Biggest Risk is Not Loving Each Other

I don’t know how others manage their lives during this fearful crisis. I can only imagine it’s difficult, no matter who you are. 

My priority starts with my mom and myself. The attention I give this priority, I’m convinced, spreads past our isolated space.

I think it gives others a sense of peace I’m with my mom. I know it gives both of us comfort.

So I begin here. I attend to our needs and we share our time and company. She may not realize how she attends to my needs. Since I’ve returned to the U.P. to be with her I’ve eaten healthier, slept better and feel calmer.

My children know things are going well for us so they have less worry. My siblings have voiced the same.

The care we take to stay isolated benefits more than us. Our efforts seem small sometimes but they have an impact on more than just the two of us.

When I hear of others who take the same measures to isolate and stay well are contributing to fighting this virus.

The past few days I’ve heard ways my children are managing. I’ve also heard how extended family is coping. I check two news sources online and Mom and I catch the Public T.V. broadcast at 6 p.m. for detailed news on how the U.S. is doing.

Mom has Facebook, so she shares things now and again she thinks I might be interested in. I don’t have a Facebook account.

The stress from too much information, not enough information and fear of what I will do if my 93 year-old mother is infected, at times overwhelms me. So I reduce it by exposing myself to less information and focusing on our day to day routines and our love for each other. 

Do I care if someone has lost their job? Had been quarantined? Has no money to buy supplies? Has to homeschool their children or grandchildren? Has no way to pay their bills? Has no health insurance? Lives too far from family? Is feeling depressed and scared? 

Of course I care. But, for me stay calm and be ready for the worse case scenario, I have to keep my mind clear of the many things I can’t control and focus on what I can.

I reach out with phone calls, texts, letters and emails. An occasional Skype and Face time. I want it to be enough for now, for the long haul.

When panic started in the U.S., I wanted to bring my children to me so I could watch over them and keep them safe. Humorous now I think rationally about it, because along with their partners they jointly are more than capable and intelligent enough to care for themselves.

As my daughter, Elizabeth pointed out, for me to have my children close by me, others would be endangered. If they were to leave where they live and work it would increase the likelihood the virus would have a longer reach with its tentacles than before.

I have to trust they know what they are doing. I have to trust the scientists, leaders of my state and country, the health system, the food industry, the researchers and myself. 

I write to relieve stress. I appreciate my readers. I wish you well and hope you’re finding a good place for your mind to be so you can make it through this crisis no matter what comes your way.

My mom and I were traveling on US-2, along Lake Michigan yesterday and a car got in our lane gunning it to pass three other cars. I had to brake and pull over off the road, (ready to go into the ditch if need be). It was a close call. Very close. 

Why I’m telling you this is we don’t know what will take us. My cousin, Jim Ryerse died this morning. It wasn’t a surprise, but it’s a reminder of how fragile life is. But, makes us pay attention to how spectacular life can be, too. We take what we have, we shake it up a bit, share it with someone, mix it with love and it’s life.

We aren’t being called to war but every single one of us are being asked to fight this battle using common sense. We can’t see the enemy, but we know how it fights and hides. We have the advantage because we can learn from how other countries fought this. 

I wave to everyone I see when I’m walking and call out “Good Morning” when I can. 

When I saw someone unlock the apartment next door (and I was shaking out a rug on the porch) I said, “Good Morning, nice to see people. It’s pretty lucky Yoopers tend to be anti-social, it’s an advantage right now.”

One of the people said, “You got that right! I’ve used social-distancing since I was a kid.”

Everyone chuckled. Great to have contact, even from a distance.