Things I will miss when we get back to 'normal'.

My family at home. When this lockdown started, my adult child came home from college, my high school child stayed home from school and my other adult child had just moved home to save money and get back on her feet. At first it was tense and fraught with bickering. Then things settled down. We play games together, laugh together, tease each other in a loving way and are genuinely creating a new relationship of peers. This would not have happened without having to live together for an extended period of time. And for that I am grateful.

Time off from working out. Before Corona (BC) my husband and I had been working out quite seriously for 18 months and if I have to be honest I was reluctantly enjoying it and the health benefits that ensued. Since lockdown we really have not been successful at staying on track - and I have come to enjoy the relaxation and lack of guilt from missing a workout or two. And for that I am grateful. Figuratively tightening our belts. (See last paragraph.) The necessity of spending less at this time, plus the forced inability to go out and spend as we used to, is liberating. I am frugal at heart as I was raised with a ‘make do with what you have’ attitude. Teaching my children that at this time has also been a good life lesson. Changing the Amazon password helped tremendously with that one. And for that I am grateful.

The beauty of our planet that is being revealed. After only a few weeks we saw nature returning to our congested cities. Dolphins in Venice, seals scattered along coastlines usually crowded with tourists, goats taking over a Welsh town and record numbers of turtles hatching on beaches. The most stunning image I have seen recently was the blue skies over the Taj Mahal. A before and after shot of the grey smog compared to the sun shining on such a beautiful building shocked me. And for that I am grateful.

Renewed contact with relatives near and far. Once a week we Zoom with family on the East Coast. That was an interesting one. As with my children, reconnecting on a regular basis has been challenging. I remember why I love them and also the things that irked me about them. At least there is a mute button when we need a break. And for that I am grateful. Hugs. When I first came to America I found the practice of hugging invasive and intrusive. In England a polite nod or firm handshake is all that is required in almost any social setting. But not here. The first time you meet someone a hug is usually involved. Not anymore. Now I look forward to the act of reassuring someone with my presence, a hug can say so much more than a polite handshake. And for that I have learned to be grateful.

I know we will return to our old ways soon enough and life will, indeed go on. Let us all try to be grateful for the lessons we have learned.

Catherine Uretsky Editor, Estrella Publishing info@estrellapublishing.com 623-594-9283