Hi Neighbor!

It’s not turning out as I imagined. I thought that from day one after the vaccine, I’d bounce right back into my former every day and holiday routines again, happily taking for granted the activities that once formed the structure of my life.

A friend echoed my own up-beat post-vaccine expectation. However, like me, she found herself confused when hopes met reality. As the world continues to creak open and shut, she was debating what her holidays could look like. She wanted to host extended relatives indoors for a holiday dinner as she once did. But the thought of even a familiar crowd for dinner with varying degrees of mask wearing and vaccine taking now creates unease.

I can relate. I spent the entirety of the last year avoiding people indoors. Now because of two vaccines and a booster, I feel comfortable letting my guard down a bit when formerly it was up like a warrior’s shield. But the thought of ramping up and hosting multitudes like the old days makes me re-evaluate.

What’s the best approach? After much intellectual ping-ponging, I concluded that it comes down to noting my own comfort level and formulating a plan of action tailored to my own variables. Can’t mirror decisions of others. They have concerns and vulnerabilities of their own. I really must make decisions for myself because one size doesn’t fit all.

This is just another covid induced but necessary mental and emotional re-calculation. It took a while for me to become acclimated to lockdown. It’ll take a while to become re-adjusted to living my life, one indoor get-together assessment at a time. I shared this with my friend. Even if our decisions aren’t the same or what we hoped for, it sounded reasonable to take stock of one’s own variables and reach conclusions that feel appropriate for now.

Hatching my own plan,
Jane

One of the greatest joys of this season is the opportunity to say THANK YOU to you our neighbors and we wish you all the happiness this season can bring, and may it follow you throughout the coming new year.  We’ll be back in Janaury! ~ The MLN Crew