I’ve been working on the shape of this vase for 3 days and I’m still not satisfied. I’ll be at the easel later today.
I grabbed some time with no rain to mow part of the yard and weed whack yesterday.
Record heat in the southwest, endless rain here in the northeast. We had one day with no rain – yesterday – and now we’re facing at least 5 more days of rain. I feel for everyone dealing with high temperatures and all the restrictions as to water and electricity. It’s alarming. And I feel for everyone dealing with floods and water in basements and all the damage from the hurricane and too much rain.
Please take care.
We had an interesting discussion yesterday. It was generated by an invitation to visit with a former student of mine, who is staying with Rick for a few days. He’s one of my favorite students and normally I’d jump at the chance to see him. But, in different ways, both Don and I felt uncomfortable with the idea of visiting him. Don’s initial reaction to the invitation was that he didn’t feel comfortable going because of COVID and an earlier discussion we had about variants. Both Rick and Doug have been traveling lately. They’re very careful, of course, but they’re out in the world and therefore cannot help but be exposed to a lot of people. My former student lives in NYC and has also been traveling, and living in the city, he’s definitely out in the world. And with the news about variants and breakthrough infections and the fact that – let’s face it – there’s still so much we don’t know about this virus, I had an emotional reaction that surprised me – I ended up crying. When Don suggested that I might enjoy seeing my former student and Rick without him going along, I grew a bit panicked. And I cried some more.
We made a somewhat difficult decision to pass this time around and I responded to my student’s text and explained why we couldn’t make it. He understood, thank goodness. It may seem over-the-top, this reaction of ours, but in talking it through yesterday, it became very clear to me that there is much I am still uneasy about, that, after a year and a half of the pandemic, there are emotions beneath the surface that I’m just now acknowledging. Our home is our safe place. Don is my safe place. We’ve gone through this together. When we go to the grocery store – or any store – now, there are less and less people wearing masks. This is a marked difference from a month ago. No one hassles us when we choose to wear a mask, but the fact is, we are now the exceptions. I wonder if people are getting too complacent. Or are we overreacting? I don’t know the answer, but the advice I have passed on to others during this time is what I now need to follow: Do what you feel comfortable with. If you’re uncomfortable, don’t do it, and don’t apologize for being cautious.
Yes, we go out and shop and run errands, but we’re masked. It’s controlled. As people travel more, are exposed to more people, I can’t control the history of where they’ve been and who they’ve been exposed to.
Are we a little shell-shocked? No doubt. But, as Don said this morning, “I’m going to wait a couple of months and see what happens with the variants and with the spread of the virus.” I think that makes sense. If we’re offered work, we’ll take it. Otherwise, I think we may continue to shelter here at the cottage.
Oh, these are strange and unsettling times.
Stay safe.
Happy Sunday.
I’ve felt, all this past year-and-a-half, that you have been very cautious, perhaps more cautious than was strictly necessary and certainly more than I was. But it’s your life, and you do what you feel good about.
I too still wear a face mask when I visit the shops… which makes me one of a minority. My choice, just as it is yours. Don’t worry about what others may think! Just stay safe your own way.
In this country, believe me, I was not more cautious than was strictly necessary. This is the land of anti-vaxxers and people who refuse to wear masks.
Thanks, Petra.
Stay safe.
Hi,
I agree with you 100%. I am conducting myself in the same matter. I do start questioning myself, but in the end I follow my gut and heart. too many unknowns.
I can’t convey to you how much talent in painting I think you have. Amazing.
Take Care,
Kaye
Park City, UT
Thank you for your kind words, Kaye.
Stay safe.
Hi Claudia,
I think you made the right decision, painful as it is to miss out on seeing friends. We are still wearing masks while grocery shopping and are definitely in the minority! Even if not for ourselves, we have grandchildren too young to get vaccinated and want to keep them safe as well.
Our yard (in western MA) is lush from all the rain and the lawn is sprouting mushrooms!
Take care.
Polly
I suspect I’ll find some mushrooms soon. That happens here as well.
Thanks so much, Polly.
Stay safe.
I share your anxiety with re-entry and am proceeding by letting my comfort level lead. It just makes sense to slowly proceed at my own pace, to do otherwise causes unease.
To thine own self be true,
Anne
I agree wholeheartedly, Anne.
Thanks.
Stay safe.
You have to do what feels right to you. The variants are very concerning. I have alot of faith in science and the vaccines but I am still cautious.
People around here act like it’s all back to normal. Michigan has dropped restrictions and the restaurants and bars are crowded, the tourists are here, the beaches are crowded, the masks are few in stores.
I can’t watch the news right now. I’ve been so stressed about my granddaughter that I just can’t handle anymore. She is slowly recovering, but very slowly. It’s a roller coaster ride.
She has a long way to go.
Stay safe
I have faith in vaccines, but not necessarily in people, at least in this country where people refuse to wear masks or get vaccinated.
I’m so sorry that you and your family have had such heartache and worry, Marilyn. I’m glad your granddaughter is recovering, but I wish it could happen much more quickly than is the case. Thinking of you.
Stay safe.
I fully understand your reaction to visiting your friends.
I think you are very sensible. one can not be too careful under the circumstances. Two weeks ago, here in The Netherlands, our government decided that is is wise to open up clubs, restaurants, festivals are allowed etc. Everything seemed OK. People can travel abroad if tested or vaccinated, if the country where to go allows entrance. Now it appeares that there are more and more infected persons every day. As a result last saturday the rules have changed and now festivals are not allowed, restaurants and so have to close before midnight and most probably our country will be red on the map again. Things are getting worse over here now due to wrong decisions.
We ourselves wear a mask since March last year when walking or cycling outside. We are about the only ones, there are more masks lying on the street than on the faces. Me, I am wrapped up in mask and gloves when I need to go inside a shop which I try to avoid as much as possible. We are something like the village idiots being so careful. But better be careful than sorry and sick.
Most people act as if Covid is gone.
Mostly I still order my shopping via internet and it is brought to the house, and I will keep ordering like this for some future period.
We still receive no visitors, nor go to visit people. No matter what some people may say or think. We have not seen our daughter since December 2020, she lives in Los Angeles, and most problably will not see her this year either. It is a flight of about 13 hours which is a long time on a plane.
Normally planes are not very clean.
As you said there are still too much uncertainties. People fully vaccinated are getting infected now. I wonder what that means exactly. It is for sure that Covid remains still here. Fortunately there are books, we can walk and cycle, we live in a village where are less people than in a city, we manage it.
As to your paintings: i wonder how you set up on the paper.
You make an outline in charcoal or pencil drawing first or how do you start? Or you just start with paint?
Be careful., Dorien
Yes, you’re right. Covid is still here and too many countries and states are eliminating all restrictions too soon. I suspect we’ll see things closing down again, though I hope that it doesn’t get so bad that that has to happen.
I’ve down the paintings a few different ways. One time I sketched the outline with pencil. Several of them have been started with the paint colors that I’m using for the portrait. But lately, I’ve been outlining/underpainting with some burnt umber paint which lets me see how it looks on paper. Then, when I’m happy with the shape, I paint over the burnt umber with the main colors. Hope that makes sense, Dorien.
Stay safe.
Good Morning! When it comes to being around people who are traveling, approach with caution. We live in a small city hot spot with the new variant, 55 cases and a death a day the last 4 weeks and no masks on most people, and our town has had 4 large unmasked events. Yep, we are a red pocket in a blue state. We visited my husband’s father and his wife for 3 days last week as we are all vaccinated and not traveling. Had a lovely time until the last night when they asked us to attend a party when the younger son flies in from Nashville in a couple weeks. He will be changing planes twice and refuses to get vaccinated. We politely declined. They were angry and gave us all their reasons we are being obstinate and overly cautious with our lives. We politely gave them our reasons back. They started yelling at us and I finally got up and went to our room because I was tired of being badgered. I saw a news article about a small outbreak in Nashville this morning. I don’t feel my health is anyone’s business but my own. My husband’s father is 83. I, too, wish to live that long and in good health. I haven’t gone through over a year of this to decide the most catchable variant is where I start letting down my guard. There have been breakthroughs. Our hospital is 95% full. I received J&J and don’t feel quite as optimistic as some people. I’m sad for all of us and wish certain people in this country would do what is right so we could all go back to life as we wish it to be. You are lucky your friends are understanding, and hopefully we will all be visiting again soon.
Your paintings are lovely. Your robin is in such a great spot to watch. We have 2 babies in our yard and I’m amazed at the size of worms they can find!! Nature is sooooo healing.
Dear Verna,
You are very wise to stand your ground. The longer so many go without vaccination, the more variants we will see. Lots of statistics out now about how well each vaccine is doing against each variant.
You and your husband are very courageous to stand up to such pressure.
sorry you had that experience, verna … but good for you and your husband doing what’s best for you! stay strong and safe.
hope you have a good day.
kathy in iowa
I’m so sorry that family members refuse to support your choice. It’s really unconscionable. They should respect your concerns and your choice to remain safe. I understand that we’re all impatient with the length of this pandemic. But when people refuse to get vaccinated and you’re expected to be there in spite of that fact? No.
I hope things get better, Verna.
Stay safe.
My heart goes out to you. I understand what you are going through but you have chosen to do what is best for you and Don. You’re listening to your inner tuition, your conscious and unconscious mind. You have them for specific purposes. Follow your instinct/intuition and all will be well. Yours is different from those who might follow their surface mind because they don’t want to believe in facts and truth. Many of us are guided by fear and denial. Wishing doesn’t make “it” (immunity to COVID) so.
Doing what we feel is right for us often feels uncomfortable if it is contrary to the majority. Do you ever wonder about lemmings that might not leap with the crowd? I mean, there must be at least two that watch the others go over the cliff, shake their heads and go on about the business of living and reproducing; otherwise there would be no lemmings.
‘Tis better to say “There she goes” than “There she lies.”
I agree, Bobbie Jean. I’ve never been one to do what everyone else is doing. I’ve always forged my own path. I guess my mother’s favorite question that she raised whenever I was tempted to go with the crowd, “If everyone jumped off the Empire State Building, would you do it, too?” worked.
Thanks.
Stay safe.
“To thine own self be true”. We each have to follow our own feelings and do what we feel is best.
I think that many of us felt like things started spinning a bit out of control way too early. I am struggling w the CDC right now and their mixed and often confusing/ contradictory messages. And everything they say is dismissed so quickly by state and local controls. Nothing can be enforced. I think if a new (or this existing) Pandemic strikes again~~ and I think we all agree it will ~~ we are going to have an even worse mess than we just lived through. So being cautious seems to be the intelligent path to follow. I am worried, or baffled, by those proclaiming we are “back to normal”. I think, esp in this case, we don’t want to go back, and we should be looking forward to doing things smarter and with a bit more thought.
I totally agree with you, Chris, the CDC gives these brief edicts (and the non-vaccinated take and run with it), which is not the right message for everywhere. The CDC is not the state/county/regional Public Health Office.
I like what Fauci said once that maybe we could do without the handshake forever.
We are definitely not back to normal. For example, both Don and I (who obviously love the theater and work in the theater) have said that we wouldn’t go in a theater right now, even with Broadway re-opening in September. I applaud Broadway reopening, but I’m wary.
Thanks, Chris.
Stay safe.
I agree with you that everyone needs to do what they are comfortable with and not feeling the need to apologize. I am sure that Rick and your student will understand.
I am really enjoying your paintings and the process!
Thank you, Melanie.
I’m going to rely on my gut in this situation.
Stay safe!
We all need to follow our own comfort levels, even if they seem unpopular. My mom gave me a sign in college….”Dare to be Different, If Different Means Right.” It seems very apropos for the times we are living in.
We don’t want to be sick, and if wearing a mask can prevent that, than that’s what we will be doing. It’s a scary world out there right now. And we are all learning how to navigate through it. There are many paths we can take right now, no right way, no left way…and only we know which path we need to take. Stay safe my Friend! ;)
Thanks for your support, Donna.
Only we can know, deep within ourselves, what is the right path. And that will vary.
Stay safe.
I happen to live happily in a blue city in a very red state so I can’t trust who is vaccinated and who isn’t. So I still stay home in my bubble and when we go out, we wear our masks. These variants are nothing to fool with. You are being vey smart.
Thank you, Kit. And now I’m hearing about a Lambda variant. This thing mutates and keeps on going.
Stay safe!
I am doing the same, being very cautious, I wear a mask when going into stores with lots of people. I try to do my shopping early so there are not as many, some still do wear a mask. I know that we are fully vaccinated but I don’t know about others or where they have been. Now I am also doing what has been said about not feeding birds, I took down my feeders and birdbath. I hated doing it but since I am no expert on what is sadly happening to the birds I have to do what those that are in that field tell us to do. I think that today we cannot take anything for granted, better to be safe than sorry. My husband and I want to be around for my son and granddaughter so being safe is our motto, glad you and Don feel the same. God Bless you both.
hej, barbara m …
i will try to research it directly, but what is going on with birds and not feeding them? asking because i love nature and am in a family of bird-feeders.
hope you are well and safe!
kathy in iowa
I looked up not feeding birds – is this in Indiana, Barbara? That’s what I got from a Google search. I’m so sorry about what is happening to songbirds in your area. I hope they find what is causing the deaths soon.
Stay safe, Barbara.
Some think it is the poisons used to kill the cicada bugs and then the birds eat them and get sick, terrible. It is up and down the east coast or wherever the cicada bugs emerged from. Their eyes swell up and cause blindness and other horrible things before they die. Now I heard that some dogs eat the diseased birds, something my dogs never did, thank God, and they are getting sick. Hope they find out what it is that is causing it and a way to stop it. Prayers that all your birds you post about stay safe.
I live in Penna.
xo I saw a warning in Indiana as well.
It’s not happening here, nor did it happen seven years ago when we had a lot of cicadas. I don’t know why anyone would use a pesticide for cicadas. They’re only here for a short while. Those poor birds!
xo
I understand your hesitancy . Here in Minneapolis and St Paul the vaccination rate is very high but in the rural areas of Minnesota and even some outer suburbs the rate is much lower. In the metro area I have noticed that it is about 50/50 with regard to still wearing masks when out in public. Everyone I know is very concerned about the Delta variant. We just don’t have enough knowledge about it and it has been known to infect fully vaccinated people. I think that you and Don are making a good choice not to have in person visits with people who are travelling extensively. Just my 2 cents.
And there are so many maskless people out there. We have no proof that they’ve been vaccinated.
It really struck me that with friends traveling to California, Hawaii, Washington, and NYC) we have no way of tracking who they’ve been in contact with. That’s more uncertainly than I want in my life right now.
Stay safe, Carolyn Marie.
Completely agree with your post, Claudia, as well as how you & Don are handling the pandemic and yourselves.
Right there with you!
Yes, those of us continuing to wear masks and limit our interactions & exposure to others are increasingly in the minority. It hurts our hearts at times, but it’s better to be safe than suffer the consequences of contracting COVID-19 of any type.
Stay safe, stay well.
I completely agree, Amy.
Thank you.
Stay safe.
Claudia — understand these feelings re:virus. if we don’t take precautions, etc, to protect us, then who will. have to use some common sense. Mr/me still mask wherever we go, will no doubt do so in foreseeable future. living in farming community, my heart breaks for those Cal farmers who are struggling to survive — consumers need to be ready for $$ increases at markets, if anything makes it to maturity. really like the new painting even tho just beginning. hope you all take care to stay healthy, safe.
Oh yes, my heart breaks for farmers. The heat is unbearable and will ruin crops.
Thanks, Linda.
Stay safe.
Agree totally
I mask
I have not gone to church in person or anywhere else except groceries 8 am
There are some people who respond to blogs and they make fun of mask wearers and idolaters
They say not real
They blame the present administration
I just shake my head
Also do all those saying it is political- wonder why the world has suffered not just USA
Wear your mask
Do what you must
I don’t mind not seeing people Andy those who are out and about really are careful around me
Also these people are
Wrote mean comments will be old someday-maybe- and they might look back and be ashamed at what they have done.
Love your painting by the way
It shouldn’t be political. As Fauci said, the virus has no idea whether you’re Republican or Democrat.
Thanks, Brenda.
Stay safe.
I love the shape of the new pottery painting!
I am also very wary and anxious. I am still wearing a mask and am definitely in the minority which makes me feel uneasy, My husband is not always wearing a mask at work. He says if people say they are vaccinated it’s fine. I always have felt I was a trusting person but I know that people say what they need to say. So I worry.
We went to dinner Wednesday night, inside, no one was there and I was okay but as the place started to fill up I was so anxious we paid and left. Fortunately, we had finished our dessert! :) Feeling like I’m walking a tight rope. Logically, I know my state has 76% people vaccinated. Emotionally, I wish the mask rule was still in place. It was easier.
Someday this will end. Follow your heart and stay safe in your edge of the woods. <3
I don’t alway trust someone who says they’re vaccinated. I would have to know them well to be sure they’re telling the truth.
I feel the same way. If the mask rule was still in place, I’d be much more at ease.
Thanks, Betsy.
Stay safe.
i’ve been blessed to still have a job and be able to get groceries for family members for the past sixteen months … and that’s meant being around lots of people day after day, not knowing if they were/are sick or vaccinated or not (something i can’t ask at my job) … so some people might assume i am comfortable going into stores, standing around talking with people, masks or not, or that i should be …. but i am not that at all. i think my earliest feelings (when the pandemic first started) of fear and sadness just sunk in so deep and, combined with my love for my family and willingness to do anything to protect them, left me with very high walls and i am too exhausted to work on that right now. plus the news … like pfizer seeking fda approval for a third/booster shot, the variants, and the cdc and who making contradictory statements … and our governor lifted all – all – covid precautions like mask requirements and business capacities five months ago, people are acting like covid is all gone and more than half of the adults in my state are not vaccinated … all adds up to me continuing to wear a mask, maintain social distancing, etc.
i know i am not alone in feeling all this. kind of wish i was … if that meant things were truly all better and i was just being literally late to the party … but i don’t believe covid is done and gone yet (if ever … sorry to say that).
all that to say, i relate and agree with you, claudia, don and others. sorry you had to miss a special visit, but i applaud you for following your thoughts and feelings about this. i’m over here doing the same.
kathy in iowa
ps … i see the start of another great painting!
Yes, my sister has been working constantly throughout the pandemic. Long hours, visits to the homes of her patients. She can’t afford not to work, but it’s been worrying, especially as she lives in Florida. I was very relieved when she was fully vaccinated. I also don’t believe Covid is gone.
Thanks, Kathy.
Stay safe.
I spoke with an old friend today about the same subject, of what is overreaction and what is not. Of course we’re in Calif and we still have mask mandates or advisements/suggestions(?) here according to where you are although the state says we’re fully open. There’s still a lot of outdoor dining (some people don’t mind our very-hot weather here).
I was very uncomfortable this week for a several-hours medical procedure and I absolutely did not feel comfortable using a heavily-traffic’d, unisex bathroom. But everything else there was still in place, with the plexiglass enclosures for staff/front-office employees, the markings on the floors to distance yourself from other waiting patients, hardly any furniture in the lobby (so I spent a lot of time out at the car since there was nowhere to sit and I could not BELIEVE how busy this clinic was at 7am [eight patients before me already]); they absolutely required a mask before you entered the clinic. I kept mine on during the entire procedure.
But what my friend and I were speaking of, were things like continuing to see about 99.9 percent of people, of all ages, wearing masks in public-indoor spaces like stores; however, she can go to the community library now and, if she picks out a book to thumb thru from a shelf, she is allowed to put it back on the shelf instead of putting it on a separate table for disinfecting (before, they didn’t want the limited number of library visitors touching the same things). Travel was discussed and she could go anywhere where it’s okay to do so, because she’s retired now and has a substantial amount of money (no financial worries whatsoever; believe me, I have envy although I’m so glad for her!) but, bottom line, she doesn’t feel comfortable with it yet; doesn’t want to go anywhere. Many people are, though; my husband had to go out of town for a work assignment on Friday and he said the amount of traffic on the freeways for weekend-getaway was tremendous.
Alternatively, my aforementioned friend has been, I’ve felt, a little careless with workers coming into the home, even during the worst of 2020; she just had a lot of people over at her house for 4th of July weekend; wanted my husband and I to come over today but I declined as I really don’t know who she’s been around even though she THINKS they were all vaccinated (took them at their word); these were all out-of-towners, every last one of them.
Clearly everybody still has their own idea of what’s safe and what isn’t; that very-personal assessment of risk that may differ from someone else’s.
I worry that my husband is going too many places. Lots of different stores, like automotive, hardware, garden center, grocery, etc. He’s been on a plane; in airports (late June). He’s been out to eat in restaurants with a group of people at least four times in the past weeks. He’s also been interviewing for part-time jobs, so I fear it’s a lot of face-to-face contact in work establishments, too (although he’s masked except when eating). He’s less vulnerable than I am, but the guy has to live; he’s an extrovert; lockdown has been, when all is said and done, difficult for him. I’m more cautious because I have to be (health reasons), and I’ve felt too much of this with him is premature (I’ll admit it; I’m scared for myself when, for him, I feel he’s had a lot of exposure, so what might he bringing back home?).
What are you going to do if Don has a successful audition, gets a part; if he’s returning to a film set or going back into a theater, what are you two discussing about him being around other people (from all walks of life!) to that degree? Or if Darko wants to hire you-Claudia? (I’ve had to have these discussions with my husband; everything seems ‘iffy’ like wondering if he starts something, will he have to pull out if the virus cases keep exploding, and what will still feel safe for us vaccinated folks, or not?) Oh, I just re-read your post and you said you two are waiting for a couple more months before saying ‘yes’ to a job, right?
My friend and I talked about the feeling of there being too many unknowns about vax efficacy, the virus mutating or replicating or whatever you call it with the variants because not enough people in the U.S./world are vaccinated; is it possible we could go back into lockdown again in the U.S. ?
Etc./etc./etc.
So, when you-Claudia say this: “It may seem over-the-top, this reaction of ours, but in talking it through yesterday, it became very clear to me that there is much I am still uneasy about, that, after a year and a half of the pandemic, there are emotions beneath the surface that I’m just now acknowledging. Our home is our safe place.” You are absolutely not alone, Claudia. I am going EXACTLY thru what you are and so are other people, even if ideas/opinions slightly differ.
OMG, it was so sad to hear, but our neighbor, who we’ve really not seen to talk to since early in 2020, told us his mother was an early Covid victim in March of 2020. She had successfully put some sort of blood cancer into remission but a relative stopped by that she let into the house; he tested positive, having infected her from his OTO visit; she died in the hospital rather rapidly; only age 66 (he was younger and healthier; still alive; he was lucky). Only five people, back then, could go to her funeral (and this is a HUGE family; many, many relatives; she and her husband had six kids themselves). Clearly, she had the underlying medical issue along with the age factor; but we watched these people continue to gather for months after it was advised that we all distance from one another, and this was before there was any thought of vaccinations. She was a very nice woman, deeply religious and completely family-focused; I had many short conversations with her because she lived with the neighbor/adult son for ten years, so we had frequent ‘hellos’ in our comings/goings. Our neighbor/her son said she suffered greatly with the Covid infection, in the hospital (where she passed) and I’ve felt really badly about this since he talked to my husband; I wish it wasn’t how she had to die, especially after she’d fought so hard in her cancer battle and was doing so well.
My cousin (age 54), who died of Covid in early June, will now be buried this coming week (in Texas). Big family reunion I’m not traveling to, although there are those who will arrive from other states. The burial is on private land (allowed), so there will be no limit on people who want to attend. And then there will be a large catered dinner indoors; I don’t know the place; some kind of banquet hall to accommodate that many people. I just wonder who’ll be masked and who will not be, as I have a contingent of relatives in Texas who are totally anti-vax/anti-mask and have really never taken precautions to date. (I’m not bashing Texans; it’s my ancestry since the 1800s; my family; I used to live there, too, and I hope to visit again. Their governor, though, if you’ve read about him, just hasn’t imposed Covid mandates/’orders’ the way I wish he might have, to keep people safer.)
I’m not sorry I won’t be there; I’m still wrestling with emotions of anger/grief that my dead cousin (he was living in another state when he died, not Texas) refused to get vaccinated, not only losing his own life but leaving a trail of despair/bewilderment for everybody else who loved him (like his sister, his nephews, his uncles, his cousins like me; his three adult children; his five grandchildren; his many friends; his beloved, twelve ranch dogs; HIS WIFE). Frankly, I think it was SELFISH that he wouldn’t get the vaccination (he was totally into conspiracy theories; his convictions were rooted in politics; unbelievable to me, as he was such an intelligent man [a highly-successful businessman/entrepreneur; it’s just such a waste of life; he had YEARS left to enjoy]). How can we even know if/how many people he infected before he wound up in the hospital, never to get out again?
I echo you, “Oh, these are strange and unsettling times.” Which is why I stay home. I’m so glad I have a safe place to ‘be’.
We need to work. And both of us have said we’ll take work if it’s offered. Protocols are still in place on sets and in the theater. That’s not to say the thought of actually going into a rehearsal room or on a set doesn’t worry us, but we’ve been without work for a year and half. We have to work. Darko has already contacted me about a few days work on a new tour of Anastasia. I said yes, if the producers okay it. But it makes me nervous. We are waiting a couple of months in terms of visiting people, not in terms of work.
Thanks, Vicki.
Stay safe!
Okay, I misunderstood. But, yes, what I in fact DO understand is the need to pick up some paid work during retirement. I wish I was healthy enough that I could do some part-time work outside of the home (for seniors) but I’m not. So, it’s left to my spouse. Which is why my husband is having to take on some freelance jobs; he’ll hear about another permanent, part-time position tomorrow in fact; it’ll tie him up three days per week.
Clearly not everyone in the fixed-income years is as comfortable and ‘well off’ as others. My husband and I are definitely struggling financially unlike almost everybody else we know. Like, I have some friends who just took out another friend for an occasion of congrats, and the tab was $360 for 3 people (it included wine). I simply can’t do things like that (never did). The person deserving the kudos got a congratulatory greeting card from me, and that’s all I can do. I feel lucky that we can afford our supplemental medical and prescription drug coverage; I’m glad we have paid-up insurance policies for long-term health care. I’m glad we can afford our medicines and food; that we can feed our dog and get her veterinary care in her old age. That I can afford to pay the electrical bill when we’re running the central air conditioning so much in these Southern Calif heatwaves (and the bill is high). My city bill for sewer and water is always over $200 a month, despite our greatly-decreased water usage due to the drought and shortages. Our premiums for homeowners’ insurance and FEMA’s requirement that we get flood insurance are much too high and will only get higher due to the insurers feeling all of us Californians in high-risk-for-wildfire areas are, well, risky bets.
Still, so many gratitudes, for even being alive! But there’s nothing left over, and any spare dime has to go toward home improvements because we’re in an old house. (Add it to the gratitude list: Big mortgage for life, but the gift of owning, after too many years of renting.)
We recently celebrated over 30 years of marriage (came late for us; husband was nearing middle age with me not far behind) and the most we did to honor our special day in 2021 was take a drive to the beach (our favorite thing; love our Pacific O) but it was a ‘free’ outing except for the car’s gasoline. You just learn to be content with less. But, I dunno, since this pandemic and lockdown (and maybe age?), I’ve learned the lesson with even more emphasis. I crave ‘simple’. “Less” and “simple” kinda go hand in hand. It’s actually freeing and can be a lot more calming.
I agree with everything. We’re in the same boat, as you know. It’s a struggle but, as you say, we’re making it and we love our life and are grateful for what we have.
xo
Claudia, I feel many of us missed the mark with our comments, including me. It’s right in your title….emotional. My husband had coffee with 2 friends, outside, for the 1st time in over a year. He returned home giddy and excited and alive. After a day, he began to question if he had been smart. This week he didn’t join them because our city is a covid sesspool. He was depressed by that. An emotional roller coaster for him as well. We need face to face with friends and your decision sounded heartbreaking.
Thank you, Verna. I completely understand your husband’s delayed reaction. It’s a constant checking and rechecking, worrying and regretting. It is indeed heartbreaking.
xoxo
I absolutely understand that. I’m very big on the mask. Up here in the north, I’ve seen about five to eight of them on shoppers and only one in a store (including the pharmacy). The woman in the kitchen store said she wore hers because of the customers and wanting her customers to feel comfortable shopping there as well as her own protection. If a shop is small and uncrowded I may skip it but if there is any sense of crowd or lack of store precautions, it’s the mask for me. When we went to the hospital for Rick this week, they made us wear their own masks, which I appreciated. I will probably go to an October (outdoor) wedding of my favorite nephew (I know, you shouldn’t have favorites) but I will also mask. I’m very careful about with whom I hang out, either with mask or distance. The variants — they worry me tremendously.
They worry me as well.
Thanks, Jeanie.
Stay safe!