I haven’t blogged in quite some time, and I am trying to get back to it. I’m just going to use the blanket “2020 Dumpster Fire” excuse and move on…
I hope everyone is staying safe right now. It was a fairly dramatic fall in my house. First, we were lucky enough to be chosen to adopt Riley the Pug. She’ll be 8 in January, and is a ball of energy. She has adapted quickly to the routine here, and she fits right in with the cats, who graciously tolerate her. Her first night she asserted her dominance by insisting on a trip to the emergency vet because she got so excited for so long she went hypoxic, and most likely had aspiration pneumonia. Since then, in an eight day span this September Dumbledore the Cat and Riley the Pug made an impressive combined total of 3 Emergency Vet visits and 6 clinic visits. I won’t go into all the details, but let’s just say my life for the next two weeks involved me pilling at least one animal every four hours day and night.
I’ve been blessed to work at home while Covid rages on. I get an incredible amount of work done in my basement office. But I miss seeing people in person, and can hardly wait until I can get back to life as usual. One thing I’m really missing is traveling. Lately pics of past vacations have been popping up like crazy, and I’ve been craving some beach time in Mexico, social time in Vegas, or culture time in DC or London. This year I’ve already missed trips I planned to Idaho, Arizona, Oregon and Texas due to the virus, not to mention my hopes of getting to Los Angeles to do a Safari Wine Tour. Pet a giraffe and drink wine at the same time? Yes, please!
After Halloween, I start getting excited about my favorite holiday – Thanksgiving. I have some great memories of Thanksgiving from when I was a kid. I remember my dad designing our Christmas card and getting it set up to print on his 100+ year old platen style printing press, and waking up to the smell of onions and celery sautéed with butter and garlic to go in wild rice and stuffing. My mother always concocted a huge dinner in her small kitchen, and depending on the day you ask me, I’ll give you a favorite dish – wild rice, mashed potatoes, stuffing, 7-layer salad, pecan pie, pumpkin pie…all of it is in play.
But as I’ve aged, Thanksgiving has changed for me. As much as I love cooking a feast, I love the time it takes to make it. I love the quiet time in the kitchen chopping, mixing, and basting away because it gives me time to think and to be thankful for what I have. I have a lot to be thankful for even during this pandemic – a good job, my mother, sisters, brother, niece and nephews, some furry friends to make me giggle, and the most amazing friends on the planet. I have a roof over my head and food on the table. I miss my dad a lot this time of year, but I still can’t help but feel joy remembering him and the gifts he gave me that shape who I am. There is so much devastation brought by 2020, and it is so easy to be overwhelmed with sadness every day. So I ask you to please join me in sending joy and peace to those who need it, for whatever reason they may be suffering. And if you need joy and peace sent to you, reach out to me at evolutionallocution@gmail.com.
I hope to see us all able to gather together again very soon. I miss hugs, laughing so hard we cry, and doing the little things we used to take for granted.