My, what a difference a month makes.  Although it seems like an eternity now, just a mere thirty days ago, my household had different priorities.  We were planning college visits, working on summer vacation plans, and riding out an unusually mild winter.

Now we’re hunkered down, seeing our schedules free up on a daily basis (as more and more activities get delayed or canceled), and a family unit that was starting to go their separate ways has now been placed back in close quarters for the near-to-mid future.

My oldest cleaned out her college dorm room (as her university has gone to online classes for the rest of the spring semester), my youngest is adjusting to another four-week closure of the local high school (setting up shop on a desk in our basement), and my wife’s job at the church and the library have been put on indefinite holds.  Luckily, my IT job with the local municipality is still ongoing, and I’ve opted to work from home a few times a week (bringing back memories of my days with “Big Blue”, when I did a ten-year stint of working from home).  That means that most of the time, we’re all under one roof again.

So what are we into these days?  Well, there’s the nightly Netflix/Hulu/Disney+ entertainment options (have you seen “Tiger King” yet on Netflix?  Highly recommend – just for the sheer “what the hell is going on with these people?” factor).  Books are being read from the home library.

Our basement is in the process of being cleaned out, and plans have been made for a new “teen hangout” in the newly de-cluttered space.  Of course, now that there is new paint on the walls and the junk has been moved, everyone is waiting on me to do some trim-work and other home improvement duties before the “real” decorating begins.

The 2,000 piece puzzle on the dining room table is slowly taking shape.

I’ve planted a few things in my plot in the local community garden, and I’m happy to report that the spinach, lettuce, peas, and broccoli have been established and are starting to appear.  My dreams of fresh produce for this spring and summer are coming true.

It’s nice to stop in and visit with my mother (our standing Saturday morning coffee date has become a ritual), and I’ve started to pick up her groceries to keep her out of harm’s way.  I’m out and about, walking around our little town to the bank, post office, and elsewhere.  It’s amazing what a little time outside does to help clear away the stress.  I even completed the first lawn mowing of the season.

Although tempers occasionally flare-up (as three grown women and a twenty-year old cat in close quarters can sometimes rub each other the wrong way), it is nice to have a full table at dinner again.

For all of the panic, fear, and upheaval that the coronavirus has caused, it’s actually created some unintended consequences that aren’t all that bad.

I’m once again learning to appreciate the simple things that life has to offer.  I’m getting another shot at a house filled with family.  I’m back in the kitchen, cooking up meals for four (and still on my plant-based diet, which makes the meal planning an interesting challenge).  I’m realizing that the things that I thought were a priority in my life just a mere month ago are really not all that important – it’s being with the people you love and knowing that they are safe.

I saw an internet post that said, “this is the Lentiest Lent that I’ve ever Lented”.  While that may be true (from a material perspective), perhaps we’ve all gained something more from this experience.  I hope that part of it will last.

Take care of yourselves, those around you, and stay safe, everybody.

We’ll talk again next week.