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Naperville
Friday, March 29, 2024

Real Life – Report from home base

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Time in a pandemic seems to stretch endlessly, yet disappears in the blink of an eye.

Our early days here in Florida were busy enough, but that was before “sheltering in place” entered our vocabulary.

We hunkered down ahead of many snowbirds in Naples. This was not because we were told to, but all signs pointed to the wisdom of avoiding whatever could be coming our way.

It’s been hard. No news there. But I remind myself that we are lucky.

My home office is a screened porch overlooking a pond, from which a giant fountain spouts natural noise that competes with the ever-present hum of air conditioners. My co-workers are bass, egrets, herons and turtles. They are a quiet bunch, but a soothing distraction, nevertheless. 

I started structuring this new reality with a to-do list of good intentions. Maybe if I were home, I would actually be “getting things done.” It turns out, getting things done is not as essential to me as I used to think. Just “being” seems to have its merits, too.

I have, however, learned a thing or two. 

Most importantly, it appears that subconscious trepidation about forces unseen compete with my ability to read dense books. I brought a stack of these, but so far, have just read something more light on my Kindle. 

Newspapers, however, are an exception. I gobble The New York Times, and upped our subscription to seven days a week. It’s nice to have it waiting in the driveway every morning. An anchor, and a touch of the familiar, it seems to help.

I have been on Zoom, FaceTime group chats, Google Hangout, and webinars. Instacart and curb-side pick-ups have become standard, too.  I even ordered postage stamps online. One day, they may even arrive.

In this slower world, I am writing more, thinking more, and missing my family and friends more.

Alone, together.

Mustering resilience, we will soldier on. (c)

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Patti Koltes
Patti Koltes
Real Life © by Patti Koltes. Contact her at pkoltes@gmail.com.

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