Returning to Normalcy After a Pandemic

Normalcy after a pandemic? Everything good comes to an end right? For some it might be hard to say “good” for any of this year and Covid. We started with last spring and cancellations of school, Easter, Mother’s Day, my daughter’s high school prom, my daughters high school graduation, graduation party, birthdays, Fourth of July and on and on and on. Don’t forget we passed on Halloween this year! Well, many of us did. We simply turned off all of our lights and went upstairs to watch tv. However the extremely large pumpkin bowl came upstairs and we ate way too much chocolate in one evening. I woke up with a sugar hangover and a newly sprouted pimple on my face. Good thing I was able to turn my camera off for my virtual class the next day!

We then continued on into the year with cancellation of Thanksgiving. I brought my parents my favorite sweet potato casserole and dropped it off at their door in my slippers. My mom provided me with some of my grandmother’s homemade dressing and we sat at our own tables in pj pants and face timed. Our Christmas consisted of no family meal around the table either. However, we did start some new traditions like cereal on Christmas morning! All kinds of cereal we don’t normally eat! We ate Lucky Charms and Captain Crunch and it was freeing! Multiple bowls with leftover sweet pink milk we slurped! We didn’t forget to watch all of our favorite Christmas movies or do our annual hot cocoa, pile the doggies in the backseat of the car and drive the neighborhood to see Christmas lights! Even though our little Chihuahua, Ridley, puked five minutes in the ride and we had to return home to drop her off and get a change of clothes! But, we took time to remember the things we love most. Covid caused us to slow down.

We continued on through the New Year with all of us more than happy to kiss this year goodbye and say hello to 2021! It still didn’t solve the current dilema-Covid and masks and social distancing. It has been a hard year. Now we are heading into summer again with hopes of less social distancing and no masks for those of us vaccinated. I no longer have to avoid my dentist and sitting in the chair to find out I need another filling or a root canal. Okay, I have to say that was a good part of staying home with Covid. However, I returned to the dentist chair and to the realization of my wisdom teeth needing to be extracted. Ugh. We can now go back to the barber shop or hairdresser too if we want! Although, my daughter and I have learned how to cut my husband’s hair! We cut jointly the first time, my daughter accidently farmed the back of his head the second time which became a new “boot camp” haircut, and the last time I cut his hair. It wasn’t half bad. We are getting there! Now that I have avoided my hair dresser, I have decided to just let my hair go long. My hair is the longest it has been, ever! Pony tails and large hair clips have become my friend! Without Covid, I would be sporting the same hair “bob” I have my entire life!

My daughter and I even went to the mall yesterday! Can you believe it? We haven’t been to the mall in well over a year. The mall was less crowded and everyone remained in masks. Stores were still counting individuals coming in and asking for us to use sanitizer. The candy shop was even open. The plastic containers with scoops and colored candy filled the store. It looked normal! Almost! Everyone was asked to sanitize and put on the gloves! It was “almost normal.”

We walked through Macy’s and there was the section of sparkly and bedazzled prom dresses. My daughter missed her prom last year so I know it was bitter sweet. I watched her as her hands drifted through the rows of dresses like a hand out of a car window on a hot day. Waving in the air. I told her I would bring her back to try them on for fun! I would even buy her one! She looked at me with a smirk, “for what?” I feel like this has been the year of “how can I make things better” or “what can I buy you instead” year.

But, we got through the year! School-year that is! My daughter completed her first year of college completely online. I have ten days left of online teaching and I will be done as well. It has been a challenge but I am sad to let it go. I walk into my makeshift office every day which was once a “craft room” aka “cosplay room” that is now covered with colored sticky notes all over my desk, my shelves and the floor! Hot pink reminders to not forget a virtual meeting or parent phone call. I think about how this won’t be my daily office anymore. My sweet pup Murphy comes in my office and plops on her bed next to my desk chair ready to go before I have my cup of tea or stepped out of my pajamas. Okay, I admit, I sometimes I stay in my pj pants or yoga pants all day. I will miss this room. I will miss my pup Murph. I will miss my pj pants.

I am blessed to have a position back in the building next year. Please don’t get me wrong. But, I will miss this. My daughter being right next door coming in to use the printer or asking me to look over one of her essays. I will miss our lunch together. Every day we have walked down our stairs into our back kitchen room and heated up leftovers and even made a lunch “meal” to sit together and watch Rhett and Link! Back in the building, I would be lucky to inhale my lunch on a normal day between 4th and 5th periods and between grading papers and working on IEPs! This year though, my daughter and I always laugh and place our lunch dishes in the sink and head back to our work. The time I have have with my daughter has been a true blessing.

So I will go through a grieving process. I will leave my little home office, keep my pj pants in the drawer, make sure I wear makeup and tidy my hair. I will no longer take a break and walk by doggies in the morning or do some yoga right before my 2pm IEP meeting. I will no longer have the luxury of going to the restroom when I need to and can! I will be back to running to the bathroom during my three minute passing period and more than likely using the men’s restroom since it is a train of women waiting! I will drive a half hour to work in traffic in the blinding bright sun and return home stuck right in evening traffic chasing the sun in my eyes again. All good things have to end!