Happy first day of spring, whatever that means…
Pops of color provide much needed comfort and cheer.
As we remain in Atlanta I’m grateful for the warmer days and the colorful flowers that already dot the city streets. Spring is supposed to bring new life and hope. While that’s clearly not happening, at least the weather is making it a little bit better.
As a New Englander who lives in a summer resort community Spring means a lot to me. Winters are cold and especially dark on the Island and Spring brings light, color, energy and new beginnings each year. Typically this season also brings busy client work as businesses prepare to reopen for the season and gear up for the hustle and bustle of a Martha’s Vineyard summer. Instead year round businesses are closing indefinitely and seasonal businesses are wondering when or if they’ll ever be able to reopen.... Island residents are all eager to know how long this will go on for, crossing our fingers that we can salvage somewhat of a summer out of it.
I believe we’re all entering into a new beginning of sorts, but it’s not the shiny-happy-emerge-from-your-winter-hibernation-and-start-enjoying-your-patio-again one. Now self-isolation and social distancing are becoming a new reality, quite the opposite of what we’re used to for this time of year. I know that like the seasons, this current state we’re in is not life indefinitely, but a cycle we must pass through. We all must hang in there and accept the hardship of this new temporary norm. This too shall pass but not without its casualties…
I watched Gavin dismantle the puzzle he had worked hard on, another reminder of the impermanence of things and the constant state of flux we’re always in.
“To everything (turn, turn, turn)
There is a season (turn, turn, turn)”
We were strongly reminded of Spring this morning when my black SUV was covered in a film of yellow pollen. How soon I had forgotten about the potent pollen of the South, let me tell you this shit is real. But alas, such annoyances can’t even bother us anymore when our new days are a matter of life or death. Funny that just a couple weeks ago getting a car wash was one of the most important things I had to do.
I enjoyed the beautiful day, hanging outside with the kids and throwing around a wooden airplane that Jack had crafted. He’s appreciating home school schedule and sticking to it – he built the plane during “creative time.” Prior to us arriving he was working on one of his academic projects, a story about a scientist and a monkey who attempt to time travel but their time machine malfunctions and they end up in the wrong time period. I found myself wondering what time I’d want to travel to and if I would be brave enough to choose to go into the [near] future and the uncertain times ahead.
Most afternoons I make the time to take a walk around the neighborhood, and have been using the time to make phone calls to family and friends. Today it was my 88 and 85 year old grandparents who are in Florida and plan to be driving back to Massachusetts next week (and mentioned the possibility of sleeping in their car along the way), and my friend Bonnie in North Carolina whose husband is working on the front lines at Whole Foods. Everyone’s life has been upended and it sucks, but again we’re all in this together. Along my walk I discovered a network of paths in the woods and noticed a small snake on a bridge along my tracks. I wasn’t as alarmed as I should’ve been… perhaps I’m becoming immune to my fears given how frightening the big picture is these days?
Today’s headlines: Senate release economic stimulus package for coronavirus response, Stimulus Package, Governor of California announces statewide coronavirus shelter-in-place, Almost 40% of those hospitalized with Coronavirus are younger, Senators caught dumping stock before market crash
Today’s Silver Lining: All of the creative approaches businesses, organizations, educators etc. are taking to keep people engaged and learning and experiencing new things online.
Something that made me laugh: I attempted to get Gavin to sing along to “Push It” on the car radio, in our attempts at carpool karaoke, and just to lighten the mood. He. was. not. having. it.
Best thing I watched: The faces of our old Atlanta friends via video chat. Stacy and Jason in Louisiana and Jennifer and Berry in Pennsylvania. We all used to live under the same roof in Atlanta and we were wishing we could all be be riding this out together while enjoying the good ole days. Fortunate for us we got to visit with them and their beautiful families over the last several weeks of our road trip before the sky started falling. #foreverfriends
Most eerie thing I saw: Drone footage from the desolate streets of Boston
Funniest thing I saw: This collection of hilarious tweets about Coronavirus. We’re going to need a lot of laughter to get through this.
Best thing I saw: A Facebook post that real resonated with my hope for the other side of these wild times.
When this is over,
may we never again take for granted:
A Handshake With A Stranger
Full Shelves At The Store
Conversations With Neighbors
A Crowded Theatre
Friday Night Out
The Taste Of Communion
A Routine Checkup
The School Rush Each Morning
Coffee With A Friend
The Stadium Roaring
Each Deep Breath
A Boring Tuesday
Life Itself
When this ends, may we find that we have become more like the people we wanted to be, we were called to be, we hoped to be, and may we stay that way — better for each other because of that worst.”
- Laura Kelly Fanucci