Monday, January 18, 2021

How in the World Did We Get Here?


Just checking in.  This is where I sit and watch the news when I am not watching Elmo or Daniel Tiger.  My days are filled with my girls, my family and a weekly shopping trip to the grocery.  Since March of last year, things have not changed much here, but the world, well. just for historical sake, a raging pandemic, an assault on our nations capital, a inauguration in our nations capital that looks like a war zone.  Without the comfort of two strong arms around me, I am left to face this all, and it's been hard.  Still my spirit has not been broken.  I have hope that our future will be better.  There is a new administration, one that cares.  The vaccine, though mismanaged, is still a wonderful thing.  I would like to think being the ripe old age I am that it will be available to me soon.  We as a family have followed the rules.  I was alone for Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.  On Christmas Eve we all wore masks and opened the windows to be together.  Seven adults and three children.  We had a great time together, and missed the whole family that always gathers here each Christmas Eve..

I hope that all of you have been weathering the storms around us.  

"A good friend of mine said, "You are married to sorrow." And I looked at him and said, "I am not married to sorrow. I just choose not to look away."
And I think there is deep beauty in not averting our gaze.
No matter how hard it is, no matter how heartbreaking it can be. It is about presence. It is about bearing witness.
I used to think bearing witness was a passive act. I don't believe that anymore. I think that when we are present, when we bear witness, when we do not divert our gaze, something is revealed—the very marrow of life. We change. A transformation occurs. Our consciousness shifts.
     —Terry Tempest Williams 

We will all be forever changed by the events of the last year. Hopefully for the better, more resilient more compassionate and more appreciative of life.

Thank you for stopping by and for your patience and kindness to me.
Love, Penny





3 comments:

Melanie said...

I can only imagine how busy you are with the twins...always good to see a post from you even if it's a short one. We did not see any family at all on Thanksgiving or Christmas. Just the two of us for the holidays. I am so glad to see 2020 go and I just hope and pray that this pandemic is over soon with the vaccine now available. This winter has been so dreary and I've been feeling a bit down and not motivated to do much...but I sure am looking forward to tomorrow's inauguration! Much love to you...xoxo

Eileen in Fla. said...

So good to hear from you. I value your perspectives on life and have missed your posts. When your family can be together again, when your DIL finishes law school, when those beautiful twins have soaked up all your wisdom and love, I hope you will continue to write. You have a gift that needs sharing.

Lynne said...

Wonderful message for me Miss Penny!
Thank you . . .
“I thrive” . . . as I am touched by your words, reflection, wisdom . . .
I find when I am “down” . . . “up” has a difficult time finding “its” way . . .
It seems like 2020 left me with one more “kick in the pants!”
And I am still left with “finding my way . . . “
Yet . . . your message sent me some HOPE . . .
Again . . . Thank You.

“For there is always light if only we’re brave enough to see it,
If only we’re brave enough to be it.”
Amanda Gorman