By Shelley Bennett
It’s Sunday morning. The house is quiet, everyone but me is still in bed. I’m drinking my coffee and thinking about a year ago. We were planning our Spring Break. Should we go back to Santa Cruz? Or try a new destination?
We were thinking about colleges for Landon. He was accepted to UC Santa Barbara, waiting to hear from Cal Poly.
We were filling up our calendar. Almost every weekend in April and May had an “event”. Senior prom, Jake’s baseball game, Senior trip, awards night, Sofia’s dance recital, pack for Bio Trip.
The list was endless, but that is when I’m at my best. When I can plan for something. Make sure all the details are in order. Delegate tasks to those who can help. Watch as it goes on without a hitch. Enjoy.
A year ago, that was our last normal weekend, but we didn’t know it.
I soon learned that you can’t plan for a Pandemic. Or during a Pandemic. Your calendar will suddenly be empty, all the notes and appointments meaningless. Your “to do” list will look something like: 1. Take a walk, 2. Bake banana bread, 3. Find Netflix show worthy of binge watching.
And then it gets boring. And hard.
We have been extremely fortunate. Our family has stayed healthy. Our kids used the time to learn new things, like baking, skateboard, playing tennis, and they got along with each other while doing it. Leo was able to work at his job as a land surveyor which is very conducive to social distancing.
We found other ways to celebrate. We adapted our expectations. We survived, maybe even thrived.
We are lucky now to be in the early stages of opening up. It feels like there is a light at this long, dark tunnel. But with that light comes trepidation, at least for me. Will something open up too soon? Will the numbers take a turn?
As I finish my coffee, I think about my day. I’m on my way to Rite Aid to get a vaccine that wasn’t even part of my wildest thoughts last year. I feel a little nervous, but also relieved that I have this opportunity.
Then on to school to finish my grading and write my column. I wonder if I have written about the Pandemic too often. Are people tired of reading about it? I realize that it will always be a part of our lives. A chasm that we had to cross. There might be a time when it’s not part of our conversation, but that time hasn’t come yet. Yet.
I check my calendar now and I have penciled in field hockey games, a drill team virtual competition, another Spring Break. Hope rises in me like the sun on the horizon.
Remember when news was ‘newsy’? When you read about weddings, family events and engagement announcements in the newspaper? If you have something that might be newsworthy, please submit it to [email protected] and I’ll do my best to include it here in “The Good Stuff.”
