The following is just a personal narrative or perhaps just a mind dump. I do not intend to offend anyone or downplay that gravity, sacrifices and heartache that COVID-19 is bringing to the world. Choose to read or move on…it’s okay. I don’t mind either way.

Is it wrong of me to think that there is a teeny, tiny part of this pandemic that could be thought of as a good thing? A reset button that was pressed by mother nature. Something to get us back to reality. What really matters. Not the superficial, Instagram worthy fluff. But what really matters day to day. Food, family, connection. The shelter in place, stay at home orders have done this.

There seems to be a great resurgence in old timey skills that were nearly forgotten. Making due. Making things work…not always exactly like you had envisioned but the way you can with what you have. No big box, order online, get it tomorrow ideals.  What do you have and what can you do with it?

This time has also made me realize how close to the edge so many people live. There are tons of families that count on school providing a meal or two for their children everyday. This shutdown has to be scary for them. The whole thing makes me very sad. How do we live in a society that people and corporations throw commodities away daily while some families can’t even feed their children? It makes me a bit sick inside when I dwell on it.

This reset button has had a positive impact so far on our family. Expectations have been lowered. Now some might say that is a negative thing. But I have to respectfully disagree. Because of the area we live in, our children expect more from life than we can afford. That being said, they aren’t like some of the entitled jerks you see in viral videos but they also could stand a bit of reality slapping them in the face. Honestly…most Americans fit into this category…myself included.

Circling back to expectations…for nearly two decades I was a stay at home mom and wife. There is a certain expectation that the title holds. Home cooked meals at the prescribed times, of course, balanced and beautiful. Clean and tidy house. Lovely garden. Bills paid. Cupboards organized. You see where I am going. 1950’s housewife category. Perhaps that was mostly an expectation I put upon myself. This “reset” has helped to temper those thoughts. Can I get my family fed with what we have at home without exposing ourselves to potential illness? Is what we are seeking out worth the possibility of being exposed to a contagion?

This weekend was Mr. G’s 50th birthday. Typically I would have scoured the stores until I found his favorites to cook a feast. Or seeking out a restaurant. This year things were very different. Expectations were lowered. And guess what…we had a phenomenal meal. I tried a couple of new ideas since I was making due. Twice baked potatoes…which could have had more flavor or been better but hey…I wouldn’t have tried to make them had I not been “forced” to improvise. With that said, I feel I must be transparent. I love convenience. I am somewhat prone to laziness. I am not afraid of hard work but I definitely will take the paved road in most instances over the rocky path. 

This time is also getting us to try new things…working from home, learning from home, final exams from home. Who would have thought?  The internet is definitely helping keep us together and learn new things virtually. Thank goodness.

In a year that I wasn’t planning to garden I am now actually expanding my garden. Adding new crops. Experimenting with container gardening and small bin composting. All to be more self-sufficient. Not that I am afraid that our food supply is going to collapse but I would rather not go to the store for fresh produce if I can possibly grow it myself. There is also a bit of pride for me in this. Being able to do things for our family…again those nearly forgotten skills in our fast paced, buy it now society. Having my kids see that we don’t have to purchase everything in life. Things don’t have to be brand new or perfect to be good and useful. 

Beyond expanding the garden I’ve also been baking bread, sewing masks to donate, giving haircuts to the family. We’ve watched movies and Netflix. Taken walks. Had meals with conversations. Played darts in the garage. Felt what it was like to have family time again.

I do pray when this is all over that we, as a world community, have all learned something very important and long lasting. If not it is a very big slap in the face to everyone on the front lines against the fight of this virus who risked their health and sacrificed time with those they love.