pandemic-versary

 

One year ago, on this date, the kids, through a class with F's (and L's former) charter school, put on a theater performance of Macbeth. (F was a murderer and L was costume assistant.) It was an outstanding performance, happening after quick and concerned communications and changes in plans last minute, as the news kept turning up new information about a growing pandemic. 

 

Grandparents were missing from the audience, from an abundance of caution. The dress rehearsal and performance were the only things F had done in 2-3 weeks, having been sick. (Yes, it has occurred to us since that he quite possibly had it.) 

 

After a joyous performance (who knew Shakespeare's Macbeth could actually have a hint of humor?), our family headed home. Little did we realize that that would be it for a long, long time. L's hybrid school had already begun shifting students to remote learning and M's work told him not to come in. L's dance classes got put on pause until they could shift to Zoom, where it has remained ever since. 

 

Effective Friday the 13th, our entire area shut down and on March 17th, became the first in the country to lock down into "shelter in place." An entire year has unfolded, unlike any other. M has never been back to the office, working from a stool next to our bed. Holidays and gatherings have all been outside and masked. We had our first summer missing time at the lake. We got chickens. We survived the worst wildfire season in decades. We have biked almost weekly with grandparents for months. F grew. A lot.

 

We have been extremely careful, and we and close family are all still here (blessing), there have been so many silver linings! But the social distancing has taken a toll on our emotional, mental, and developmental health and growth.

 

For the past couple of months, this year's weekly Shakespeare class has been on Zoom, with F as Julius Caesar and L as costume assistant again. Today, the kids resumed a weekly, outdoor, masked soccer skills group that they have been part of for 6+ years, the first time really engaging with peers in months. It was good. 

 

One year, then and now. What is your story?