Routine goes out the window, and the days seem to bear no resemblance or meaning. The television guide says its Wednesday - but it could easily be a Sunday for all we know. As it turns out, it is Saturday, and what most of us in the UK crave, what most of us need - is routine.
No work for some of us. No sport to watch. No going out for food or a drink. No meeting up with our buddies. No real contact with our nearest and dearest. Everything we know and take for granted, has changed, or been taken away. No-one could ever have imagined that this would happen. The new normal begins.
Facetime, Tik Tok, Zoom, and Houseparty have become some of the places we would arrange to see and talk to our family and friends. We use social media all the time - It has become a part of our DNA. It dazzles us with it's simplicity and reach. It consumes our every quiet moment. It runs our lives, both at home and at work, yet, even this doesn't feel normal. Technology has shown its true colours and its real power. It has made communication so simple, but, so much harder at the same time. Many of us have longed for human interaction, with close family and loved ones.
Although, personally, I have not been directly affected, I have witnessed the heartache and distress that the pandemic has caused. Many have been fortunate to have contact with others regularly, but many have lived lockdown, by choice or design, on their own. If anyone feels like a chat, or just to vent, my ears, mind and heart are always open. Please do not hesitate to connect.
Daily Government Briefings became an integral part of everyday life, and once-a-week at 8 o'clock on a Thurdsay, we joined together as one to clap, holler, and bang our pots and pans, and show our appreciation for the people we call heroes. Every single carer has done this country proud. Nothing we can do, will ever be enough to show our gratitude for all those seconds, minutes, hours, days and weeks that these carers, and key workers have dedicated to the cause, without pause for thought of their own wants and needs. We salute you all. We will be forever in your debt. Behind every statistic we have heard about, however, there are family, friends, and many more grieving. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all at this time. My sincere and heartfelt condolences to all those who have been affected. Through such sacrifice, we have seen such tremendous strength.
Lockdown? Or Locked up? Is it basically the same thing? It would certainly appear so. I always felt that it would be straightforward enough, fun even, to sit indoors most of the day, stretching my legs for an hour or so. Not so. I suppose if we knew then what we know now, many of us, including myself, would have planned to do more. More focus. It became mundane, very quickly, yet I didn't see the bigger picture and I could have done more. We will not get this time back. Have you used this sustained period of (spare or extra) time wisely?
Edinburgh is a wonderful city. I have lived here all my life, and yet, found so many new and exciting places on my daily walks in the last 3 months. I am sure many others up and down the country would agree this is the same of their home towns. I ask anyone reading this to grab their phone and scroll through all their 'Lockdown Photos' and find one that reminds them of a peaceful time during this unprecedented situation. A positive personal connection with this period will confirm that you have remained strong, stood united with the world, and gained a positive through this challenging time. I have posted one photograph at the top, and one at the bottom of this post that remind me of such positive moments.
I know I am not the only one, but I almost don't want lockdown to end too soon. Perhaps I am a shade anxious after the devastation the invisible villain has caused. It is an immense relief that we are close to being free of the danger, however, there remains a very real threat in the coming months of a second spike. Hopefully, we have collectively done enough to suppress the virus sooner than first thought. The nature of the human mind adapts so quickly that we don't even realize how time has gone by. It is day 96 (I think) since lockdown began. Mother's Day, Easter, and Father's Day have all come and gone, not to mention all the Birthdays, Weddings and other celebrations that have been postponed or cancelled.
It has been so long since I have had to be anywhere. You would think that a three-month-or-so long holiday would be welcomed. In a way, it has. Still, it doesn't feel real. It almost feels like a fascinating piece of fiction. A Best-Seller. Nothing but a story.
Seriously.
What day is it? Two years since my last post? Friday? Saturday? It is day 96 of lockdown as I write... I am supposed to be In Kos right now! It is/was the eve' of my baby sisters wedding. Not to be, sadly. Postponed a year. It will be a cracking day when it comes around in 2021. I cannot wait!!
Anyway....
Not too long a monologue, more a thoughtful one. However, I can say that I have not mentioned the 'C' word once..... until the next sentence. The history books will show 2019/20 as being one of the toughest periods for human-kind. Coronavirus exists and we will come to understand it better and learn to control it and others like it in the future. If we remain united as a 7-plus Billion population planet, we have a fighting chance. As the Scotland rugby team's hashtag incites, we need to come together #asone, and beat the virus. Who knows? We may come out of this better people.
Together - We Will.
#nhs #clapforcarers #savelives #asone #keepintouch #
