This winter season feels as if it will never end. I know many people feel the same way. We’ve been dealing with this pandemic for a year now, and it’s been almost a year since I went to work. One year ago today I was out to lunch with a group of childhood friends and when we were saying our goodbyes we vowed to get together once a month. It hasn’t happened due to the COVID related restrictions. Maybe in a few months we can do it again, but it remains to be seen how comfortable everyone is with getting together. I think that it’s going to take some time before I’m able to put potential health risks aside and enjoy a gathering of people I don’t live with. I’m hoping for some type of family gathering for Easter, but it remains to be seen if all parties involved will be up for it. It’s been months since I have seen anyone besides supermarket and pharmacy workers or medical professionals in person. It’s been longer than that since I’ve seen someone’s entire face.
The snow
storms have come nearly one every few days and a couple of them lasted two or three
days. The roads around here have been
narrowed by snowbanks and driving through an intersection became a test of
faith weeks ago. The weariness of snow clearing is showing in how early we fall
asleep and how achy our bodies are. It’s
tough clearing the cobwebs out of my head in the morning when all is gray and dark. I find myself turning on as many lights as
possible in the house during the day just to feel awake. We did have a couple of days featuring
sunshine and temperatures in the low 40’s which helped whittle away some of the
collected snow before the next storm blew in and dumped copious amounts of the
frozen white stuff on us. It felt good
on those more temperate days to go outside and walk in the driveway in the sun
for a few minutes. The one good thing is
that as we head toward the end of winter, even if the air remains cold the sun
gets a little stronger every day. I find
that standing in the warm sun gives me hope that soon we will be able once again
to spend some time outdoors without bundling up and shivering.
As I
hibernate here in my house during this long, lonely winter I spend my time (in
between caring for my daughter) alternately reading and watching crime dramas.
Shoveling snow actually began to feel good while I was doing it because it was
something different and got me outside for a little while. I will be very glad when at last the snow
melts and I can carry a chair to the patio to enjoy an afternoon outside
reading or visiting with friends and family, and listening to music. Come on spring!
