I’m currently reading the new collection of Alan Rickman’s diaries. My writer-brain often absorbs tone and voice from what I read, and it’s been interesting to observe the melding of my journaling cadence with Rickman’s. It’s also been interesting to dig into the content itself. I suppose I expected something a little more distilled, based on reviews I’d read. However, the book so far reads much like my own journals, albeit with a much higher quotient of famous characters.
This amounts to a whole lot of mundanity with the occasional spark of insight or reflection, most of which gains value only with the passage of time. My notes from last week serve a practical purpose as a memory support. My notes from several years ago begin to hold more water as a story.
This Thanksgiving week, I’m finally getting around to something I’ve wanted to do for a while: dig out my 2020 journals and share an occasional this day in pandemic history.
Even though it was only two years ago, some of the content still surprised me. I’d forgotten I’d resumed going to some stores in person by then, and we’d seen our first mirage of The End (or we’d at least entertained some notion of maybe considering in-person Thanksgiving). Also, that 2020 perspective, our world smaller and quieter, appreciating the small things. If I only took one thing from the whole pandemic experience, I’d want it to be that.
Saturday Nov. 21
[on a weekend visit to the beach, our first family overnight since February 2020]
Family meeting [an every-Saturday affair]
Morning bike ride w/ [7yo] R. — at least an hour. Rode on the road w/ me up Evans Blvd to the Promenade, then around the perimeter of the north end to get home. Very little breeze, nice warm sun, all the marsh grasses gone to gold.
Lunch hoagies from Aversa’s.
Hike through the [Forsythe] wildlife refuge — very warm in the sun. Did not see snow geese. Did see a heron. Nice meandering hike through the woods and out to lookout. Did feel crowded, people on trails, LOTS of cars on driving route through the refuge.
Brief yard beers, R. riding his bike.
R.’s epic laughing fit starting at dinner.
Received word today [my husband’s aunt] is hospitalized w/ covid, [his uncle] waiting on test. [FIL] likely exposed? Sat in car w/ [his brother] for 3 hrs on Wednesday. Chance he wasn’t contagious.
Zoom w/ Dad & [sister]
Sunday Nov. 22
Dairy order.
Birthdays to acknowledge: Grandmom Halbe (Doug), Erin, Harper.
Chilly expedition to north end lookout for family photo. Atoned for the thwarted effort (in R.’s estimation) yesterday.
Much less pleasant than yesterday: cloudy (mostly), strong breeze.
Drive home 7:00ish-9:45ish
Monday Nov. 23
Weekly review. Meal plan.
Slow day — tired. Woke up w/ a headache. Calm before Thanksgiving storm.
Tuesday Nov. 24
Take out trash. Put the dairy cooler out before bed.
Planned out Thanksgiving food.
Late-afternoon walk. Stopped to chat w/ Dan at end.
Forgot to mention yesterday, neighborhood Goon Squad persists.
Dinner timing fiasco triggered abyss of hopelessness. Being a little silly here but I truly believed dinner would never, ever be ready — put bigger-than-expected strata into deeper-than-usual casserole dish. Took over 2x longer to cook!
Super tired in the evening — fell asleep on the couch before it was even time to tuck R. in. Ended up reading until 11:00 which was probably not smart.
Today Doug did battle w/ the ice maker which is officially out of order.
Wednesday, Nov. 25
Morning walk to MOMs for last few provisions. Gorgeous morning; sunny + cool. Store busy but not nuts.
Food prep extravaganza! Baked sourdough loaf & put starter to sleep. Sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole. Concerned about turkey thawing, put in drink fridge.
Set up Zoom open house & sent invite.
MCA Board meeting.
Today’s gratitude: having planned all along not to go anywhere for Thanksgiving. No in-person plans to upend. No moral dilemmas as [covid infection] numbers climb.
Thursday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving!
Family cleanup of downstairs in the morning. Also, we made a pumpkin pie.
Midday walk — warm!
Zooms pretty much noon-8. Our “open house” one, Mom’s side, Dad’s side, Doug’s side. In the end, every household was separate — a relief to see [extended family] pared down what they had planned.
Ate at 5:00, turkey + green bean casserole + baked mashed potatoes + candied sweet potatoes + stuffing. Everything pretty much turned out good! Only a little gravy but I filled it out w/ roux + sherry. Then later: pumpkin pie w/ whipped cream + vanilla ice cream.
R. played video games much of the day, but I decided who cares, it’s a holiday.
Today’s gratitude: MANY hours of conversation with family — a day that felt full and busy, and only quiet at the very end, just like I remember from Thanksgivings at our house growing up.
Friday, Nov. 27
Private browsing @ The Ivy [Bookshop] 9am. R. found the snake book he’d seen previously, also a new Wimpy Kid book. I signed some books, then browsed a bit myself. Overall super chill, felt safe.
Configured security cameras.
Afternoon walk ~1.75mi/30min.
R. proactively got out his chore sheet, did everything on it. Very calmly too! Wanted to play Minecraft. Later, he did the same thing w/ his shower! I got distracted and didn’t remind him to get started.
Lots of time hanging w/ neighbors out front — didn’t end up eating dinner until 7. That felt okay, though — it was fine and I decided we should prioritize social time.
Overall, a peaceful day!
Feeling gratitude for simple things: my neighbors/neighborhood, the ability to take a day to relax.
Leave a Reply