The Current Normal

Song Lyric of the Day:

I had a premonition that we fell into a rhythm / Where the music don’t stop for life / Glitter in the sky, glitter in my eyes / Shining just the way I like / If you’re feeling like you need a little bit of company / You met me at the perfect time

Dua Lipa / “Levitating

How are you holding up during this never-ending pandemic? I like to think I’m OK most days, but then other days I want to scream. I’m sleeping horribly. I miss seeing family and friends. I miss the freedom to just go out whenever — and to wherever — I want, sans mask. I miss going to see movies in a theater. I miss my daughter being in school with her friends. I miss life in general as it was pre-pandemic.

I’ve taken to reminding myself that we are not in a new normal, we’re in a current normal. Wearing masks won’t last forever, although it feels like it will. Not being able to see family and friends whenever we want won’t last forever, although it feels like it will. Working from home won’t last forever, although it should (seriously — I never want to work full-time in an office again). Not being able to go to a restaurant or bar won’t last forever, although it feels like it will. And I refuse to believe movie theaters won’t survive this. Watching the disappointing Wonder Woman 84 at home convinced me of that. (Thank God Soul was so good. It made up for WW84. Freaky was also a fun, gory watch.)

I’m not one of those people who took up 30 new hobbies and started a garden while hand-sewing my kids’ clothes and making my own soap throughout lockdown. I’ve done the bare minimum: I’ve survived. I’ve worked. I’ve dropped off Sebastian at preschool. I’ve walked Coraline to virtual school, aka our dining room, every morning; I still eat lunch with her almost every day, save for when she chooses Minecraft over me. I’ve cooked more meals than I normally would (if I wouldn’t go bankrupt and die of heart disease, I’d get takeout a lot more). I’ve remembered to put on deodorant every morning and do not stay in my pajamas all day, although I am now comfortable wearing yoga pants to preschool dropoff and pickup. I gained nine pounds. I admitted to myself that I’m too cheap to buy new clothes, so I then started using our treadmill regularly and taking Capone on walks, as well as eating more keto meals, and lost 10 pounds. I’ve journaled every single day since I started on January 1, 2020. I’m trying to read more; having a house full of books and a library close by certainly help. I’ve enjoyed the extra time with my kids.

Mostly, though, I remind myself that this is NOT our new normal. I have no idea when this pandemic lockdown will end, but I know it will end someday. I know that whenever it does end, I won’t ever take boring, routine, everyday things for granted again. Lesson learned.

Happy Capone

Capone loves his current normal.

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