Raise your hand if you’re over it!! Done. I tell you. DONE!!

It’s almost laughable to think back at ourselves in the spring, when stay-at-home orders grounded us. We had such high hopes for ourselves, didn’t we? Closets would be so clean. Windows too. And, that linen closet—-yes, every sheet folded. Cooking more at home. Check. More time with family. Check. Able to read a book. Check. 

We checked all the boxes. Then what??? It wasn’t over in three weeks or eight weeks or even six months, like we thought. We’re still dealing with this! I know, it’s not “stay at home” but we’re limited, right? We’re operating at half-capacity. 

Maybe it’s just me. Is it? Or are you feeling it too? Almost eight months into this thing and I don’t even care about cleaning out my closet. I would be completely happy if someone came in and took everything. After all, I’m not wearing it!!! I’m still not going anywhere to speak of. Well, yes, there’s the occasional doctor’s appointment. And grocery store. But who dresses up for that? I’m back at church for an hour on Sunday, sitting on the back row, with a mask. (I never leave the house without lipstick, but now, why bother??) I’m trying to be mindful. I’m in that “age” bracket that has to be mindful and I’m with my mom who is 89 a lot of the time, so I’m doubly mindful. Grandkid events have slowed way down. No sporting events, no choral performances, no speaking engagements, no travel, no parties. We’ve gone to the movie once, but no one was there. I wore the sweatpants and sweatshirt I had slept in the night before. Sad. I know. 

I describe myself as in extroverted introvert. I think that means I enthusiastically, but quietly love to do things. LOL I love to go and do and see and be a part of things, so this sitting still thing has been a challenge to me. For all of us “goers.” 

I’m seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, I think. Louisiana just moved into Phase 3. We have no idea what that means, but we’re told it’s progress. Should we believe everything we’re told? I think not. Football is scheduled to start in October, but we’re unsure of who or how many can attend. I can only hope I make the cut, but doubtful, as none of my grands plays football. And no cheerleaders this year. I have an eight year old nephew with a baseball game on Saturday. It will be played two hours away, but I’ll try to go, just to see something played. 2 papa will agree to go because there’s food involved and he always travels for food. I travel for sports; he travels for food. It’s how we roll. 

Basketball is around the corner. My favorite season. It’s indoors, so I’m beginning to panic that indoors will not allow spectators. I do have a basketball-playing grandson, so keeping my fingers crossed. Plus, it’s after the election, so maybe all this will settle down by then. Oh, yeah, we have two events in October—one in Houston and one in Gatlinburg. Getting excited to have to find “something to wear.” Maybe I’ll look in my closet. 

The weird thing about all of this, for me, at least, is we’re missing markers that tell us time has moved on. It’s strange to me that this is the middle-end of September, because the normal markers of seeing school events and other things that mark the beginning of fall haven’t happened, (I haven’t even been to Hobby Lobby. What?) It’s just all-of-a-sudden September, with no warning, and soon it will be October, then Thanksgiving and Christmas and we’ll all be screaming, “Slow down! We’re not ready!” Really?? Yes, I guess we will. For as slow as we think time is moving, it’s moving too fast. 

I have two great-grandbabies. I love watching them grow. Like all grandmas, I say things like, “He’s so smart. Babies don’t do that at that age.” But, some do and some don’t. I know that. Human development happens differently for each person, but enough alike that our new mommas have books to tell them what to expect and when. That’s also worrisome, isn’t it? When we’re told a marker should be made, but it’s not. Of course, these books try to cover their tracks by giving a range of months. For instance, a baby between four and nine months should start sitting alone. That’s only five months, but in baby time, that’s a long time. In other words, be excited if it happens at four months, then worry if not by nine or ten. Maybe?

Anyway, hitting markers helps us define time and, since March, we’ve missed many markers, so September is a bit of a surprise. To me, at least. But, here we are. Fall is right around the corner with cooler temperatures and pumpkin everything. I guess I need to go to Hobby Lobby to mark the beginning of fall, so Thanksgiving doesn’t take me by surprise.

What are your thoughts? Are you starting to get out more? Do you feel like you’ve missed some markers?

I would love some feedback.