My View from the Top of the World

How can it only be a week since I last wrote?  Our situation seems to change from one hour to the next.  Last Friday seems like it was worlds away.  Two weeks ago we were at work, living our regular lives and counting the days until Easter break...  How ironic!  Even the kids are wishing they could be back at school! After the last, surreal two weeks, I'm left spinning and speechless.  You've seen all the posts and read all the articles about how to cope, about staying positive, about making the best of what's going on in all of our lives.  I know you get it... I'm sure most of you have even found some benefits to this mandated slow down.  I know I have.  For one thing, there's been the extra time with my daughter.  Currently, my seventeen year old and I are both sitting at the dining room table;  I'm writing, and she's working on a set of hanging shelves that she's building for her bedroom.  It's really not all bad. Ho...

Did you ever experience a moment when life smacked you upside the head and told you to slow the heck down?  I think that moment is now for all of us.  I think the Planet is telling us all to just chill for a second.  Or maybe longer.... These moments usually amount to being rendered physically unable to move at the pace to which we have become accustomed:  a distance runner falls and breaks her ankle; a busy mom (cook, personal secretary, financial advisor, taxi driver...) needs to have surgery; the high school football star tears his ACL. If you've ever experienced such an event, you'll recall initially feeling like your world had come to an end.  You may also recall that the experience taught you much about life, and hopefully left you smarter, stronger,  and wiser. Several years ago, I ran a marathon with a friend.  It was his first marathon. We ran the first half at a respectable pace.  By about mile 15, my friend was hitting (in slo-...

Okay, I wasn't going to do this.  I wasn't going to jump on the bandwagon and talk about COVID-19.  Although, apparently, yes I am.  Honestly, I would like to take a different approach and reassure you that whatever you are feeling about this disease and its effect on your life, it's okay.  I'm seeing a ton of thoughtless and insensitive, as well as uninformed and straight up inaccurate posts on social media.  (Remember, social media is not where you're supposed to get your news, or your advice.)  I've read posts that blame the President, blame the media, blame the Chinese for this pandemic. I'm not all about that.  I'm about people staying well. Our reactions to the spread of this disease are mainly out of fear and uncertainty.  We do tend to fear the unknown. As individuals, we know next to nothing.  Even the experts don't know as much as we'd like them to know, although, they are researching and finding out more everyday.  Who...

I was on the phone with my college student, and aimlessly scrolling through Twitter while chatting.  Twitter, in case you hadn't noticed, has become a cesspool of anger and negativity... I suppose it all depends on whom you follow.  Anyhow, even though the sound was muted, I totally slowed my scrolling, as I noticed a promotional video from my favorites - the Queer Eye gang.  And, it suddenly dawned on me, I need a serious break! Actually, not a serious break, a break from all the serious.  I thrive on laughter. I love to laugh, and I love to make people laugh. In my finest moments, I think I'm fairly witty.  One of my favorite things in the world, is when my good ole running buddy makes me laugh so hard I have to stop running.  Another is getting the giggles with my girls!  Nothing but good times!  I've been saying to people, "I just kind of feel blah, lately.  I'm just not feelin' it!"  I haven't even known what I'm not feeling,...