Feest Isolation Days – 22 April
Our lovely friends who live a ten minute walk across the Downs needed fizzy water. While most of what they need comes back from the shops after an early morning walk, carrying heavy bottles of water is a step too far. Mr. Waitrose obliged. Our delivery arrived from there yesterday and we carefully washed everything and put it all away or left it in the hall for any virus to deteriorate before it hit the store cupboard. This is becoming a routine and we are getting quite used to. It was good to be able to supply some water to our friends and it gave me the perfect opportunity to take my car out for a spin. I haven’t driven anywhere in it for forty or so days and it needed a good run. That’s my excuse anyway. I also needed to get out and be in the world for a minute or ten. Safely ensconced in my car, I was able to do that. The world is a spring fest and quite beautiful. The sun is shining and the sky is perfectly blue. The Downs are filled with too many people to easily socially distance so we’ll save walking there for rainy days when no one else is interested. There weren’t too many cars, but plenty of cyclists.
For the first time since the twenty mile an hour speed limit was introduced in Bristol, I wasn’t grouchy about it. I drove slowly and stayed under the limit for the entire drive. The grocery stores all had long queues, but none of the butcher shops or vegetable shops I passed did. I wasn’t out for long, but it was enough. Social creatures sometimes need to be amongst others. I spoke to no one on my drive, yet had exchanges with other drivers. The friendly flashing of headlights to say thanks for letting someone pass happened twice. There was a young man on a side road sitting on top of a digger, shirtless and sporting an excellent tan. He moved his machine so I could pass and gave me the thumbs up when he thought it possible. He had gorgeous blue eyes and rippling muscles. You notice this sort of thing when you haven’t seen people for a while.
Life does feel as it has slowed down way below twenty miles an hour at the moment. It won’t go back to a normal speed for quite some time. When the virus is somehow contained by whatever means that will be, we will go out again regularly. Those of us who have lived through this time will no doubt always be hand washers and leery of anyone who coughs in our presence. I wore gloves to take the water out of the car, sanitised them when I’d finished, then removed them and used another sanitizer on my hands. When I got home I washed my hands. There will no doubt be all sorts of routines and practices that we’ll take into the next phase of our lives.
What is important is that we live our lives. Now, today, each day, we can’t wait until things get back to “normal”. We have to find those moments that give us joy in our day, and not get discouraged when we get bored or sad or feel down. It’s going to happen. When they occur, dig deep. Look for those surprises that touch you, and ladies! Put that make up on. It helps. Perhaps a friend needs some water and you could take a little drive? Worked for me!
A little video of something surprising. Enjoy!
And….. a thought….
With love
Kathy x