And so, the calendar says we have begun a new month, the last 31 unpredictable days of 2020.
This new month of December reminds us that we'll soon have been at this Pandemic stuff for nine months.
Who could have ever conceived or would even believe that more-than-slight-detour would consume our lives----worldwide, no less?
Probably none of us would even take note of the possibility back in January when we were beginning the countdown toward our respective 2020 adventures, near and far.
At that time, we Love's were going to basketball games both here in Sandpoint (Willie's team) and in Spokane (the ZAGS).
Bill noted on Sunday, when the ZAGS women were set to play their season opener in South Dakota, that normally, the game would be in Spokane and that he'd be stopping off at Costco to purchase some groceries and his "20-mile chili" from the Costco concession.
He calls it "20-mile chili" because it takes a couple of miles to cool off and the rest of the miles to devour before he parks in his usual spot and begins walking a block or two to McCarthey Athletic Complex to watch the game.
Bill added that since the Pandemic began, the chili is no longer available at Costco, but you can still buy a foot-long hotdog or a full pizza.
The absence of "pizza by the slice" at Costco seems SO minimal compared to a whole lot of other absences that have mounted up over the past nine months.
Now, we have hit the month where promises of a vaccine to slow the progress of Covid 19 loom just around the corner. So, there's a ray of hope that our lives, which have changed so much will regain some sense of normalcy.
That vaccine promise still seems far off, though, when considering the near future and the possibilities that there will be no future for many of our citizenry, unfortunate enough to contract the virus and to be among those unable to fight it off.
This morning's paper reveals the loss of one of our school district bus drivers, due to Covid. It has hit home, along with the other frustrations associated with an illness some still believe is a hoax.
This is the month of Christmas, and this year, some aspects will still remain the same----the "reason for the season," and the extra does of appreciation for family wherever they happen to be.
We can also still decorate, and we can listen to beautiful Christmas music. We can give for the benefit of others---on any given day and on any level---even though this has been designated by our culture as "giving" day.
May we all view 365 days a year as "giving" day whenever the opportunity presents itself. After all, as my husband reminded me several years ago and as we so often see and experience, it's the little things that make the biggest difference. Often that has nothing to do with money.
In our family we are still figuring out how we will make the actual exercise of gathering as family and opening gifts somewhat normal but safe this year.
Maybe we'll all bundle up, go to my sisters' arena, put on some hot chocolate, set out some goodies, play some Christmas music, sit at safe distances in a circle and open those gifts.
I'm sure the horses wouldn't mind giving up their space to help their peeps enjoy a lifetime tradition.
How about that, Barbara and Laurie???
Just an idea.
Anyway, the turning of the calendar today signals a little of the good, the bad, the sad and the hilarious in a life we never imagined nine months ago.
Lord knows, each day we usually do experience most or all of the above, but during this month ahead, each of those will, no doubt, be enhanced.
May we make the best of Advent and of the days ahead.
Happy Tuesday.
And, to our dear friend Mow: a million virtual hugs today.
Your Border Collie Nation of beloved peeps and dogs weep at the loss of Webster.
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