To do it again…

April 15, 2020 by 10 Comments

There wasn’t much thought involved with writing a list of what I’ve missed throughout this virus pandemic and would like to do, once it’s over.  Actually, it’s all very basic.  Even simple.  Call it my Wish List. 

 

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Hugs.  Yes, up close and very personal expressions of caring, of love and good old gratitude.  With family members living close by, we stand at a polite, safe, distance from one another.  The same with friends.   It’s all just so…clinical.  Efficient and unemotional; coldly detached.  A hug at this point in time could be a needed expression of support yet, it can also be dangerous, possibly a lethal human-to-human touch.  In fact, there’s an interesting book written on this subject...”THE PROS AND CONS OF THE HUMAN HUG” by S. Elia.  You can Amazon it!  Sadly, practices surrounding future hugging will remain just thoughts for the unforeseeable future.

 

gathering

Gatherings.  This is a tough one.  Meetings, social events, family get-togethers, religious worship.  I’m guessing this all can be orchestrated as long as everyone comes with their own tape measure and maintains an acceptable space from one another.  At this point, after enduring the required “stay at home” procedures, I’m ready to go, ruler in hand.

 

Fly

Traveling.  Boy, I’d really, really like to fly the friendly skies at the first opportunity.  More than that, I’d like that window to open for my, too far away, family to come and visit.  Even with that, there are just so many variables involved and it’s anyone’s guess as to if, and when, airline travel will resume normal functions. 

 

Shopping

Shopping.  Not just the random runs to the supermarket…real shopping!  To the local nursery for plants, to a shop for clothing I don’t need but want, to a local thrift shop to find a precious collectible, stopping at a farmer’s market.  Silly stuff.   Okay, none of these are what might be deemed necessary but all were part of my now bygone normal.  The freedom to take a ride in the car and stop here and there on a whim.  I miss that and can’t wait to do it all again.

 

work

Work.  I cannot wait to return to work.  It won’t be easy, given the beauty industry I work in and all that will be required in maintaining safe practices for everyone.  Trust me, I KNOW how clients have been inconvenienced with not being able to have hair services.  The impact that COVID-19 has had on non-essential businesses has been fairly devastating for many hair salons.  The strong will indeed survive and the loyalty of clients will be instrumental to that process.  I’ll be ready to style, trim and color-correct, hiding behind my mask and trying hard not to gasp at the results of too much kitchen-hairdressing.

So, there you have it.  My 5.  Nothing too earth-shattering, probably not even remotely exciting, even boring.  Representative of my own particular normal.  Wikipedia sums me up best… behavior that can be normal for an individual when it is consistent with the most common behavior for that person. Normal is also used to describe individual behavior that conforms to the most common behavior in society.   Blah, blah and more blah…in all this time, I’ve always thought I was a staunch non-conformist.  What the hell does stupid Wikipedia know anyway?

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…Write a list of 5 things you’d like to do when we’re done social distancing.

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Learning to manage…

April 10, 2020 by 4 Comments

There has been little, or no, escape from what has been on everyone’s mind recently.  This current virus pandemic has the world in a deathly grip, affecting so many physically and tormenting most of us emotionally.  How do we get through this?

Personally, I don’t know if I am getting through.  I certainly talk a good game, do my best in being cautiously-optimistic, but it mostly ends there.  That damn fear of the unknown sets in and shakes my ability to maintain a pragmatic attitude. 

I definitely watch newscasts far too often, just trying to stay informed, hoping to hear some glimmer of hope, even learn something new with regard to treatment and future preventatives for COVID-19.  The time spent not working and somewhat sequestered at home has given me more time to write.  A positive.  Conversely, this expanse of free time brings along too much time to think…and remember.  Kind of a double-edged sword.  At least for me.

What I need to do is just dive-in, head first, and busy myself with projects that I keep on lists in my office.  Yes, I’m a compulsive list-maker and I’m good at it!  I even keep said lists, in files arranged by dates, and review them often just to see what, if anything, I’ve managed to accomplish.  At present, I’ve accomplished moving that file box into a closet and thought, as I was closing the door, of that last scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark. 

Raiders storage

But…this week, these past few days, have taken the proverbial wind from my sails.  A very dear friend is currently undergoing virus treatment, on a ventilator and receiving Hydroxychloroquine along with Z-Pak.  Each day, brings another update from his family and a glimmer of hope.  Any thought of breathing a sigh of relief  is out of the question, the worst is far from over and the situation could change in a matter of minutes, even seconds.  And, in the last few days, friends lost their beloved aunt to Coronavirus.  None could be at her side when she passed and this heartbroken family now cannot gather to grieve and say good-bye at a time when families need to support each other.

I’ve learned, in fact, I think we all have, that families will quietly join together where they can to celebrate Passover and Easter.  All will welcome Spring, birth and rebirth,  according to their religious traditions.   All have learned that, at this tumultuous moment in time, taking responsibility for themselves, the community and the world is a shared, crucial, obligation.

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workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writers Workshop:

What do you do to manage anxiety or uncertainty caused by the current Covid19 climate?

Write about something you learned this week!

I combined two writing prompts into my post this week.  One just seemed to blend well into the other.  As much as I wanted to write about anything other than COVID-19, there is just no escaping it!  Possibly I’m not allowing myself to take this pandemic lightly, as many people did, early in its assault on our country.  Once everyone lets down their guard and becomes complacent, the virus wins! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I first looked at the list of suggested writing prompts for this week, I somehow latched

 

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Stay home, dammit!!

April 3, 2020 by 6 Comments

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Let’s face it, there is little to laugh about of late.  Fortunately, my having an extremely sarcastic personality (shocker, I know) allows for me to stand back, now and then, snickering over some of the idiocy that presents itself during this virus pandemic.

Hey, one must laugh wherever and whenever one can!

My particular, non-essential, employment came to a halt at 8 p.m. on March 21st.  I’ve ranted about the aftermath in other posts, given the foundation of my industry and its dedication to beauty.  Maintaining an acceptable self-image, especially where one’s crowning glory is concerned, is more important to most salon clients than changing the oil on their car.  At present, my stylist-friends share that their clients are mostly handling this situation well and many salons, for a nominal fee, are providing their actively-working clients with their formulated hair-color mixtures for self-application at home.  For them, I can well understand not letting those gnarly roots show while they are out in the workplace, still able to bring home a paycheck.

Now, for those currently unemployed, those retired and hunkered-down at home (where you should be)…who cares?  Weekly clients…it’s damn time you learned how to shampoo your own head, at least for the sake of cleanliness!  Where are you going that you just can’t plop a scarf, or a hat, on your head if you do venture out?  People are walking around wearing masks and gloves, most looking like they just stepped out, ready to rob a bank.  You, putting a covering over a 3″ wide strip of roots, or hair that hasn’t been teased high enough to touch the roof of your car,  won’t get anyone’s attention!  Trust me!

All of this brings me to someone (who shall remain nameless) who has demanded, insisted and, along with much pissing and moaning, refuses to acknowledge the dire situation involving the rampage of COVID-19!  This client (and, trust me, there are millions more like them) just cannot understand why any legalities, or safety regulations, should impact their individual lives.   Their sob-stories…“Just lock the salon door and no one will know.”, “If you get caught by the state inspector, just say I’m your family!”, “Well, I just HAVE to get my hair done and that’s IT!”.

I won’t share their name but…here’s their photo.  Feel free to distribute it from wherever you are. Just call it my bit to do some community service for the salon industry.

Curlers

You’re welcome.

 

workshop-button-1From Mama Kat’s Writer’s Workshop…Share something that made you laugh this week.

I’ll admit to not laughing about much.  Some of the endless virus meme’s that everyone shares bring a smile, others bring a pause, a reminder, to keep prayers going for everyone.  I’ll also admit to being scared, for my family and friends and for humanity.  That being said, beyond this, I cannot laugh at the selfishness of others when so many humans are scared and suffering with this pandemic.

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