(A bunch of random things in this post today! Some COVID-19 related and some not).
I know a lot of people are feeling down right now. Some people are anxious about COVID-19; others are anxious about the notion that they might have to stay indoors and away from friends and family; still others don’t care much about the virus itself but are deeply concerned about the economic ramifications this will have in the US and around the world.
Me, I’m actually fairly happy at the moment. It bums me out that I can’t get closer than six feet from LT right now (we don’t live together and we each live with other people, so therefore if we break the social distancing rules for each other, we are exposing the other members of our household), but other than that, I’m good.
I’m on spring break from student teaching, plus my grad program has been online since the beginning, so I’m just enjoying the extra time at home to focus on writing projects.
Speaking of writing, a progress report for today.
I haven’t talked much yet about Empress of Dorsa, mainly because I was granting myself a break after edTPA and the emotional rollercoaster of finishing Soldier of Dorsa. But now with COVID-19 canceling my trip to the East Coast for me and the high school being shut down indefinitely, I’m ready to tackle Empress.
So far, all I’ve managed is about three-quarters of an outline. It’s strange: I can knock out about 2,000 words per day without much effort, but writing a 3-5 page outline is HARD.
Here’s what I can tell you about Empress of Dorsa so far:
- It’s going to involve new characters we haven’t met before.
- Remember the original Real World? (My GenXers, where you at?!) The intro to the show talked about “…to find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting REAL.” Well, the same thing happens in relationships, doesn’t it? After the initial honeymoon of falling for someone wears off, things get REAL. Tension starts to show up. Disagreements happen. We have to navigate each others’ past and baggage and personality quirks. Expect some “getting REAL” to happen between Tasia and Joslyn in book three.
- We’re going to travel east of the East, past the Sunrise Mountains, beyond the boundaries of the Empire, and into places we haven’t seen yet.
- We’re finally going to find out more about the mysterious Order of Targhan.
I’m bummed I won’t get to see N.K. Jemisin.
I heart author N.K. Jemisin, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author who wrote The Broken Earth trilogy amongst other things. She is everything I love in a sci-fi author and I eat her words up. I had planned to see her when she came to my local San Diego independent bookseller at the beginning of April, but I’m going to assume that’s not happening anymore, not with everything in California indefinitely on lockdown.
But getting through this strange world event is all about looking for silver linings, y’all.
Yes, you could make yourself even more anxious by constantly reading social media posts, listening to Donald Trump’s racist rhetoric (and noting how many conservatives are still calling the response to the virus “overblown” and “a Democratic hoax”), reading every single news report on the virus, and constantly refreshing the Johns Hopkins real-time data on the pandemic’s spread…
OR
You could find a way to look for silver linings.
My silver linings include the following:
- I have more time to write.
- I taught myself fantasy map making and watercolor painting.
- I love watercolor painting so very much that I might do it regularly just for the hell of it.
- I organized a cool Facebook event called Lesfic for the Pandemic that hopefully brightened some spirits while supporting authors of lesbian fiction!
- I’m going to start spring cleaning (I swear!).
- I realized I don’t need the gym to have a kick-ass workout. I technically knew this already but now I’m actually doing it!
- My friends and I have started a group text chat that keeps us talking on and off all day long, even more than we normally talk.
- Pollution is down! Greta Thunberg is going to be so happy with everyone over the age of 30, LOL.
- Trevor Noah is doing the most fun YouTube videos ever.
- I’m not spending money eating out, and am trying some new recipes at home!
So when you think about it, there might be more to be grateful for than upset about.
I’m not trying to invalidate anyone’s concerns. I’m concerned, too, especially about my mom and people like her. My mom has a rare genetic immune system disorder that causes her to be especially susceptible to respiratory illnesses, anyway.
AND, on top of that, she has bronchitis right now. :-[]
So I’m concerned. And even though I’m 41 and in great shape, there are PLENTY of people in my age group who are in the ICU for this coronavirus right now.
BUT right now, I’m healthy, LT is healthy, the rest of my friends are healthy, my mom has bronchitis but she doesn’t have COVID-19, and overall, this thing could be a hell of a lot worse.
To the extent that you can, look at what you’re grateful for, look at the silver linings, and give yourself something positive to focus on. If you struggle with depression, anxiety, or other types of mental health issues as a rule anyway, my heart goes out to you. But don’t be fooled into thinking that a negative emotional experience is inevitable. Keep switching your attention from what’s getting you down to what can bring you back up. We don’t have to make this Season 1 of The Walking Dead. We can choose to support each other, to see ourselves as working through this extraordinary time together, and, perhaps most importantly,
WE CAN CHOOSE NOT TO HOARDE TOILET PAPER!
What are YOUR silver linings?
Share them below!
9 Comments
Jan · March 22, 2020 at 9:42 pm
[ok, so clearly I should add that this was going to be a quick post until I ‘got thinking’ and writing shenanigans ensued…ha…insert baby yoda GIF reaching for controls here]
I think the idea of staying grateful is an outstanding ‘option’ to have posted and recommended–there truly is a lot of fear based expression in media and other outlets, and while I have also seen a huge swell of positive and supportive commentary in the various LGBTQ community methods of outreach, nothing has come close to what has been demonstrated by lesbian authors–case in point, near daily positive and encouraging blogs/emails/notices provided by so many online, the free and discounted material so many are also offering, and the Facebook event created by Eliza A. Women and moving into action–simply astounding, but not really surprising. Alack and alas, I am not on any social media, so I will miss the Facebook gathering, but I think the idea of it, and the fact that it rallied up so quickly was fabulous. I expect that much of the same type of positive energy is focused through regular use of social media as well, since that would follow the intention I see in other avenues of contact. I am grateful to be part of a community that seeks to lift up and rise up rather than crumble.
As to what I do to weather the social distancing/virus experience:
–I had quit my job this past December, and the plan was to write; renew and maintain contact with those where ‘drift’ had occurred; get my health back in order, then get fit; attend to other things as revealed; soooo, this enforced time in-house has provided more focus to do all of the above.Or avoid, but we’re staying positive here. 😉
–because I had been writing to more folks already, I was able to connect more quickly with friends from afar, and although I couldn’t do much but write, being in contact lessens the tendency for fear of the unknown to arise. We have concerns about friends who are at risk health wise, or whose jobs are impacted, but maintaining contact and sharing thoughts, jokes, stories, ridiculous memes or youtube links, or just a friendly word or two really goes a long way to reduce a sense of isolation some might feel.
–I am grateful to live with my wife, who was initially home on spring break, and will now continue to be here more as her place of employment decides how to do what they do–it will be online instruction somehow, and since she is very organized, she has already modified her plans to accommodate this, but the school/district have to set up the logistics. She goes back in for a partial day this week to pick up her computer and other materials as needed; that will help since we were sharing one laptop.
–I am conscious of the gift of being together, and being healthy, and being in a relationship that is loving and respectful–I hold tenderly the knowledge that not everyone has this reality.
–We are both spiritual people, [Quakers] and for us, there is an additional layer of connection we share with others. I find it interesting that a time when people might naturally be inclined to seek out some link to the Divine through spiritual gatherings, they are instead nudged into a more introspective and perhaps personal opportunity for that experience. For us, that is where it starts.
–Since our local and regional faith community cannot meet in person, we have written and provided a series of spiritual reflections for use by each group; we stay connected with f/Friends in various ways so no one slips through the cracks.
I do ponder a few things, however:
***in a recent trip to the grocery store, I found the paper goods aisle empty of most items–apparently cloth towels are the suggested substitute for paper towels, but I do have a quiet concern [I told you we were Quakers…] about toilet paper. So far we are just doing a lot of sighing or staring in silence when we open the hall closet…and close the door.
***in that same trip, Ben and Jerry’s was on sale, BOGO, I guess as a consolation prize. While ice cream does not fit in my aforementioned goals of health or fitness, it was clearly a test I either failed or passed based on interpretation.
Stay safe all.
The Real Person!
Thanks for the comment. Long posts are welcome any time! 😀
Sarah Wiseman · March 24, 2020 at 11:34 am
Hey Eliza. So bloody fantastic to chat briefly with you on Sunday during the lesfic for the pandemic event. Tbh, my mind went totally blank for a good 10 mins at the start of your bit! Nerves! 🙄 😅 But it was a fun event, and I even ended up buying a couple of books by authors I’d never heard of, which is great. It was fascinating to hear what Liz Saydah had to say… I’ll be able to picture her in her studio now, when I hear her voice – and slaving away over edits 🙂
I Love your honesty about the silver linings of being physically isolated during this crisis. Yesterday I was slammed down by a total stranger on Facebook for a relatively light hearted comment I’d made on a friend’s post about not being too doom laden in jokes (the joke was about coffins!) … Normally I ignor trolls, but I stressed myself out for an hour composing a kind, positive, evidence based reply… About panic being a bad thing for people… Then, posted that and stressed for another hour about what storm I’d started… Dumb! 😕
Unusually I do have some free time today, as, in an alternative universe, I’m on a road trip with my Canadian cousins, savouring various artisan beers around Belgium and the Netherlands. But in this one, with that trip postponed, I’m at home, doing household chores and reading more stuff than usual.
This morning I have already rescued a Starling that got itself trapped in my chimney! (my wife woke me up at 7.30 am to tell me ‘something’ was in the flue, and then ran off to the living room to write emails!)
Later I’m planning to investigate an ominous animal-dug hole that has appeared at the side of our house that I’ve been ignoring. 😱 Eek! 😳 I suspect rats, which is… Great.
The joys of an old house in the county!
So, I’m quite grateful to be called into to work tomorrow to cover staff ‘self isolating’.
I live in a very beautiful part of Northern England, that fills up with tourists from Easter to October, so it’s very odd that things are so quiet. It’s great in one way, but terribly sad in many others… I know lots of people who will struggle financially. But, I think we will adjust to this new normal, and will probably know our neighbours a bit better and will impress ourselves by how resourceful and community spirited we can be… So, I’m hopeful!
Hey, I’ve wittered on… I hope you continue to make the most of your free ish time, and I look forward to reading your blogs… (I’m utterly impressed about the water colour learning! I’ve been thinking one thing I may have to learn is how to cut hair, since my wife gets VERY ansty if her hair gets too long. 💇♂️)
I’ll try to comment regularly, if that’s OK! But not as long as this one.. I’m delaying the rat digging! 😳
X
The Real Person!
Sarah,
What part of northern England? I spent summers in W. Cumbria for about 15 years (it’s a long story).
And I am empathizing with your wife on the hair. I usually cut my hair once/month but I’m willing to bet we will still be under social distancing orders come next weekend. 🙁
Alas, we all have to make some sacrifices, right?! LOL!
Sarah Wiseman · March 25, 2020 at 10:52 am
Ha! West Cumbria!? 15 summers! I’m intrigued! We live in relative sophistication in a small town called Grange over Sands… Near to Kendal… So, south Cumbria. So, you know the area… Nice! West Cumbria is hardcore! You prob know more Cumbrian dialect than me then! I didn’t grow up here, but have always had family here. I hate the wet winters, but the spring and summer can be amazing… As you know, hopefully! Tho I have known it rain for the whole of August! 🙁
On a totally different note, I just looked at Soldier of Dorsa reviews on Amazon and there are lots of brilliant ones… Do you get to see the Amazon UK reviews? You should! 😊
The Real Person!
Sarah,
I know exactly where Grange over Sands is! Every summer, I would take the train from Manchester Airport to Ulverston, and Grange over Sands was like the next or next-to-last stop before Ulverston! That’s cool!
I love W. Cumbria, but I can’t stand the dampness of the Lakes. I agree that it’s beautiful, but it’s just too wet for my delicate constitution. Well, really, all of the UK is too wet for me, LOL!
Sarah Wiseman · March 25, 2020 at 9:13 pm
Well well, small world! That’s so lovely to know. Made me smile to think of you taking that train ride from Manchester, and anything that can bring a smile is needed right now! 😊
The Real Person!
Grange over Sands was the stop where I needed to wake up — you probably know that flying from the US to the UK is always an overnight flight, so by the time I arrived in Manchester I was always terribly jet lagged and exhausted and would fall asleep almost immediately. Grange over Sands is one of the only stops I remember, because it was one of the few I would be awake for!
Sarah Wiseman · March 28, 2020 at 11:40 pm
Lol, I’d like to say Grange is a place always worth waking up for… But most people would describe it as a place more likely to induce sleep… (that’s why I like it, the rain however is something else!)