What calms you?

It's a high anxiety time. I talked to a good friend recently who said when she "gears up" putting on her facemask - and mentally prepares for a trip to the grocery store, she notices how anxious she feels. I can relate. I bet you can too. Shopping is not a leisure experience anymore.

A couple weeks ago I quipped that leaving the store be all like "I just pulled off a caper!" I put on my buff and gloves to shop at HyVee. At the store, I pick my places - trying my best to keep distance between me and the other shoppers and staff. Sometimes I hold my breath! I know, probably dumb - I haven't seen that method being touted as a way to be safe. Still, like holding my breath riding in a car driving by a graveyard when I was a kid, or not stepping on a sidewalk crack, I've adopted this behavior during Covid 19 times.

I started thinking about what helps me reduce stress. Reading Twitter and other news sites aren't stress reducers! So I'm trying to do less of that. I (and many others) enjoy doing Jigsaw puzzles. I started this hobby even before the pandemic as a way to reduce screen time. Walking and listening to books are two other great hobbies for me. I read fiction, but I marvel at the amount of educational information passed on in the books I read. Love my soaker bathtub for stress reduction too.

Today I'm listening to "The Tale Teller" by Anne Hillerman. It's part of the Leaphorn, Chee, Manuelito Four Corners detective series - started by Ms. Hillerman's father Tony who passed away in 2008. His daughter Anne carried on his legacy, writing the series which contains a great deal of information on Native American culture and antiquities. The reader speaks Navaho - the dialect is so intriguing. The characters are well-developed and dependable. During this time, I'm finding it best for me to read/listen to books where the good guys come out on top in the end. Lately, I've returned some books early that seemed to be too negative. I don't need that right now.

I've been thinking back to simpler times. Our high school class is planning next year's Class Reunion and a group email brought up some memories. All good ones - funny stuff about interaction with teachers and each other. I'd forgotten about what a body-baring time in life that was! A great deal of "mooning" (dropping drawers to show one's butt") and "streaking" (running buck naked) was happening. There are no photos and I wasn't involved. One classmate's brother attended a basketball game in a long trenchcoat. As we all stood up at the start of the game, he opened his coat to let loose two pigeons that flew around the gym pooping during the rest of the game. Incoming!

Jack was such a handsome boy! 

It was a fun time, but I sure wouldn't want to go back to those years. Teen angst you know. I was so fortunate to have a horse - Poco HiJack (Jack). He was wonderful therapy. I could ride him, brush him, or just lay on his back and sing while he grazed in the small fenced-in area at the Guttenfelder farm where he was boarded. He was solid and huggable, calm and secure. Hey - he sounds a lot like my husband! haha

Paul enjoys hunting to reduce anxiety - check out that happy smile! 

Everyone needs ways to reduce anxiety. I hope you are getting for yours!

Life's Rythyms

Old photo of our family - my heart

I was just getting used to my new "retired" normal. Ever-busy Paul is building furniture for our walk-in closet. He's only had a purchase a few new tools! He and I painted the closet this week and he put the shelves back up and we sorted through clothing as we re-stocked, weeding out stuff for donation. Suddenly I don't need as many work clothes. I'm doing a jigsaw puzzle and am beginning paperwork for a consulting business I plan to start - working with trash people of course.

Now, due to forces beyond your control, many are forced into life inside your living space. I can't imagine what you are going through - your "new normal". Some of our relatives and friends live in New York, Illinois, and California. Those states have even more strict rules about what they can and can't do. We in Iowa are "sheltering in place". Schools are closed. Bars and restaurants are closed to inside customers. Iowa received as many unemployment claims yesterday as they usually do in a bad month. Many people are now working from home for the first time. It's hard to isolate like that.

I'm stuck with this guy - my fave person

We're all coming up with a new normal. So far we don't know how long. If you are like me, you are still running everything through an "adjuster". When my eyes pop open on a new day, I am filled with gratitude. Then I begin to plot out my day - not remembering the Covid 19 normal. Then I adjust. Reality check!

As I said - as 2 retired people, this does not impact us nearly as much as those who have lost jobs, had to change their work method, small business owners trying to adjust to what this means to their livelihoods. I think about those who remain working on the front line - medical staffers to people working in places that need to remain open so all of us can live. We need our toilet paper!

There are special people - those who we cherish who may be more susceptible to this virus that I pray for. Our older (Aunt Marty says she's NOT elderly at age 87) friends and relatives. Some live in Independent and other types of care facilities that are being very careful about allowing personal access by friends and relatives. Smart! But very difficult at a time when we are fearful. The last thing we want is for these loved ones to be isolated and feel alone.

I've confessed before about my phone phobia. I don't know where it came from, but email and texting have allowed me to be even more of a phone introvert. Well, folks, Covid 19 is busting me out! I've resolved to talk to more people as we are all sidelined. I know, it's kinda selfish too. I'm pretending it's for them. Just wait - after this, I'll be one of those people with a Bluetooth earjack talking to people while I make my way through stores and on hikes! haha

Next - I'm going to try Facetime! I know - all you grandparents already know how to do that. Our kids' dogs haven't requested it. Does this mean I have to actually look decent? Ugh. I also have a couple meetings scheduled through Zoom - another video chat meeting. This virus will change us in permanent ways - I hope we'll find that some are good. Less travel, more technology will cut down travel. I know, in person can be best. But not always.

Last night we ordered delivery pizza from a local place. We'd plan to continue to support restaurants - as we want them to be around after this. Des Moines has always been a great place for local restaurants and we love that about our town. We have decided to increase our normal tips to help those workers get through this too. If you have any other ideas of ways you are helping small businesses get through this - feel free to chime in!

Call, text or check in on someone you know that you haven't spoken or texted for a while. As Mr. Rogers told us to look for the helpers. Even remotely, you can be a helper!

The Somewhat Calm Before...

In such a short time, how our world has changed. Just last week, Paul and I were on vacation in Breckenridge, Colorado with four couples - college friends. We knew Covid 19 was spreading, but only a couple cases had popped up in Colorado. We took along hand sanitizer and washed our hands frequently. As we left Colorado last Saturday, we received notice that we should self-quarantine as several more cases of the virus had appeared in the resort area during the week.

Now we are laying low at home - venturing out for essentials. Just like many of you! So I'm writing this blog, filling time - and I'm waiting for my next turn at painting our walk-in closet. Paul is taking out shelving right now. Such fun!

The trip seems so long ago already! We drove out to Denver on Friday, March, 6 - handwashing and elbow door opening our way across Nebraska. Destination - Amy and Corey's place! We hadn't seen them since Thanksgiving. So it was great to get together at their place near downtown Denver. The weather was fabulous - upper 60's and sunny. I got a dog fix - hanging with the kiddos' pups Franklin and Eros.

Aunt Marty and me

Amy and Corey had a friend's baby shower to attend on Saturday and we took the opportunity to visit my Aunt Marty (she says she's 87 years old but is not elderly) and my cousin Amy Brownlee and husband Tom. We love catching up with them, hearing about their family and great trip to Hawaii just after Christmas.

After that, we headed back to the Park place. Paul and I enjoy walking in Amy and Corey's neighborhood - a mix of new development and quaint updated older homes, with restaurants and some retail within walking distance. We had lunch at a place called Root Down where I had the best Eggs Benedict ever. That afternoon we joined at Kansas State pal of Amy's at an Iowa State bar near the Coors Field to watch KSU blast Iowa State in Men's basketball. Great Cyclone crowd and the bar owner was fun to talk to - helping take away the sting of an awful hoops season. That night it was Chinese takeout, just enjoying our time with our kids.

Post brunch pic with Jordan and Jill

On Sunday we met my niece Jordan and wife Jill for brunch. So nice to see them! They recently went to Lake Chapala, Mexico to visit my sis Susi and husband Jim as that is where they winter. Visiting Denver affords us a great opportunity to see so many loved ones.

Our college pals arrived mid-afternoon Sunday. Moose and Kay drove from the Chicago area and picked up Vicki and Fred at the airport. It was nice they got to spend some time with Amy and especially Corey as they'd never really been around him except for their wedding - which didn't allow for much quality time. We went to a place called Milk Market - many vendors under one roof.

Milk Market grub

On Monday we headed up the big hill to Breckenridge - checking into a nice "ski-in" condo that Fred found. Two more couples - Tom and Shirley and Mike and Paula (from Paul's side of the college friend tree) had reserved their own condo - and it was just around the corner from ours!

A few of the skiers

The birthday girl had a sash! 

Did I mention this is the 40th anniversary of a spring break trip to Breckenridge? It was my senior year of college - 1980. Paul, Vicki, Fred, Mike, and Tom were there as we packed into a huge condo along with about 15 other people. It was a blast! This time we were a bit more sedate! And I haven't skied for close to 20 years, so it wasn't on my list of things to do. Paul and some others skied 3 days - and we heard a bit about everyone's aches and pains (even from me - a non-skier haha).

We had a ball! Just hanging out with this gang is fun. In our condo is the group that went to Alaska together last summer - good memories there. It was Paula's birthday on Wednesday so we went to their place for a big party (lasted until 9 PM) that night. Did I mention how nice it is to be with friends we've known for 40 plus years? Tom and Shirley live in New York, Mike and Paula near LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Moose and Kay live just north of Chicago and Vicki and Fred live south of the Twin Cities in Minnesota. Yep, we're the only Iowans.

Breckenridge Distillery

Up to Peak 9

During the week, we visited a distillery, shopped, and rode up the Gondola. On Thursday we all met at a barbecue in downtown Breckenridge. On Friday the whole group drove up to Vail to visit my sister Cindy and eat at my nephew Colby's restaurant, El Sabor in Lion's Head. Vicki has known Cindo since spring break our Freshman year when we slept on her fold-out bed and skied Vail. We reminisced about that trip on Friday - what knuckleheads we were - dragging out hanging clothes, for a ski trip, riding on shuttles. Did we think we'd be going to discos? Vic and I skied every spring break when we were in college.

Delish lunch with friends at El Sabor - Colby treated us right

Paul and I were excited to stay at Cindy's Friday night - since we missed our usual Christmas get-together due to health issues. That night we went to our friends Bonnie and Eric's for supper - just like Christmas without the prime rib! Bonnie did make a yummy shrimp salad. I had fun playing catch with their dog Dodger. It was nice to catch up with them. Their son Byron is getting married this summer...just the other day he was a high school senior..haha. On Saturday, Vail shut down the mountain - including food service that Eric is in charge of. Now Colby's restaurant is closed too - after that, Iowa followed, shutting schools and eat in restaurants. 

Dodger wants to play fetch!

Our trip home Saturday was uneventful. Now, just like you - we are living in a different world, praying for good health for all. And for our medical professionals. Our April Florida trip is canceled and a sister trip to France planned for May is not likely to take place. Not really that important compared to health and people's livelihoods. Still, disappointing. The uncertainty is the worst part - will it be weeks, months? Will we all end up getting it? Nobody knows.

Sending good thoughts and karma to all. Cherishing my time with family and friends. Will try to stay in touch in all the ways I can. I hope you will too. We need each other!