Quarantine life and Summer plans

Hello friends and Happy May!

I saw a picture on Facebook yesterday that said you realize how anti-social you are when there's a pandemic and your life doesn't change much. I told Mom and Dad about it and we all took a bit of offense. Our life hasn't changed as much as it has for so many others during this pandemic quarantine, but we are definitely not antisocial.  Perhaps it's that we are retired and don't have young children living with us that accounts for the lack of big changes in our life.

But life has changedbecause we are staying home so much and because our neighborhood closed down for the most part more than a month ago, but we are still sitting outside in the sunshine, eating meals together and taking walks. I try to take Maddie for a drive most afternoons. (She likes to drive with the top down and the music turned up nice and loud!) We aren't running errands, having people over or eating out (something we don't do much anyway). We aren't going to church (though  between the three of us, we attend 4-5 churches online every week). I am not walking on the treadmill (the PT office is not allowing people to come and use the gym individually like I have done for about a year). The libraries are closed so I am not volunteering (Many of our volunteers are in an at-risk group so we voted as a board to close our bookstore just a few days before the county closed the libraries). 

We are doing puzzles on the dining room table (even Dad who has never liked puzzles!) And we are reading books. I am sunbathing a lot in 15-30-minute blocks on the back patio. We are missing the pool--especially now that it's getting to be perfect pool weather here (mid-90s to low-100s). The pool is closed along with our community center. The golf course is still open and the busiest time for it is before 8 each morning since we hit the high 80s by 9:30 or 10. 

I know this kind of heat makes many of you cringe, but I love it! Part of the reason we started coming to Arizona in the winter five or so years ago is because I feel so much better in warm weather. The hotter it gets, the less my body hurts.

That's part of the reason I stayed here in Arizona last summer. That, and to take the big step of living independently for months at a time. Prior to last year, the longest I had been alone was a couple of weeks. Last summer went really well and as a result, we started talking about my moving out on my own on more of a permanent basis. It's a goal we are still pursuing, though it's been put on hold until all of this pandemic uncertainty settles down. I am not old enough to live in a condo here in our neighborhood, but a new rental community is opening just a few blocks from our back gate that looks interesting and there are a few other condo developments that could be long-term possibilities.

In the meantime, I had planned to stay here in Arizona again this summer. With me here, there's no need to close the house down or have a caretaker keep an eye on things, so it's been good all around.

Mom and Dad have always been planning to return to Denver this summer, leaving mid-May as they did last year and taking Maddie with them since she doesn't like the heat and requires some care like bathing that I can't manage on my own. She and I do fine together for shorter time intervals, but for months at a time, she needs to be with them.

Because of this uncertainty, it is wise for our family to stay together this summer. And because Denver will always be home to Mom and Dad and because all of our medical providers are there, we are all going to be in Denver for the summer and will leave here on May 19.

I am sad and disappointed not to stay here (my heart has really settled here)--especially since I won't be able to tell friends here goodbye with everything closed.

As I told my Bible study group the other day as we were catching up in a group text, I had been praying a bunch and told God my heart's desire was to be here, but more for his will to be done. I hoped they would want to stay together here. My head understands the wisdom and logic of our decision, but my heart is sad and disappointed. At the same time, I wholeheartedly believe that his plans are for my good and his glory, so I am curious to see what this summer will hold!

I am hoping things in Colorado reopen soon (I really need a haircut!) and that it will be possible to spend time with friends and family somehow

Church online is convenient and familiar  since I attend my church in Denver online every week, but I miss having other people singing with me!As a friend commented on Facebook earlier, the congregational singing for church online leaves something to be desired! :)

How are you, my friends? I have to admit that I'm trying not to think about all of the things I could have been doing with all this time at home and instead to give myself some grace!

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Holly Smith]

We are much like you...the quarantine hasn;t really changed a lot of our family time. But we miss going to church and seeing friends at school, etc. It's been sort of surreal here in College Station. Chris just took the kids to go Dewberry picking and this is the FIRST time in over a month that I am home alone. Ahhhh! Happiness!

I'm praying for your heart and asking God to tuck in some special gifts in Denver this summer! We will still be coming up for a wedding in Mid-August, so I hope that we can swing by to say hi or that you and I can grab a bite to eat together. I miss you so much! Love, Holly

[Kim Feth]

Hi, friend! Thanks for the summer plan update! I can tell you like Arizona and the independence you enjoy there!!
Our son had to come home from UNC-Charlotte due to COVID19. He applied for a waiver to be able to stay, but apparently the argument that “nothing ever happens in my hometown. Charlotte is awesome”, is insufficient for the Chancellor to allow you to stay on campus. He had to finish the semester with all of his classes online.
Jerry and I have adjusted from empty nesters to empty nesters who have an adult who shows up at the dinner table to eat. At first I thought his lack of hanging out with us was an indication of family dysfunction. Then we spoke with parents in the same situation and it was the same way with the vast majority of the college students who had to come home. It’s actually an indicator of the strong friendships they have on campus - they are still hanging out digitally.
My husband has been working from home since mid-March. I started my new job at a medical practice in March but graciously didn’t get furloughed.
We are leading a much slower life and enjoying it together!
Keep the FB and blog updates coming!’