MONDAY MUSINGS: C-19 — A RETROSPECTIVE…

Dear Friends,

As the days and months of C-19 continue to play out, I’ve become a lot more philosophical about life. I know I’m not alone in that regard. When the pandemic first exploded back in March, I was in London and the tension all around was palpable. Fear lurked on every street corner, and shops had begun to close their doors. Doomsday was on its way! My survival instinct was in top gear! We were heading out of London ASAP! Over to our cozy little place in Ireland where we would feel safe, and there would be no shortage of anything. We would have our own beds to sleep in at night, and the Cathedral was close by to visit for some peace and tranquility. Dunnes Stores would keep us well stocked with food. We would not starve, as I feared we would in London. It was a no-brainer!

A bat out of hell was consumed by a man in China — so the story goes — and once digested, the sluice gates of Covid-19 burst wide open, releasing a torrent of destruction upon our poor unsuspecting world. All hell broke loose! The raging pandemic devoured the sick, the vulnerable, the people who hugged, the great unwashed, and of course the jobs. Lots of them were lost too in the tempest. Hard to believe how much has changed in just a few short months!

Fear paralyzed our world and held us in its icy grip. We asked ourselves if this could be a repeat of the horrendous 1918 Spanish Flu? We looked on helplessly, as the world we once knew collapsed around us. We barricaded ourselves at home, shared funny jokes on WhatsApp, rattled saucepans and tin cans in support of our essential care workers, wore masks, and continued to wash our hands like crazy, while singing Happy Birthday. The duration of the song is the length of time we were to spend washing our hands. Scrubadubdubb…three men in a tub. Between lockdown, masks, and social isolation, the extroverts among us were going insane!

C-19 has put everything on hold — with the exception of birth and death. Time does not wait for those. Gel nails? A thing of the past. Hair? Get used to living with straw girl. Nobody is judging you. Shops? We let our fingers do the walking now instead of toes. Flour has replaced toilet tissue as a must-have requisite. People are sending greeting cards and letters to each other again. Beading and home crafts have become more popular. Neighbours have become more neighbourly. I feel a much warmer sense of ‘Community’ around me now. Bankers and Landlords have become more understanding too. They want to help. Everybody wants to help each other! Or so it seems to me.

Our Premier, Justin Trudeau (a.k.a. TrueDaddy!) has looked after Canada very well indeed. I have no complaints, but rather new respect for the man. Fathers are pushing strollers, no longer awkward, but with huge smiles on their faces. It brings a smile to my face every time I see them. Bakers are producing masterpieces at home, and trying every kind of confection. Animals are delighted to have more family time too. Even the birds on the trees are sounding more melodious. Is it the cleaner air? Yes, it’s becoming a wonderful world again…Miracles are all around us. Some questions to consider…

How have you changed since Covid-19?

What aspects of your life have improved?

What characteristic of yours has strengthened since the pandemic?

Has your outlook on life changed?

What have you learnt from this experience?

I have come to the conclusion that the Mastermind of all this C-19 epidemic had a method to his madness. An image of God sitting on his throne in Heaven came into my head, watching us humanoids in dismay. He saw us pecking around like headless chickens, suffering untold stress. He heard children crying for parents. He could see how racism, pollution and politics had messed up his beloved Planet. This was not the way he had planned it. Suddenly, in anger, he bangs his fists on the table and declares ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!! I’m calling a meeting right now!! So all the Planetary Leaders — as in Planets — got together to brainstorm. A Bat Flew Out of Hell, and the rest is history…!! In time to come, we will all realize this pandemic was for our own good. Indeed some of you reading this now would agree with me as you contemplate some aspects of your life that may have improved. I hope so. I genuinely do. Because I know in my heart that God is Good! No Pain. No Gain!

Big Hugs!

Patricia xxx