No, this is not the April I expected. And it’s likely not the April you expected either.
We looked forward to March Madness, an indicator April and spring training are ahead. Golf fans looked forward to the Masters Tournament at Augusta and a chance to see Amen Corner. We wanted to go to church on Easter Sunday. People planned outings to Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm (see image above) for the 2020 Tulip Festival. Sorry, folks, not this year.
This is the first time I can remember Holy Week when we haven’t gathered at our church on Maundy Thursday. Nor gather on Good Friday to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus and his death at Calvary.
What happened on Easter Sunday, the day we celebrate Christ’s resurrection? Ordinarily, music by brass instruments and the choir singing start the service. Often there is also a children’s choir somewhere in the service. The singing of beautiful hymns offering the message of Easter is a favorite part of the service for me. This Easter the sanctuary was quiet.
We were told to stay home. After all, we are in an elite age group at high risk in this time of the pandemic. And if not at home, we were to stay at least six feet apart. How do you hold church services under these circumstances?
Enter Zoom and Facebook Live. We have been virtually worshipping together since March 15, 2020, a total of seven weeks. I miss gathering with the community of believers at our church, hearing the choirs and musicians, and coffee fellowship after the service.
Here we are in the last week of April. All around flowers are blooming. Trees budding, rain showers falling, hummingbirds humming, bees buzzing, and more. It still isn’t the April I expected.
With May arriving on Friday, Oregon’s pandemic guidelines loosed two restrictions. The first is the performing of elective surgeries in hospitals and clinics.
Also, dental offices may reopen. Yet, dentists countered by noting the risk to staff and patient. Powerful dental equipment in the mouth forces saliva and moisture into the air. In turn, this increases the risk of spread of the coronavirus. We still have a curve to flatten here and this wouldn’t be helpful.
With the departure of April, May sits on the horizon expecting some planting to happen. But currently, with our age keeping us away from nurseries and garden shops, we have nothing to plant. Looks like it will be a late planting this year. It’s a wait-and-see proposition.
How about you? Was this the April you expected? And will May meet your expectations? Just something to ponder.
Featured image attribution: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm
For me the trick is not to expect anything except not knowing. I let each day unfold as it will and try to keep myself from worrying about anything I can’t change or have no control over. The only thing I can change is my attitude. Stay well and enjoy the peace that staying at home can bring.
Joan, what a beautiful attitude! Also you have offered some wise advice. Good to have you here.
Never did any of us expect an April like this one. Lots of disappointments to be sure, and lots of learnings too. Things will loosen here in Washington a bit next week with state parks reopening, but for day use only. I wish they were open for camping. Camping is great for social distancing. 🙂 Hopefully by summer we will return to some level of normalcy.
Your words ring true, Susanne. Missed expectations, lots of disappointments, and yes, lots of learning. We saw your good news about state parks. Like you, many others wish for the camping to reopen. Tomorrow is the beginning of May, and I’m hoping it will bring some degree of a semblance of normalcy. Thanks for stopping by.
It has certainly not been the April I expected but, as it turns out, it was the April I needed. I am learning—again—the wisdom of slowing down. My life today, as a retiree, doesn’t look the same as it did when I was racing through my days in the corporate world and yet there is still a certain “too busy” that creeps in before I realize it. I struggled after our granddaughter returned home, and the fun and distraction having her brought was no more, and fell into a dark place. Now, peace has returned and I’m grateful for so many small and not-so-small things. May will bring a loosening of some restrictions here too (I believe) but we will not return to what was for a long time to come. I think that’s okay.
As always, Linda, your thoughts brought to the page with such wisdom and insight enhance the post you’re commenting on. Thank you for sharing how you’ve been feeling and how your looking at your life and the potential of a return to what some call normal. I too think it’s okay if that takes a long time. You’re a blessing!
Thanks for sharing your story 🙏 it’s been a whirlwind since late Feb . Our stay at home continues till May 31st . For now we keep trying, hoping, praying . Stay safe.
The word “whirlwind” is a great description of life since late February. We too are in a stay at home mode for May. I like that you keep trying, hoping, praying, as many of us do. Stay safe!
Thanks .
Maine is lifting a few restrictions on May 1–I don’t think our lives will ever be the same! Hopefully, we’ll learn some valuable lessons and have more compassion for others. Time holds the story to be told! Stay well, stay safe and take good care of you!
Bette, thank you for your thoughts and observations. Many seem to be of the opinion it will be okay for our lives to change as a result of this time, and I agree. As you mention, perhaps valuable lessons will be learned and a greater compassion for others be prevalent. We can only wait and see. Stay well, safe and enjoy any lifted restrictions in May.
So glad you are doing ok with all this social distancing. I never thought there would be a time like this. It is so easy to become comfortable with the status quo until something like this COVID 19 happens and we are forced to reevaluate our priorities. Not being able to attend church or our Temple was at first very depressing. I loved the fact I could attend my meetings plus socialize. Believe me when I say I will never take that for granted again.
My depression lifted when I changed my focus from what I couldn’t do to what I could do. It has been such a blessing for me to fill my otherwise unorganized days with self reflection,a renewed resolve to get close to the Lord through scripture study, laying aside the things of this world and seeking for the things of a better, journal writing, listening to the spirit and obeying, like working on a humanitarian project, family history and genealogy on line. I can truthfully say this time of seclusion will never be forgotten. It is and continues to be an almost a “born again” experience.
Charlene, often I think we become too comfortable with our lives and bump along merrily each day. Then something like COVID-19 jars us loose and we have trouble settling into that different routine. And yes, these times have been depressing. I’ve been there with you, and I’m doing the same–changing my focus. I joined a meeting of approximately 14 women in our church via Zoom on Tuesday evening. It was a wonderful boost for me, and many of them had the same feeling. Just seeing each other, and talking about our days. I doubt any of us will ever forget our time in the face of COVID-19. I love your last sentence: “It is and continues to be an almost “born again” experience. You always have been and still are a joy!
April was better than I could have planned . . . in retrospect of course. Noise and carbon emissions have been reduced, and I can hear myself think again. (I miss hugging my grandchildren and going to “real” church, but these will return in time.)
Home Depot is open in my state (with restrictions) and I have bought caladium and a snake plant. Messy Man Cliff is filling his part of the garden with marigolds, lavender, and sunflowers and declaring, “If everyone washed their hands as often as I do, this pandemic wouldn’t have happened!” Maybe he’s right.
Lots of comments growing in your “garden” here too, Sherrey, a wonderful thing! 🙂
Marian, so happy to hear your April was better than you could have planned, even in retrospect. Yes, noise and carbon emissions are down, and you can hear yourself think again. Initially, we didn’t hear too much traffic passing in front of our house, but once people realized they could come and go on four wheels, it picked up and the road noise returned. We miss being with our son and his family, but these times will reappear sooner hopefully than later. In addition to our worship time being live-streamed, Bob participates in the Wednesday morning men’s Bible study and the choir meets via Zoom on Tuesdays. While he’s busy with choir on Tuesday, I’m joining with our women’s group at church to work our way through Julia Cameron’s The Artist Way. This past Tuesday was our first night.
Home Depot is open here too, but with restrictions. Unfortunately, we fall into their “restrictions.” We’re both immune-compromised and would rather not take any risks. I love caladium; not familiar with snake plant. Tell Mess Man Cliff, I love the sound of his garden. I challenge him to a contest with Messy Man Bob to see who washes his hands most often.
Truly I do have a garden growing here, and I’m enjoying every moment of it! Blessings to you and Cliff!
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