assassination, civil rights movement, Vietnam, AIDS, gay rights, 911, tech bubble burst, the Great Recession, and finally (for now?) the pandemic. It may be easy for me to say as I did not lose a loved one from Covid, but I do see it as just another event in our collective history.

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    • Yes, it really was. I think the impact was felt more because it was world-wide, which made it seem inescapable. I also think some people felt the impact more than others, depending on what they did for a living and if they lost someone. But another big event will come along in a few years, and the Covid experience will become just another event to be remembered.

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  13. We learn many lessons during a major crisis, and good things come from small and big disasters. Between Christmas and New Year, I had a terrible accident on a slushy highway. The car was totalled, but I climbed out of the car uninjured, for which I am so grateful and from which I learned how precious life is.

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  15. What a beautiful post, Ann. I heartily agree with you. I began performing from my bedroom during the pandemic. It’s so comfortable for me and I love it. My days of “paying to play” at a nearby open mic are over now.
    A lot has happened over the last three years. Your resilience inspires me and I love the way you write!

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    • Thank you so much for your sweet words, Judy! And honestly, I’m inspired by YOU….the way you share your music, pursue your art, and offer encouragement to those around you. The world needs more people like you!

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    • The past three years have been very traumatic to most of us, for varying reasons. It sounds as if they were especially tough for you, and I’m so sorry for that. Moving forward and starting fresh is harder for people who have suffered profound loss, so please be gentle with yourself!

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  17. I agree. Normal, whatever that is, welp, it was never really normal when we look back anyways. Our lives, by and large, fit us when we look at things realistically. Sure life has a new set of challenges post Covid, but there are always going to be challenges. It can be what divides us or brings us together. I choose the latter.

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  18. Definitely agree with you that priorities have changed & I’m less likely to spend time on people — and issues — that don’t need my input. May that quietude continue.
    And blowing out birthday candles on a cake now sparks nausea, rather than joy. Likely wasn’t EVER hygienic! 🙄😅

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    • Yes, that’s a practice that needs to fade away…..I always had doubts about eating a piece of cake that someone has just blown all over. Especially if the someone was a child, because then it also involved a lot of spit. And good for you for realizing that you need to spend your time only on the issues and people that are truly important to you!

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  20. This is such an honest reflection of life – so thank you for that. You came to accept that life isn’t the same and how the pandemic changed you – but I’ve got the feeling that those you initially pronounced as naysayers actually knew what they were saying. After all, people have a way of extrapolating the moment without knowing what they mean because they are looking at their effects of the present. Well done … and more importantly, wishing you and your husband peace and strength with your current journey.

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    • Thank you so much for your kind words! It’s always nice to know that someone appreciates our writing. Especially when we’re trying to be honest about a complicated subject! And you’re right, we usually comment on the present we’re experiencing, and can’t really see how it will all play out in the future.

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  21. Covid did not change much in our lives. Because of Leo’s illnesses we have always locked the front gate whenever there is any sort of a bug about, so Covid was just one more incident. No deaths in family or friends, nor among neighbours, thank goodness. What did happen was that we became more aware of how fear makes people obedient and unquestioning, even though here we were not subject to the constant pressure to have a vaccination in order to protect others as happened in the U.K. I am much more wary of governments in consequence, wondering how they will use this successful control in the future, in matters other than health.

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    • Yes, my husband and I talked about that too! How easily people just said, “Ok” when told to stay home for weeks on end, even when it meant financial ruin and huge emotional strain. (Let’s be honest, some people didn’t die of Covid, but they did die as a result of the lock downs. People couldn’t get their screenings to catch cancer in the early stages, or get tests to explain their chest pains, etc. And lots of old people who found themselves completely isolated simply gave up on living, and I can’t blame them for that.) I can’t imagine that governments…and even terrorists….weren’t watching with interest when they saw literally the whole world shut down due to a virus. That was one of the scary aspects of living in the pandemic!

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  22. Ann, I appreciate your thoughtful discussion and rational conclusions. Yes, COVID was one of those memorable marks on our history as humans. Kind of like the Kennedy assassination or the Challenger disaster. And sadly, it’s still (three years later) making its mark. We’ve lost a lot of our innocence as people have died and the subject of vaccinations has become politicized. You must’ve enjoyed your wee break!

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    • Thanks, Debbie! I didn’t really plan to write about this subject, but it’s been on my mind lately so I thought, “why not?” I know it can be a sensitive subject…especially since Covid, and the vaccines, became political hot buttons. But I’m relieved to say that it seems people understood what I was trying to say and are okay with it!

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  23. I recently saw a saying that has been around before, something about “Life is like a river”, the same water never goes by twice and it is always moving. So true. Each day is new and we have the experiences of yesterday to inform our life today.

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    • That’s a very good metaphor! Every new day is indeed different, even when we aren’t dealing with something particularly noticeable. Each day is a chance to start anew, and that’s a gift for sure!

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  24. I love your perspective on things. I find your posts thought provoking and genuine. My momma had a huge surgery in March of 2020. We weren’t allowed to go. Only one person was allowed in the hospital. If I would’ve know she would have only had 2 more March’s, I would’ve gone. Not being able to be there for a major surgery was heartbreaking. Looking back now, it feels like all of that (stay home orders, etc), took a lot of time that I could’ve had with her. And, hey, I get it- all of that was for safety. Losing my momma, then looking back, it just changes the view/perspective somewhat. I’m sure lots of lessons were learned by many in these past few years.

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    • Thanks so much, Jessica! And I’m sorry about your mother. It’s hard enough to have a loved one in the hospital without not being allowed to visit. A friend of mine’s brother-in-law had major heart surgery in April 2020, and no one was allowed to visit him during the two weeks he was in the hospital. It was awful! I understood the rationale behind the policies, but it made it so much harder on the patient and their families. I’m glad hospitals are allowing visitors again, usually on a limited basis. We did lose so much time that we’ll never get back!

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  25. My priorities are much clearer now. Also my sense of the world is filled with people who only know one tune and keep marching to it…but that’s a whole different thing

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    • I think it definitely changed us all, and I hope mostly for the better. I do think some of the increased anger and intolerance we’re seeing these days is a direct result of the frustration and fear of the last few years. But I think we’re also seeing people who now realize they’re stronger than they imagined, and who have a better idea of what is truly important. Traumatic experiences are chances for real growth, if we’re willing to change, I think. Thanks for your comment!

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  28. When the curtain came down and you could only see people on a screen or not at all I found it devastating. It has made me much more appreciative of human relationships. We did zoom quite a lot and like many others found we were talking to some people more than we ever had before! When we were allowed to meet people in ones and twos i did so and have stuck with making specific dates to meet rather than just expecting to see folk around. And I am much more open to initiating new friendships whereas previously i would have hung back. So a ‘fresh start’ resonates with me – I think i have changed for the better, but I’d obviously still rather none of it had happened!

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    • That’s exactly how I feel! I’d much rather the pandemic didn’t happen, but since it did, I’m at least grateful for the lessons I learned. I’ve discovered just how important human contact is, and how it is worth the effort to maintain friendships and close ties with family. I never learned zoom, but I did make full use of phone calls, texts and emails. We also socialized outside a lot, no matter what the weather. Pre-covid, if it was below 60 or above 90, I never would have dreamed of eating outside or meeting friends outside. But during the pandemic, those parameters grew to below 30 or above 100! We just dressed for the weather and made it happen.

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  29. Great post Ann! the Pandemic sure did change our way of life. I think it helped me appreciate the ability to get together with loved ones and how precious time is with our loved ones and friends! life is too short as it is and we need to enjoy every day! Thanks for the great post! Regards, Kurt Richardson

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    • Thanks so much, Kurt! It made me appreciate being together with my friends and family too. And one of the things I like best about my blog is the ability to reconnect with old high school friends like you!

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  30. Like you, I’m not the same person I was. I really miss that person but am trying to come to terms with who I am now while also striving to reclaim some of what I miss about the me I used to be.

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    • Yes, it can be hard, can’t it? I think the trick is to reclaim the best of who you used to be and to let go of the parts of your old self that didn’t feel quite right. The best outcome is to become our best, true selves. But that really is easier said that done. Hang in there, Bev! I do think better times are coming!

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  31. You are so right, Ann. The pandemic years did change us. How could it be otherwise? I like to think that the changes made us stronger in many ways. We learned that we were capable of a great many things we never had to do before. We had to cope with so much change and all at once. I like to think that our society is more compassionate, more understanding of the fact that life is not easy for anyone…there will always be good times and difficult times. It is best to be kind! Many people lost loved ones, and many people have suffered in other ways. More than ever, people need compassion and kindness.

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    • I absolutely agree! Kindness and compassion have never been needed more. We’ve all been traumatized to one extent or another, and kindness and compassion are what helps everyone heal and move on. We need to build on the strengths we developed during the pandemic and be much more intentional about how we move forward. I try to be more discerning and careful to think for my self and follow my own heart. That, and being more compassionate towards others, really helps!

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      • You are a kind and compassionate soul! Your attitude does make a difference in the world. I remember what you wrote about the waiters and waitresses in all your favorite restaurants. Even after a long time away, they remembered you and your kindness. People do always remember how you treat them. A smile or a kind word seems such a simple thing. In reality, it means a great deal. You just never know what another person might be going through.

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  32. I guess you’re right. This is our (everybody’s) new normal. We went out to dinner last night for the first time in years. It was our anniversary, but even when we could have gone out, we chose not to. I think we got used to not driving anywhere at lunch. So now we have a standing lunch date, and that’s more fun. But not seeing friends and family was the hardest part.

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    • I’m glad you’re getting back out again! I think many of us changed our habits during the pandemic, and we get to choose which habits we keep and which ones we let go. Thanks for the comment!

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  33. The pandemic made me who I am today. Being isolated at home for days on end I relaxed into being me, not someone everyone else wanted me to be. I’m happier now. I’m more open to ideas, and to saying NO to things I don’t want to do, and to eating better at home. I feel like I have my priorities straight now.

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    • That’s wonderful, Ally! Sometimes time alone is the most important thing we can have. It teaches us who we really are, and yes, without being in constant contact with others, we get to just be ourselves rather than who others want us to be.

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  34. Even before the pandemic, things are never the same again – unless you’re in the most horrible of ruts and live under a rock. The pandemic was just a more extreme form of change – but for us, already enjoying a relatively quiet retirement when the pandemic started, the changes weren’t too severe. Maybe we’re a bit more hunkered down now, but that was already a tendency. Guess the trick is to remember to stretch those wings from time to time…

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    • You’re right, things are always changing in our lives, whether we want them to or not. I think the pandemic was just a more extreme form of that. For the people who naturally like to stay home, the lock downs weren’t so bad. But being required to stay home did creep me out a bit, I admit, and I felt very sorry for those who suffered financially from the lock downs and who couldn’t afford to take that hit. Still, our restrictions weren’t as extreme as they were in many other countries. In Spain, the children weren’t able to go outside at all, even in their own yards, for over a month. And in Australia, you were fined $5,000 if you went more than two and a half miles (roughly, I don’t convert kilometers well) from your house. So it really feels good to me to be able to make my own decisions regarding getting around!

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  35. An excellent and insightful post, Ann. I had mixed feelings about the lockdowns. At first, I missed going to the shops and the gym and seeing friends and the rare visits from my family. I used to go out in my electric wheelchair to ride around my road for half an hour to get some fresh air and a change of scenery. Did you have the one-hour rule there? Over here, we were only allowed to be out and away from our homes for a maximum of an hour a day. I remember passing people on the way and almost being too scared to breathe, even though I was wearing a mask. However, as I rarely saw my family, it was the same as usual. My son came down with the children for a brief ‘window visit’; other than that, I didn’t see a soul and didn’t have a social bubble, either.

    But some very good things came out of the pandemic for me. Like you, I learned to prioritise what was really important to me. With the lack of family contact, I joined the WEA, an educational institute. Before lockdown, they held local classes face-to-face, but when that was banned, they switched to Zoom classes. I was in my element. I could study, see and talk to people from all over the country, sometimes, the world. I learned so much during that time and am continuing with them even now.

    I remember you talking about your dear husband’s diagnosis back then – it must have been such a difficult and frightening time for you, your husband and your family. I’m glad he is doing better now, although I understand you must still be careful. I’m glad you could see your mom when we were allowed socially-distanced contact and that you could drop her groceries off. It must have also been a bonus that you were able to help with the shelter dogs and to care for your grandson.

    I do see my children and grandchildren much more often now, which is wonderful. I don’t think it was related to the pandemic, though. It’s just how things worked out, and I’m so happy about that. Xx 🌼

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    • Wow, only an hour a day? I wonder how they kept track of that, or how they came up with an hour. It seems to me if you’re going to accidentally infect someone, you could do it just as easily in ten minutes as you could in ten hours. But I do love how you list the benefits of the pandemic. It did teach us how to be creative in reaching out to other people. I didn’t use zoom unless someone was there to help me, but I did FaceTime and spent more time “talking” to friends and family on the internet. Those skills and the groups we found do stay with us, don’t they?
      Because of my husband’s cancer diagnosis at the beginning of the pandemic, we did mover around more than most, going to doctor’s appointments, infusion treatments, etc. But the upside of the cancer coming then was it kept my mind off the pandemic, which was a good thing. So there really are silver linings to almost every cloud. And I’m SO glad you get to see your children and grandchildren more now! That’s wonderful news, no matter how it came about!!!

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  36. With my husband undergoing chemo, we are STILL under most of the COVID restrictions, but hope that will end sometime soon. We have come to appreciate Zoom and FaceTime, though, and have managed to keep in touch with most of the important people in our lives. In fact, I plan to keep using the technology even after the pandemic settles down enough for us to get back to semi-normal. With friends and relatives scattered through at least a dozen states and three different countries, why only visit them once every 5 or 10 years when we can “visit” all of them much more often online?

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    • Yes, technology is a blessing when your friends and relatives live far away, isn’t it? That’s the upside of social media, too. I’m sorry to hear your husband is undergoing chemo, as that certainly does mean you have to be more careful that he not catch Covid, or even the flu. I hope his treatments are over soon and pray that he has a full recovery. I know how hard it can be to have a spouse being treated for cancer, so I also hope you are able to take care of yourself during this trying time and to find joy in the little things!

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  37. What a great post, Ann. I can tell from the number of comments that it resonated with a lot of people, myself included. Every part of it (even your husband’s cancer, which we went through too). I have changed and how I go about my life has changed, and that’s not a bad thing. Being more intentional about our choices, I think, leads to deeper joy. 🙂

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    • I’m sorry your husband had to go through cancer treatments during Covid! I know how difficult that can be. But yes, some of the changes that Covid brought about weren’t so bad after all. We learned to be more discerning, we learned that we are stronger than we thought, and we learned to live in, and savor, the moment. Thanks for your comment, Diane!

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  38. I hope you enjoyed a break. I’m glad you are back. Sadly, it is true that there are those whose lives have been significantly altered by loss during these last couple years. Like you, I feel the same about crowded places. My husband and I need to travel, but since 2022 our travel has felt unusually stressful. Most anytime I’m in a crowd, it gives me the “willies.” For me, the time tucked away had some upside as well. One significant way was how my siblings and I reconnected. We communicated more, especially through Zoom (which my son had to school me in…haha). Thank you for your thought-provoking post! I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.

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    • Thank you, Brenda! I think it will take a long time before we feel comfortable in crowds again. Someday, I’m sure we will….but Covid left us much more aware of germs and how viruses spread. I don’t want to be afraid of people, but I also don’t want to take unnecessary risks either. But I’m very glad that you reconnected with your siblings as a result of it! It’s funny how being told we can’t get together encourages us to find ways to connect with the people we love!

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  39. So how was it that God or Karma or however one wants to identify a power greater than oneself pulled a similar prank on both of us personally, besides dumping a pandemic on all of us? Like you, I suppose, and others of a similar generation, who may or may not have gone through some of the additional personal crises we endured in this period, I have also taken the longer view you’ve expressed re how we all are in a new normal. For my part, I’m also considering that what befell me personally was certainly colored by the pandemic as it probably would not have been during the good old days aka normal times. I’m looking at what came out of that, and how I came out of it, as almost a blessing in disguise because a lot of the suffering and pain and loss I endured would have most likely happened anyway. The pandemic just kind of changed the timing and in some ways took the sequence of events out of my hands. For an overthinker like me, I’ll just take that as a win.

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    • Sometimes, it’s good to be an “overthinker.” It allows us to see the big picture, and to see gifts where we would normally just see problems and tragedy. If I’m really honest with myself, there were problems I was facing even before the pandemic, so yes, going totally “back to normal” isn’t necessarily a good thing either. Sometimes, good comes out of bad things, even something as bad as a pandemic. It doesn’t mean we don’t recognize and mourn the losses, it just means that we are willing to accept our new reality and to see areas where it is actually a plus!

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  40. Very insightful post Ann. It is true that because of the pandemic a lot has changed. My life actually changed before Covid hit because my boyfriend of 7 years and I broke up and I had to move. Not sure how I was going to make it on my own, I moved away from some of my family and in with my sister across the state because she had the most room for me. Looking at the way things are now after Covid, I guess that It was meant for me to be closer to my sister and help her and my dad out with the house. Because Covid took my sister’s boyfriend. I’m a strong believer in God and his works so I guess for now this is what I’m supposed to be doing. Helping this half of my family. Hopefully this year we will be able to move closer to the rest of the family. We never really know what life is going to throw at us but I guess the outcome is how we as individuals are going to handle it.

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    • I’m so sorry your sister lost her boyfriend to Covid! It is a horrible disease and has claimed far too many lives. I’m sure she’s very glad to have you there to help her, and agree that it might just be divine intervention that you were there when she needed you most. Life is unpredictable for sure, and I agree that how we respond makes all the difference. Thanks so much for your insightful comment!

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  41. I hear ya, Ann. COVID has bent us, hasn’t it? I have lost family members to it, and countless friends and family had to struggle through it. So far, I have been COVID-free, even though my wife was one of the first in our area to contract it, before we knew what it was called. I caught the flu in December, and that was bad enough.
    Stay well, dear lady. God’s grip – Alan

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    • Yes, Covid has changed so much, and taken so many lives as well. I sincerely hope you never get it, knowing of your other health issues. I’m glad your wife recovered from hers! Take care, Alan, and praying that you stay healthy!!

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  42. Ann, you are always so spot on. I agree that no one likes change, especially when it is forced upon us. However, the pandemic has brought on necessary changes, such as being mindful about relationships that matter to us all. Although, like you, I have a bit of trauma response when it comes to grocery shopping. For some reason, I now feel like I should get two of everything… just in case lol

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    • Oh, I know just what you mean! Before Covid, I waited until I ran out os something to replace it or buy more. Now, I keep my fridge stocked, and my basement fridge stocked with “extras.” As soon as I’m down to say, one spare carton of eggs, I go and buy another one. You know, “just in case…….” I don’t know if I’ll ever get over the need to have a little extra put by!

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  43. Hi from Ally Bean’s blog roll. I picked yours as you started blogging the same year I s
    started my personal one. I also have a house restoration one and a daily photo one.
    Covid really did change things and help us focus on our priorities. We did a lot of outside visiting even in the depths of winter. I totally love having my immediate family over for supper now and treat it as a special occasion. I, like you, practise gratitude for what we have. Bernie

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    • Thank you so much for checking out my blog! I look forward to reading yours….I have a feeling I’ll relate to yours, especially the house restoration one. We’ve bought three “fixer uppers” and it was an adventure for sure. And yes, Covid changed so much but a good change was how it forced us to focus on our priorities. I’m hoping that is a permanent change!

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  45. I know everyone probably wants to put the pandemic deep in their rear view mirror because of how frustrating, frightening, and even deadly it was. However, it would be foolish to think our world has not changed quite a bit – forever – as a result of it. Some of these changes may actually be for the better upon further reflection. I do think it has provided all of us great perspective as to how we’d like to move forward in the world, as well as what kind of world we’d like to live in for years to come.

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    • Yes, it has changed a lot about our world, and I do think in some sense we’re all still recovering from it. I’m encouraged that we have begun to return to many of our normal activities, though, as that is what I missed the most during the lock downs. And I agree that our personal perspectives have sometimes changed for the better due to the past three years. That, for me, is the silver lining! Thanks for your comment!

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  46. Hi Ann- I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your reply. My Unmeasured Journeys blog isn’t getting ANY notifications… thank you for what you said. The lessons in that whole pandemic thing have been huge and hard. PS I sent your mom’s gift, finally. I think it may have arrived yesterday or maybe today.

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      • I’m so sorry! I sent you two emails to let you know that Mom’s gift arrived, and she is beyond thrilled! She called me as soon as she got it to say that she just loves it and is so touched that you made it for her. She has it hanging in her kitchen at the moment, but wants me to hang it in her living room so she can see it more often. I’ll do that the next time I go over. It is just gorgeous! But more importantly, she loves it and loves that someone thought to send it to her. Thank you so much….you made my mom’s day, and I am so very appreciated. You are not only a talented artist, you are a very, very nice person!!!!

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        • Awww. My goodness. That is sooooo very sweet. I’m so happy she loves it! Since I lost my momma, you know how tough it’s been. You’ve been so incredibly supportive of me on my other blog- lots of kind words and hand holding. I know how much you love your mom- I remember when she moved into her apartment. I just really wanted to make her something. I think it turned out very pretty. Flowery. I LOVE that she wants it in her living room where she can see it more often. There’s no greater compliment… I’m sorry I didn’t respond to your emails- I can’t even get any emails to open. I love that she called you as soon as she got it. Sweetest thing ever!!!

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