One Year

How am I marking this one year anniversary of the WHO declaring the covid pandemic? It wasn't really something I've been intentional about, but rather seems to have been forcefully shoved into my face by both the media and my place of employment. 

And maybe it's not such a bad thing to be deliberate about taking some time out to reflect on this past year. It's certainly obvious by my lack of continuing with blog posts that I haven't done such a great job of processing in words how pandemic life has progressed. 

Today started with a poignant moment as my bus waited to turn a corner, and I watched a security guard at the St. Joseph's Urgent Care lower the flag to half mast. I don't really have the words to express what emotions I felt just then, but somehow just the watching of that unceremonious action felt like a good way to mark today. 

It's been an up and down day otherwise.  There were moments of grief brought on by both pandemic remembrances and by the losses of life that come when you least expect and cause you to blot tears while riding the bus to work and cry in your heart, "Why is it so unfair??"  But there were also moments of happiness, enjoying time spent with a colleague I haven't seen in a few weeks when I worked at other sites, and celebration for receiving a permanent part-time position in my department at the hospital (which doesn't change much in terms of my job, but does guarantee me hours).  

So I ended the day by looking back at my blog posts from a year ago. It helped inspire the words for this "one year" post. There's just too much to squeeze into one post, so many ways this journey has twisted and turned, and it all just messes with your head a bit. One of these days I might find the time to sort through it all, but thank heavens, spring seems to finally be on the way, and there's nothing quite like warm fresh air and sunshine to lighten the spirit.