Tough Days and Silver Linings

I suspect you may have had some tough days in the last weeks.  We have our “I miss…” lists, the events we’ve had to forgo for the time being. And I'm sure we all hope that “temporary” has a closer rather than longer end-date. 

Those of us living in high-density areas have to wipe down all of the door handles going to get the mail and back, and disinfect the shared laundry facilities. 

Here is the line we're waiting in to get into Trader Joe's. There are two people in front of us, and the rest behind us. 

Nobody I know can gather with their book clubs, or church congregations (although it is nice listening to a sermon whenever we feel like it, and I don’t have to act friendly on Sunday mornings). And I really, really, miss talking to Willow and getting hugs. 

One the other hand, I don’t worry about getting laid off because I’m retired. The government could quit sending my social security checks, but that would take an act of congress and we know how hard that is to get!

I’ve found my “silver lining” from a relaxed schedule and reduced responsibilities. (And did you know the phrase originated with John Milton, the brilliant, blind, and too hard-to-read English poet who lived nearly 400 years ago?)

1) I have large periods of uninterrupted time for writing. I set a goal to finish the third draft of our cult testimony.  Instead of working on a chapter here and there, I divided the manuscript into chunks and made revising my only goal for the day.  Shazam, it felt like magic. This week I re-worked the order, cut some passages, and smoothed out awkward spots.

I’m also building a website, and will move this blog to a new address by June first. The new address will allow you to easily leave comments, which has been a drawback with this site.  

2)   Since my last blog I began physical therapy for the left arm. It's the outing of the week. I took my violin with me recently and showed the therapist what I could reach, and what I needed to reach. She adapted some stretches to gently move my left hand and arm in the direction they need to go. Now I can press down three fingers on three strings--that's 75% of the way to my goal. 

Since I could only practice with my bowing arm I've see improvement in bow control and tone. Wow, that’s huge, and I never would have focused so intensely on the right arm if the left hadn’t been injured. 

You might not relate to my goal-setting, but I know you can make a list of the silver linings from the COVID lifestyle change. Try to leave a comment, or send me an email, and I’ll make a list of the good things that have come from your quarantine, no matter how soft or severe it’s been. 

I hope to see you face to face sometime in 2020. That includes you in North Carolina, and other scattered locales.