We all have our own personal stories - my story is no more or less than others and the pandemic has affected all of us in different ways. Trips and major events have been canceled, weddings have been postponed, large get-togethers are still a no-no and it's not business as usual. But this IS a pandemic, and while vaccinations are underway, the virus isn't going away anytime soon. It can get down right fucking depressing.
The year has been tough. I live far from my parents and my siblings and it has been over a year since seeing any of them. I've got people all over, from Nova Scotia to California, and from Florida to Ontario and places in between. This causes quite a bit of emotional turmoil and I am also going through menopause, oh good. Bring on the hot flashes and mood swings and for godsakes if you value your life you will turn down the fucking heat!!!!! Top that all up with a new dose of vertigo and hearing loss.....basically I am fucked.
So is there anything good?
Yes.
Yes there is.
Yes it sucks AND yes there are some good things that have come out of it.
Here are my top 10 in no particular order.
Where we live
We are lucky to live in a place where vaccinations are available for the public. I received my first Pfizer shot last week and remember thinking how grateful I am to live in this country. As I sat for my 15 minutes after my shot, I thought how grateful I am for my family and friends; to all healthcare workers, whether on the frontlines or behind the scenes; for all administrative staff in hospitals; and grateful for Science and all those involved in the vaccination process from start to finish.
Curbside pick-up
This feature should never go away! I love the ability and choice to NOT have to go into a store, whether it is Home Depot, the local pharmacy for a medication pick up, or Walmart. To go to the parking lot, have prime parking and text someone that you are "here!" is awesome! You open your trunk, they load your junk, you drive home. Done. Nuff said!
Online shopping
This has been a thing long before the pandemic, but shopping has never been so easy and fun! I have never loved mall shopping (still love cute little one-off shops especially in our lovely Inglewood). But to order online has been amazing. I love how local shops have this too (we love ordering from the Best of Calgary) and we don't always have to order from Amazon! Returns are easy, shopping is not limited to work hours and it can be just fun. I may have developed a slight addiction, but it ebbs and flows. And speaking of flow......Market Wines has free delivery within Calgary! Yes!
Wash your hands and no spitting on my cake!
These both just make good sense! Wash your hands...before cooking, after the bathroom, before and after anything, just wash your hands and carry hand sanitizer everywhere! Sing along to your 20 second song! And regarding the cake thing....who ever liked eating the spit-glistening icing anyway? Or did we just never think about it? Well, it's out there now, so lets just give the birthday person their own cupcake and let them blow on that and I can just get my own, clean cupcake thanks!
Virtual Health
I am amazed at how fast things went from all in-person to the ability to zoom with patients. Working in healthcare, this has been huge! I also love that physicians are making phone calls as this did not happen as often before. Having the option to do your appointment by phone or zoom is something that will be here to stay. For sure virtual visits do not replace the value of an in-person visit, but for patients and their families it gives them flexibility to still proceed with the appointment if it is difficult for whatever reason to make the commute. A win-win for everyone!
Family Time
My two university kids were virtual for most of the year and it was even though it was tough, we did get a lot of family time. We played games - tried Monopoly (still a no-go as fights can break out), but loved Code Names, Sushi Roll, King of Tokyo, Poker and Dealers Choice. We had some awesome fireside chats outdoors with good wine and good laughs. We had a few family activities like skating on Gap Lake, and driving with my husband to watch the sunrise at Moraine Lake which had more parking than usual as there are no tour busses. Spending this time together was not always perfect, but it was excellent, and I will cherish these memories and hold them close to my heart.
Netflix and Prime and Disney, Oh My!
So in a word. Bridgerton. But watched lots of great shows including Bridgerton. Did I mention Bridgerton? Seriously though, we watched Mandalorian, Killing Eve, Schitts Creek, Wanda Vision and more. Plus don't forget to tune in for Season 4 of Handmaid's Tale starting up right around the corner! I did not watch the Tiger King (I tried!) but loved having our Marvel Marathon, and rewatching the classic Star Wars Movies and a few Disney flicks too - Lilo and Stitch is a family favorite! So much fun to snuggle in with a bowl of popcorn, a loved one and a furry friend! A great way to help carry us through and spend time together.
WFH
Whether you are Working From Home or Working-Out From Home, the same benefits apply. Stumble out of bed, grab coffee, a quick shower and dress up from the waist up (sweats on!) and you can be at work in less than 30 minutes. Same with workouts. Stumble out of bed, grab my workout stuff, stumble to the basement and in less than 10 minutes I am ready with my yoga mat and water bottle. No commute in the morning is Bliss, especially on snow days! I know that the WFH may change, but hoping to have a balance of GTFO (go-to-the-fucking-office) and WFH. Zen.
Pet World!
I love my dog. Not only has she embraced quarantine, she now knows the world revolves around her even more than it did before. My people are here all the time!!!!! That means they want to play fetch all the time! Yay!!! This does come with more whining (especially around meal times) and more sad looks when we can't play (WFH - see above), but when you factor in an extra dog walk at lunchtime, it is pretty great!
The Camera Loves You!
Zoom Zoom! I know that we all have zoom-fatigue but with my family living all over the globe, it has been my saviour. I see my mom everyday, and I love it. I have even seen my dad a few times on Zoom, which was amazing as he prides himself on not knowing how to email people. For sure Zoom, or Facetime or Whatsapp video do not and will not ever replace the hugs, but having this ability with my family and my in-laws has been awesome. We did a murder mystery with our friends at Christmas, and have done several zoom birthday parties, and while I can't wait for the big gathering to celebrate everything we missed, I am grateful that we have remained together and connected during this time apart.
Gratitude is powerful.
Feel the bad and sad, always embrace the good and joy.
Gratitude is powerful.
