Who’s Got the Manual?

It’s been a rough stretch for all of us. Some have clearly suffered more than others, and I’ve mostly been spared the worst. I was privileged to be isolated, even if I complained about my isolation. Out of the now-600,000 Americans who died of COVID, none were my immediate family members.

And, now, it seems like a time to look forward. We’re wondering what it means to emerge from isolation. We’ve said we want to “get back to normal” even though we also say we want a fresh start, a new beginning — not just going back to what was. We want to go forward to…uh, well, we want to go forward.

The problem is, we don’t know where we’re going….

Are We in the After?

I hear your question, “How are you feeling?” and see that you expect an answer. I’d be happy to help but, truth is, I’m stumped.

It isn’t that I feel nothing. It’s that I feel everything: fury at the Republicans’ blasphemy, their smug winking at lies, and the soothing contentment of snuggling with my granddaughter. I’m not lacking in feelings. I just don’t know which one will come visiting next….

Whoa — Not so Fast

I see myself becoming part of the crowd rushing to the pandemic’s exit. Enough already. I’ve had two shots — thank you, science — and I’m ready to break out of isolation. I have things to do, places to go and people I’ve missed. Here I come!

Well, almost. There’s a still, small voice within me offering a whispered warning: “Easy does it, Mary — you might want to think before you act….”