A Day In The Life

Good Sunday Morning from my neck of the woods. I’ll share with you my daily view.

Here is the latest news from the county I live in, in New Jersey.

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — The county that has been at the center of the outbreak of the new coronavirus since the earliest cases were announced in New Jersey has had one of the deadliest days so far, as state officials announced 47 more fatalities on Saturday, April 4th. Bergen County now has 179 deaths as a result of the outbreak, and there have been 5,760 positive cases of the virus that causes the respiratory illness COVID-19, state Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli said.

It is hard not to feel “touched” by this Pandemic, when greeted with news like this, and also emails from our local synagogue informing us that two members died overnight. This is real. Yesterday a memo went out from the township advising everyone to use a mask or scarf to cover their face if they need to go out, as Covid-19 is transmittable even when people are NOT showing symptoms. I have not left my house except to sit on the patio in back, for 2 weeks. The school psychologist called me on Friday just to “check in” as I skipped a Zoom faculty “chat” meeting last week. She asked how I am handling it all, and I told her things were ok. I am working, and as a result busy the entire day, and thankful for that. My husband is home with me and also working. I started doing yoga for 15 minutes in the morning and the evening which helps physically since I am not running these days. I speak with friends everyday, or Zoom so I can see them. I am also not thinking at all about the future. A friend said to me that I am really “living in the moment” and I think that is true. One day at a time. There is no realistic time frame for when life like this will end. There is no purpose served in thinking and wondering about it. When this is over, it will be over. It is out of our control. How can I take back some control? Take each day as it comes. Keep busy within that day, accomplish something, even if it just cleaning out a room or doing laundry.

Eight years ago I broke my elbow. I tripped over someone’s foot on the way out of a store, went airborne and landed on my elbow. I smashed my olecranon-the bony point, to bits. In a split second my life was turned upside down. I needed surgery and a plate and screws to hold everything together. I was also greeted with the news that I had osteoporosis. I wore a cast for 3 weeks, a much longer time than usual because of the osteoporosis, and much longer than elbows are usually left immobile. The elbow is finicky, and if not used will often not bend again.  Such was the case with me. I started physical therapy and for 3 months my arm was frozen in place, not bending. No lifting a coffee cup to my lips, no holding a telephone, no putting in a contact lens. No driving.  Pain. And the fear that perhaps it would never bend again. I sunk into the lowest point I can ever remember being in, in my entire life. My life consisted of PT, crying, and just wishing the day would end. Finally, after 3 months it did begin to bend, but I would need another surgery to remove the screws. This was my life for a year. My freedom had been taken from me, my ability to do things for myself, my life as I had known it. I was stuck in the house most days, unable to do anything. I was focused only on time going, the pain stopping, and returning to the life I had known. I believe after having gone through that experience, perhaps that is why I am able to handle the times we are living in now. The time will pass, the days will go. I hope we remain well through it, and look forward to the day the “curve flattens” and less lives are lost. Continuing to have gratitude in the moment is where I will focus my energies right now. Stay well out there!