October 25 - Flu Vaccine

Have you had your flu shot yet? Lyle and I had ours last week at our local pharmacy. Things were a little different than they were last year.

I had phoned the week before to make sure that we didn’t need an appointment. We didn’t but as we went on the first possible day that the vaccine was offered, there were quite a few people waiting to take advantage of the early opportunity. The first difference was that we didn’t have to sign anything. Because of COVID, everything was verbal. This suited me just fine. I don’t like to sign things that I can’t see. Usually I like to have someone reliable with me to read any printed documents before I sign.

On Monday, we wore our face masks as we entered the drug store. This too was different from last year but this year it has become the norm. Our face coverings were of the fabric home made variety and the pharmacist was wearing a mask and a plastic full face shield.

The shot itself was easy but what surprised me was that we weren’t required to wait around to see if there was any reaction. I think that the drug store was just happy that we all cleared out as soon as possible. I have spoken with other people who had their shots in other locations. Some were required to wait and for others they were expected to leave right away.

It seems that many things are different this year and like most people, Lyle and I just do our best in trying to adjust. The most important thing right now is that we have had our flu shots. Have you?

 

October 18 - Holiday Celebrations

It is hard to think about and to plan for special celebrations in this time of COVID 19. For instance, what did you do to celebrate Thanksgiving? Some people were very creative in the way in which they chose to celebrate and still stay within the safety and health guidelines. I know of a family who had a wiener roast and picnic in the park. One of our neighbours did a zoom call timing it with the eating of their Thanksgiving turkey.  I am thankful that many people chose to forgo the usual large family gatherings in their efforts to avoid transmission of the virus.

This Thanksgiving, Lyle and I were fortunate in that we were able to celebrate with our Calgary family. Even this required some forethought and planning and we were also fortunate in that the weather cooperated with our plans. Lyle and I moved out to our motor home and camped in our driveway. The Calgary family stayed in the house. We had coffee outside in the morning sunshine and walked or drove in two separate cars to the local playground during the day.

Then late on Saturday afternoon, our wonderful son-in-law took over in the kitchen to prepare an amazing Thanksgiving meal. Lyle set out two tables on our back deck so that  our two households could eat while still maintaining our physical distance. It was definitely cool but we wore our jackets and the wind had died down. We have certainly celebrated warmer Thanksgiving weekends in the past but given our current global situation, we feel that we did very well to have this special family time – together but  apart!

Thanksgiving wasn’t only about eating turkey. Mostly it was the time we spent together and that was basically outside. There is a picture with this post. It is of our granddaughter climbing the branches of a large tree by the local walking trail. Lyle is keeping an eye on Lexi and I am sitting at a picnic bench in the background. The tree is a great favourite with the children who use the walking trail.

Lyle and I are already thinking about Christmas. Yes, I know that it is still just over two months away but this year, 2020, we need to make a plan. This is what we have come up with.

If we all stay well, and there are no further restrictions to travel, the Calgary family will come again. Obviously Lyle and I won’t be staying in our motor home in the driveway so we are planning that we can all stay in the house. To accomplish this, both families will isolate for a two week period before Christmas. This will require some organizing. All our shopping for groceries and any other items will need to be done ahead of time. There won’t be any little social get togethers with friends during the pre-Christmas season. We might think of other precautions before December but in the meantime, this gives us all something to think about and to look forward to.

 Every so often I feel sad that family visits can’t be as they used to be. When these waves of sadness come over me, I try to think ahead to the next family holiday celebration and of how I might be able to make it a memorable and happy occasion. I have always been a bit of a plan maker and if ever there was a time for optimistic forethought and planning, this is the year for it. 

 

 

October 13 - Finding the Path

There are a few days in the fall when it is almost impossible for me to find my way along the walking path. In summer, the grey walking path is defined by grassy green borders and my white cane can quite easily detect the difference between the hard surface of the asphalt and the softer surface of the dirt or grass. When the autumn leaves fall and cover everything - both path and edges, this contrast disappears.

Usually this phenomenon only lasts for a few days. The wind that has blown the leaves from the branches soon reasserts itself and for the most part, the mounds of leaves are blown away. Still, there is that short period of time when it is difficult to negotiate a safe path through the leafy covering.

Lately, as I walk down by our river walking trails I have been thinking of this and also of how we are all trying to find our way through the days of the pandemic. I know that there are protocols to follow but sometimes the borders of how we are to negotiate our  way become a little fuzzy. Lyle and I are doing our best. I have been trying to think that the way through the days of the virus is much like the leaf strewn days of autumn. It is difficult while we are searching for the path through, but soon the wind of optimism will blow again and the path will be clear once more.

There is a picture with this post. It shows the ground covered with autumn leaves. Under the covering is the path where I usually walk.

 

Sue walking on a leaf covered path