August 2021

Concert at the Foundry, August 13, 2021

My life right now is very different than it was two months ago, and worlds apart from a year ago. 

Every school morning I get a mask on each of my kids' faces and put them on a school bus. Then I don't see them again for several hours. I am happy for them that they get to go to the school building and that they don't have to try to learn from a computer screen. I am happy for me that I have this extra time to myself. Although it is scary to be able to hear myself think. The past 10 years there has always been enough commotion around me that my thoughts were usually in the background. Now sometimes my thoughts are too loud, so I have to find something else to listen to. 

I've been playing my cello a lot more. I played principal in the last concert and am in the driver's seat of the section again for the next concert. That means I need to not mess up too bad, so there is some extra pressure, but I have learned a lot and it is really rewarding.

It's easier to exercise. Especially since I hate exercising where anyone can see me. It's easier to connect with God. For me, scripture study and prayer is more meaningful in solitude.

The house isn't as clean as I hoped, despite having this extra time alone in the house. Rather than organize my nest, I have found myself spending hours in front of a laptop lining up logistics for the orchestra (I am still the personnel manager), and also stepping out of the house to visit and catch up with friends. But I have my moments where I dutifully clean, and try to bring some semblance of order to our home. I do want it to be a peaceful, welcoming place for the kids to return after school. 

Maybe sometime this week I will dig through some old photos and post those. Where am I at, May 2019? That was eons ago.