Day by day things are changing in miniscule and massive ways it seems. Especially in this pandemic state we find ourselves living in. It is like spring changing in small ways day by day. And then one morning the tree outside your window is a burst of color.
Blossoms unfurl their petals. Trees turn blossoms into fruit. Grass pushes through the earth to create a bright green lawn. Buds are everywhere. Future blossoms on camellias, rhododendrons, azaleas, hydrangeas, peonies, tulips, daffodils, and more.
Some of the day by day changes aren’t so lovely as these. Let’s pull out a random change—I pick grocery shopping! Right about now I hate grocery shopping. Since Bob and I fall into an “at risk” category, our state guidelines suggest we stay home. This means ordering online to pickup what we need at Fred Meyer, the local Kroger-owned store. The store seems to have its system well organized and operating efficiently. For me, it is the ordering part that’s driving me a nuts.
About the time I have the order ready, something else pops up that we need. I rush to the computer to add it to our list. That happens again, again, and again. Then it’s the hassle of finding an open delivery date and time. Sometimes it can take several days to get locked in. Then the day scheduled for pick up arrives. You receive a text message letting you know what they’ve substituted or didn’t have at all! But the pickup itself is always a pleasant experience otherwise.
How much longer do I have to do this? Will I ever grow accustomed to it? It all rests on the restrictions set by our state government as COVID-19 peaks and flattens. We understand the opening of Oregon and its businesses will go slowly based on many matrices.
I’ve adopted a day by day process, doing what I can in the hours I’m awake and on my feet. That includes personal matters relating to taxes, estate planning, retirement funds, and more. The “more” includes household chores and cooking rather than writing and social media. AND continuing PT exercises at home.
I had wanted to restart my newsletter at the end of March, but didn’t quite focus on it enough to make it happen. For me, there’s a sense of being out of mind and body some days.
Coping with a change in the world around us is never easy. We are not always comfortable with change, especially sudden change. Even though life will return to the way it was, or almost, it is hard to accept the now as what some call the “new normal.” This isn’t the normal I want for my life.
Yet penetrating through these days is a light. If we cling to that light, a special Light, we will find our way back to some semblance of what we used to call normal. Life may or may not go back to exactly what it was. My hope is that we’ll be something better than we were before. It’s possible.
Spring flowers can be constant in coloring for two or three years. The next spring they may evolve into a different color. Isn’t it possible to hope we can change for the better?

Featured image attribution: Phyllis Nagels on Unsplash
Ah yes, the online grocery shopping – we just had our first order delivered. Today I got up at 5:30 am to snag a new delivery date 2 weeks from now. It’s a new way of thinking and doing.
Barb, so glad someone else has jumped into the online grocery shopping fray. Good luck!
It’s pretty good!
Thanks. Hope in the midst of change! <3 We lost more than 50 trees during our recent snow/ice storm (resulting in a 5 day power outage), yet the daffodils are ready to bloom. Grateful! Thanks for the heads-up on online shopping–we've yet to experience that challenge, but I'll get a list going.
Bette, sorry for the loss of your trees, but so glad your daffodils stepped up and presented you with blooms. Hoping you don’t have to experience the grocery challenge online. Stay safe and healthy!
Oh my dear Sherry, I am praying for you. I am blessed to have a son be able to go to the grocery store for needed items if they have them. There has not been a “closure” of the stores here yet in our little town in Utah. I have a granddaughter that lives in Orgen too and she says it is hard on her children having to stay in.. We do have social distancing, and closure of the church and Temple, which is difficult. But being cacooned has been a big blessing for me becaue I have an even closer relationship with my Saviour Jesus Christ. I feel like I am emerging a butterfly.
Sometimes I believe it takes a tragic situation for us to grow quiet and draw closer to our Saviour. And you will emerge a beautiful and glorious butterfly! Thanks for stopping by.
I like your perspective, Sherrey: “My hope is that we’ll be something better than we were before. It’s possible.” As devastating as this virus has been, I want to believe that all the suffering will not have been in vain, that we will come through this with a reassessment of the “things” we value. That said, online grocery shopping sounds like a pain. My husband and I have braved the grocery stores a couple of times, but with face masks in place and our minds focused on getting what we need and then getting out–no browsing. Still, as the virus lingers and spreads, we dread going out more and more.
Marie, my mother taught us that there was always hope no matter the situation. I still hold to that belief. Like you, I hope the suffering will not be in vain and that our reassessment of what we value will be strengthened in favor of good. Glad you two can brave the grocery stores; likely you are younger than Bob and me (83 and 74, respectively. And Bob has diabetes and mild COPD, both of which affect his immune system and increases his risk level. Taking no chances!
0 Pingbacks
Comments are closed.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
Looking for Something?
Top Posts & Pages
Posts from the Past
What I Write About
Licensing with Creative Commons
Life in the Slow Lane by Sherrey Meyer is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0


Be the First to Read a Post
Tags
Let’s Connect!
Published Works
Resources
Site Policies