It's about time I went on a good...

rant, don't you think? This positivity has got to CRACK sometime.

I am wearing glasses taped up with masking tape, because one arm is broken. I look like a redneck! My hair is all over the place, too long to do anything with it, but NOT long enough to tie it up and out of the way.

I am still shoveling ICY snow off my lawn. I am still wearing winter coats, tuques and mittens when I go walking.

My time is spent eating, or deciding what I am going to eat. I have gained five pounds, in spite of walking on average, over 10 km a day!  No one has been in my house for over two months, and I haven't been in anyone else's even longer than that.  I haven't given or received a hug in over two months.

I can't bubble with my elderly mother, because I am afraid she is just too susceptible to any and all infectious diseases. Plus get this? She NEVER gets the flu shot.

Poor Vimy was attacked again, by another neighbour's dog, who just doesn't like him. Thank God the owners rushed out of their driveway, to pull that B%?&? off Vimy, who defended himself while still on his leash.  My brave SIL who is so tiny, tried to separate the two of them. Can you imagine? Anyway, no harm done but the other dog had a touch of blood on her neck. My Vimy was fine. Again, his harness protected him. Anyone who knows Vimy, knows what a sweetie he is and he would NEVER attack anyone or anything. 

This week, I came back from shopping in two stores, and as soon as I got home I had an anxiety attack. I haven't had one of those in MONTHS. I can't remember the last one. It was probably caused by one man repeatedly tailing me down an aisle in one store.  I felt like I was being stalked.  I practically ran down the aisle, up the next, and back down the aisle I had been in, so I could respectively stay six feet behind him, because he certainly didn't know HOW to do that.  A woman in the second store, got upset with me, when I wouldn't let her take a shortcut by me to go down an aisle, because (A) she would be going in the wrong direction of the arrow, and (B) she would have had to get quite close to me, and I wouldn't let her. She strutted off muttering, "WHATEVER!"  Yeah, whatever is right.

THAT WAS ALL THE BAD!

However, ALL THAT isn't bad. It's just life.  I am healthy and everyone in NB is too!  Some restrictions have been lifted.  I am not mourning the senseless murder of a loved one, nor do I have to deal with a flooded home, or the loss of someone in a horrific crash.  I am fed, clothed and housed like a queen, in comparison to many. The sorrows of Canadians seem never ending, but again, we are still fortunate to be Canadians.  We are grateful too ... survey SAID... a full thirty-five percent, when questioned about this pandemic, replied above all, that they were GRATEFUL.  That about sums it up for me... in SPITE of my rant.  😃😃😃

Well... it didn't take me long to get stopped by the police!!

Colline de bine!  My Witchy SIL and I went walking along the railway tracks one blustery day this week, each on opposite sides, NOT on the ties, and respecting social distancing by even more than six feet. As we came to the end of the path, and were upon the cement sidewalk where passsengers disembark, there was a lovely police cruiser and there stood a really cute police officer waiting for us. YIKES!  We were quite surprised because his presence had been blocked by a large commercial building.

Well, thankfully, he educated us and did not fine us $128.00 ea. You can be sure I thanked him for that, with those exact words.  Our education on that walk?  YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED to walk along railway tracks, folks. That's it, that's all. You aren't even allowed to cross them.  Students up the hill at CCNB, taking a shortcut? You risk getting caught and fined.  So spread the word please. I, unfortunately, did not NOTICE any signs posted, but the big cement barriers all along the parking, preventing pedestrian access to the Via Rail property, should have been a tip-off I guess. So I admit, much to my chagrin.

What HAVE I NOTICED, since I have been out of self-isolation? I have noticed quite a few things.

People in my neighbourhood, cross the street rather than cross each other.  A father jogs beside his bicycle riding son.  Whole families I have never seen before, are taking a stroll together. On Easter Monday morning, at 8:00 am, my walk was totally and eerily silent, no cars, no people, and would have been utterly silent except for the chirping of the songbirds.

I have noticed a lot more young people working in retail.  Their parents must be so anxious. 

I have noticed encouraging rainbow signs in windows, mostly all bilingual; they make me smile. 

I have noticed that many of us, me included, are on a very steep learning curve when it comes to following the direction of the arrows on the floor in most stores.

I have noticed so many people jumping in to help in the best way they know how. Case in point?  My eighty six year old mother made face masks for ALL her children, inlaws, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, with a few extra to give to friends and neighbours.  She stopped when she ran out of fabric and elastic.

I have noticed that many of us have learned to do video messaging.  If my mother can, so can you.

I have noticed that I can know WHICH day it is, but NOT the date.  Never both at the same time anyway.

I have noticed that if I vacuum just the entrance where Vimy and I bring in the dirt from outside, the rest of the house seems clean too, which is g*r*e*a*t!

I have noticed that I still haven't cleaned out my laundry room.  I have come to the realization that if I don't get around to doing it during a GLOBAL pandemic and lockdown, I probably won't EVER get around to it.


I have noticed that if I don't take the time to label leftovers, I will put a sharp cheddar cheese sauce as a topping on my carrot muffin, thinking it is cream cheese icing!  Easy to do when you have little to no sense of smell, and only realize the taste isn't sweet when you put it in your mouth. 

WHAT HAVE YOU NOTICED?

No... I am NOT...

learning to play a musical instrument, like my friend Tracy. No, I am NOT learning another language. Mastering the ones I do speak is ENOUGH, thank you. No, I am NOT turning into a gourmet chef, for me, myself and I. No, I do NOT have some wonderful daily routine that I blitz through every day, unless you count having a glass of wine with dinner, SANS FAUTE, every night.  NO, I am NOT doing a ton of spring cleaning... plueeeze!

NO, every day is VERY much unstructured, unplanned, and unknown.  That takes some getting used to, for this very organized old lady.  

I realize though that I have incorporated a few NEW activities into THIS new way of life we are ALL living.  

YES, I reach out for daily social contact through all the technology that permits us to do this, and for that I am truly, truly grateful.  Being able to see and hear my granddaughter Sophie giggle as she scampers down the road with her Easter basket, was the greatest blessing. 

YES, so when I have to go to stores, I thank EVERY single essential worker I meet, saying "Thank you for working so that we can all eat!" That's what it truly all boils down to. I am sure at one point I will end up standing on the side of Highway 11 with a sign, thanking all truckers who drive by, for the tremendous work they do in keeping our food supply chain working.  

YES, as I try to give to those who have less, no matter how small the gesture. Yesterday, it was to a man who kept looking at the coins in his hand, then going to look at the candy counter, walking away, counting his money, and doing this several times.   I scrummaged in my purse and found all my loose change which amounted to a whopping $4, and called out to him several times, from across more than six feet. "Monsieur?  Monsieur?"  All to no avail. When I switched to "Sir?", he heard me and turned around.:)  I deposited the change in a bin, indicating he should take it. The look of gratitude and surprise on his face, was the only thanks I neeeded. 

YES, to the gratitude I feel because I can pay all my bills and do not have the financial insecurity that so many Canadians have. 

YES, to how fortunate I am to live in Atlantic Canada, where wide open spaces, our own single family dwellings, powerful family ties, a compassionate "we look out for each other" attitude, and a strong, prescient government that had the foresight and fortitude to close all senior residences to visitors long before other provinces did... has spared us the sorrow and heartache that our fellow citizens have felt elsewhere in Canada.  NB has yet to have have a single death attributed to this horrific virus. 

Yes, to looking into this unknown abyss, and having faith, love and hope that we shall ALL get through this.  On va s'en sortir. 💝💝💝

This NEW normal is a bit of a shock...

to the system.  I must admit I had braced myself, having been given lots of tips and information as to how my city had changed in the last six weeks, but ... it still shook me up a bit.

On one hand, some things seemed the same, like the amount of traffic on the old road.  I was surprised, seeing as I thought everyone was supposed to be HOME, except for essential workers. Well, on my FIRST day I had to go out to get supplies.  That was my excuse. My first stop was NBLC, to buy wine of course. I hadn't run out, but I wanted to make sure I kept my wine cellar well stocked, just in case.  Well, the big black arrows everywhere, the interrogation by the employee the minute I walked in, as to how long I had been back in NB, to the day, respecting the 14 day confinement, put me a little on the defensive, as I rattled off the date of my first day of self-isolation. Whew! They are serious, and they SHOULD be!! Once I got over my surprise, seeing as I was asked more questions HERE than when I landed at Pearson in Toronto on March 22nd, from Tokyo... I did my shopping, turning around in every aisle if I saw someone was already there. 

I knew I was going to wear a mask, to protect OTHERS, so OUT came all my BUFFS... one for every day of the work week. Never mind I look like a bandit, I don't give a tinker's toot!  I couldn't sew my way out of a paperbag, but I can wear a buff MANY ways. They work better though, when you wear them like a balaclava, since they don't slip.  For now buffs will do until I watch that video on how to make a homemade mask with a bandana.  I am SO NOT a DIY, I will probably have to watch the video ten times.  

I used to be a volunteer driver for the CTC, taking people to doctor's appointments, the hospital for tests, etc. Picking up passengers is no longer possible, because of the threat of spreading the virus, but I CAN pick-up and deliver groceries and prescriptions, so I start doing that tomorrow. I can't wait to pay-it-forward and to feel useful - our entire world is in crisis and we will get through this if we all take care of ourselves, and others, in the best and safest way we know how.

THIS IS MY NEW TO-DO LIST!

Try to laugh every day!

 Don't be hard on yourself or others.

Take it one day at a time.
Try to limit your practical to-do list to five things.

Eat well.  That's why I had veggies with dip for lunch, and a Pop Tart.  Get some exercise outside. That's why I walked thirteen kilometres yesterday and could barely roll out of bed this morning, I ached all over. Get enough sleep even if you have to nibble on a cannibis cookie.
MOST importanty, nourish your heart and soul in ways that comfort you and

reach out to others, via phone, messaging, texts, video, social media, Facetime, Skype,... you name it. 
Social distancing only means PHYSICALLY! 

. 
So far... so good. I am still sane. 
You?

DAY 12 - WHO DO I MISS THE MOST?

Today, in this the twelfth day of my self-isolation, it is the children, the kids, the wees ones, the darlings, the sweethearts, the gems who make my day, every day that I am able to go to school and replace their teacher that day. I hope they are all doing well... getting outside a bit, reading,  socializing online with their friends, spending quality time with Mom and Dad, and being loved and cared for in the best way possible.

Here are a few "one liners" that I picked up in the new year, before our world fell apart. As usual, they are too cute for words.

When I was locked outside with a Kindergarten class, one little one suggested I call 991!

Another one did a little dance, and stated, "These are MY moves!"

"What's your mother's name and your father's name?" I asked one child.  Well, my Mom's name is MOM and my Dad's name is DAD! (Ask a stupid question!)

Liam - Madame, I need a poon!

Hurrying up a few lollygaggers in the cafeteria, so they could get out for lunch recess, one little fellow looked up at me a little indignantly and said, "We were having a conversation here!"  Man, they crack me up!

Handing out agendas at the end of the day, Gary held up his hand, "That's my Vgenda."  Whew, scared me for a minute.  :)

Our wastepaper basket was overflowing in this Kindergarten class, so I stepped into it with my two feet, to tramp it all down. "Why did you step in the garbage can? That's disgusting!"  "Yuk!" added another bystander. 

Si je me suis répétee, tant pis! If I have repeated some of these stories, too bad. They can be just as cute the second time around, don't you think? Here's hoping come the fall, that we will be back in the classroom. Namaste.