Day 83

Words can heal; they can wound.

They can encourage; they can defeat.

Words when combined with positive actions can result in success.

Words when combined with negative actions will result in failure.

Words can incinerate; words can diffuse.

Words can insinuate; words can offer truth.

Words can provide Peace; words can start wars.

Listen carefully, check the source; and search for motives when words are spoken.

Rational behavior, common sense, civility, fairness, patience and respect for others should be our guides.

I'm spitting in the wind, I know. 

But maybe the winds will start blowing in the other direction.

Day 80

You know those silly tests that Facebook offers where you end up finding out what animal you would be if you were not human?

I've always prided myself on finding out that I would be a sleek, sinewy cat of prey, with luminous eyes and muscles rippling with power and strength.

But that's not real life, is it?

A couple of weeks ago, I was out with a friend and a picture of me was taken that was later posted on Facebook. I saw it and thought what an unflattering angle the picture was taken from and that shirt makes me look so big.  I reminded myself never to wear the shirt again and to always sit up straight.   Lessons learned, right?

Well, last night I sat on the edge of my bed, facing the mirror on the dresser on the wall opposite the bed.  And I didn't see a sinewy cat of prey at all!

I saw a frog sitting there...with a small head, limp arms, a full, rounded belly and shapeless legs.  I just needed to be green to complete the picture.

Lesson learned....remove all reflective surfaces  from the home  and NEVER wear green.

Day 79

I've said it several times before and it bears repeating.  I find a wicked sense of humor very appealing in a man.

I think laughter can be a good medicine. A giggle or a chuckle can relieve tension.  Even a big smile can light up a room.

But there is a time and a place for everything.

My husband learned the hard way that the time to laugh is NOT when I'm trying on last year's bathing suit.

He learned that being book smart doesn't mean he learned the survival skills necessary to live in isolated, close quarters with a cranky spouse.

Enough said.

Day 76

Well, this originally was supposed to be a personal account of how we spent 30 days in isolation but it has now turned into 76 days, with very little hope of it ending anytime soon.

My husband and I like to give each other space and though we are close, we are not attached at the hip every single minute of every single day.  So, having a spouse as the only source of conversation was a bit of a strain for the first few days. We adjusted and it looks like we will be celebrating our 57th anniversary next month.

  On  Day 70 I wasn't so sure..

That's when we really started to claim our territory...and our snacks.

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When I go shopping, I buy Anthony his special snacks and I buy myself my special snacks. The reason being is that we each like separate goodies.  I don't have a problem with that.  What's his is his;  What's mine is mine.

But on Day 66, I reached for a Tupper Ware container that held my favorite cookies and thought  there should have been more in there. But, I could have been wrong so I let it go. These are cookies I only snack on occasionally, so maybe I was forgetful about how many were left.   

The next evening, Day 67, I went to the freezer to get a scoop of my raspberry/chocolate  cheesecake ice cream.  It's one of my favorites and he doesn't like raspberry anything, or so he says. It had been awhile since I had indulged so I couldn't remember whether the amount was as I left it or not. Again, I wasn't sure so I served myself a nice amount which left only one more serving in the container.

Flash forward to Day 70.......We're watching TV and I get up to get the last serving of my favorite ice cream and I can't find the container. 

Are you following me here?

Since there are only 2 of us in the house, I KNEW!!!!!

I turned and just looked at him.  I couldn't believe he had broken the unwritten law of "Hands off other people's snacks".  And yet I said nothing.

To be continued...........

Day 74

Maybe there's a reason for the things we complain about.  Maybe we should count them as a plus instead of  a minus.

I've told you before that this time of staying home has turned me into a watcher and observer.  Little things I never noticed before are now so very obvious to me.

I've also become addicted to doing crossword puzzles.  They help me pass the time and I've increased my vocabulary.

Granted, some of the words are useless in an ordinary conversation but I've enjoyed throwing them in when I can.

This is one of those days. I learned a new word and I'm going to show off by using it today.

I can tell you I've been noticing women's philtrums.  They seem to get wider with age. Mine included. The change is subtle, but it's there.

Then I realized that something else was happening at the same time. Something most of us try to get rid of.  It's a plus, not a minus.  It fills the gap. And it's growing simply for the reason it narrows the philtrum.  Can you guess what I'm talking about?

Don't get rid of it. Leave it be. Be free.  After all, when you are wearing a  face mask no one can see it.  It's like not wearing a bra at home. Who cares?

I've also learned a more refined way to say BS.  "Bovine excrement" sounds so much more dignified and socially acceptable, doesn't it?  Especially when I'm yelling at the TV when I hear so much of it being broadcast to the masses as Truth.

Day 72

My, how things have changed.

It's going to be a long time before I look at a group of "kids" riding on skateboards and not get nervous.

I used to like seeing men wearing Hawaiian shirts.  Now, I'm suspicious that they are part of an anarchist  group.

Seeing trucks carrying loads of bricks makes me want to follow them to see where the bricks are being unloaded.

I used to think the Police would protect us and now we have to protect them.

Hearing Clergy  say that our President is not welcome in their churches makes me wonder if they'd say the same thing to Mary Magdalene.  She wasn't turned away, was she?  Are they trying to change the teachings of Christ?

When items on the grocery shelves are running low, I find myself checking out peoples' carts to see if they are "overbuying". It's getting harder not to make a comment about it. And then I get tempted to do the same just "in case".

Reality is now imitating fiction.  Remember the movies where gangs ran rampant through cities, attacking and destroying everything in sight? Well, it appears somebody read those scripts and they are repeating the scenes in real life.  Once again, it's all being played out in front of the cameras. I hope the good guys win in this "movie".

I'm wondering which is worse,  staying home and worrying about catching the Virus?  Or going out and taking a chance that you will catch the Virus?

Day 73

I'm back. Not that I've gone anywhere to speak of, so I've been left alone with my thoughts.

I took for granted so many things that we've lost in our country, in our cities, in our neighborhoods.

I took for granted that our country was insulated and safe from attacks coming from an inner core of power hungry career politicians looking to protect their forever source of income.

I took for granted that what I saw on TV and read in the papers was an unbiased reporting of events, not a biased opinion.

I took for granted that Governors would protect their states from spread of disease without imposing severe contact rules that would destroy far more people than the disease itself.

I took for granted that Governors and Mayors would help police officers uphold the law by giving them the support they need.  I assumed they'd be allowed to police and not just stand by while innocent shop owners watch their dreams, savings and futures go up in flames.

I took for granted that we had come to a point that color really didn't matter.

I took for granted that Justice was equal for each of us.

I took for granted that children were being raised to follow the rules of society. I assumed parents were teaching them the difference between right and wrong.

I assumed that common sense was still alive and well in this nation until I heard DeBlasio say that he was pleased the riots in New York were relatively peaceful. Really?  The pictures of the destruction show otherwise.

And then I heard Chris Cuomo say that "protesters" (aka rioters) are not expected to obey the law. Really?  Look at the videos of the aftermath of that opinion.

First the virus, now the riots. Storeowners suffered terribly from the first issue and now they're being killed by what's going on now. Can we save those that are remaining?

I cherish so many things now that I once took for granted.

  I want to put my arms around someone as a gesture of support. I want to walk down the street and feel the sun in my face and the wind in my hair.  I want to go to a store and be able to browse and touch and feel the items.  I want to go out to dinner with friends and not be limited to the number of people who can join me. 

I want us to have our lives back, but sadly it's going to be a long time coming...if ever.