 |
| Saturday walking group |
This picture was taken almost exactly two years ago, and obviously we had snow then, too. Right now most of our recent white stuff is gone, but I had forgotten that we had this much snow not that long ago.
Today, I didn't go anywhere with any group. My lower back is giving me fits, and it's hard to get up and down from a seated position. This happens to me every now and then, and I know it's most likely going to get better sooner rather than later. In fact, it's better right now than it was this time yesterday, but I am still in pain and hold onto my lower back when moving into an upright position, like the old lady I've become.
Two years ago we were still unaware of what changes we would go through between then and now. It's been two full years of dealing with the pandemic. It was only a few short weeks after this picture was taken that we started into a lockdown scenario. By March 2020, I had stopped going pretty much anywhere in my usual routine. I found this from my blog back then:
My schedule is still plenty full, with yoga classes on Tuesdays and Fridays, my rarely missed Thursday hikes, and the Saturday walk. Not to mention the four days a week at the YMCA, which I am considering shaking up, too. It's just time for me to reassess what I am doing out of habit, and what I am doing because I really want to.
How little did I know how much my routine would be altered! I don't go to the Y right now because of Covid, or the Saturday walk which only recently started up again. (I do walk most Saturdays with Mel.) I still do yoga, but now it's on Zoom rather than in the studio. Occasionally I join the Thursday Senior hikers, but mostly these days it's just Melanie and me, a smaller group for several reasons. The pandemic has really changed my daily life. I also am not taking the bus because of possible exposure to the virus, and my friend John, who I usually sit with in the coffee shop has caught the latest version of Covid, although he's triple-vaxxed, like me. Even if I wanted to catch the bus, there's no place I would feel safe going to.
So I am not getting the exercise I was very much addicted to. Little by little, most of the days of getting all my steps and closing the exercise rings on my watch just isn't happening. At first I was upset by it, but I am finding that I am enjoying what I do accomplish much more than I did, when it was just routine. Once my sacroiliac joint is no longer painful, I'll do more than I am right now. Which is not much.
For two years we have been profoundly affected, pretty much all of us, by the pandemic. Other countries are also having a hard time of it, and I should be grateful that we can actually see an end to it in the near future. But, of course, that's what I thought last summer, and then Delta came to spoil our summer, and now Omicron is simply everywhere. So, I am hopeful but not totally convinced that I will soon be getting back to whatever my new normal will be. How about you? How are you doing two years in?
:-)
Now is the worst it’s been on the island since this all started. Omicron has spread like wild fire and we are hunkered down at home. I’ve cancelled appointments and plans. Our booster shots later this month may help us feel more secure but right now, those two weeks feel endless. We aren’t getting out much because of the wind and cold too. I miss nature! Birds at the feeder are more important than ever now.
ReplyDeleteTake care, Jan. I hope your friend John recovers quickly.
We're mostly fine, but I find I go out less and less because it's just too much trouble. You just settle in to a much lesser quality of life and you get sadly used to it. Then it's hard to get started again!
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry about your back, DJan. That is so annoying because it prevents us from doing certain things. I know certain movements don't come as easily to me these days and I have to be careful about what I carry. I used to be much stronger. Sigh... It's hard to believe two years have gone by without our seeing our children and grandchildren. Hawaii's COVID numbers went through the roof and I've now got family members and close friends who have somehow contracted COVID. I am hopeful that things will get better by summer. I am keeping my fingers and toes crossed.
ReplyDeleteI hope that since John was triple vaxxed, that he is already on the road to recovery.
ReplyDeleteWe coped with the other variants pretty well - largely due to borders slamming shut. Omicron is hitting us hard. I am continuing some of my routine. Carefully. Very carefully.
ReplyDeleteI hope you feel much, much better very quickly.
things have really changed for all of us. I think we would find it hard to realize what it was like before covid. I miss getting out.
ReplyDeleteOther than not going out to dine, my routine hasn't changed much. Altho, every time I cough, I wonder?!!
ReplyDeleteSince I never had a wild social life, my adaptation hasn't been too difficult for the most part. But there have been times when we have been separated from the kids, and that has not been nice at all.
ReplyDeleteI really do miss the freedoms we had but no longer enjoy. Just to get out and mingle. The other day while I was in my car waiting for grocery pickup, a woman approached me and spoke my name. It really took a minute for she was covered head to toe, had on the N95 mask so all I really saw were her eyes. Then it dawned on me. It was my best friend that I haven't seen in person in 2 years. Had I not been sitting in my easily recognized vehicle, we would have passed with out notice. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteIn the UK Omicron is responsible for about 150,000 new cases a day. However because the numbers being admitted to hospital have not increased and are now decreasing we have not gone into a lockdown again. Compulsory mask wearing and working from home where possible are the main restrictions. Although my life is very different from pre Covid days as I am not travelling anywhere, I am going to museums, art galleries etc.
ReplyDeleteI know how much exercise means to you. I am so sorry that your back hurts so much. As for me, my shoulder pain prevents me from cooking, watering the plants and typing normally on the computer. Life is hard for both of us!!!
ReplyDeleteI've avoided Covid thus far, and hope to continue. My niece has the Omicron variant.
ReplyDeleteI was housebound before covid, but it has had its impact on my life for sure. People the the senior apartment complex here don't wear masks so I avoid people in the hallways and try to never bump into anyone--so gone are the days of hallway gab sessions. I used to go to some of the activities in the community room but even though they have restarted them many, many months ago I won't go to anything now. I used to see McFamily regularly and have Gramma Days. I miss that most of all. Luckily I was already used to being alone the majority of the time--well, with my cat for company--so the transition wasn't as great as it has been for most people. Now I mostly see Leah when we are going to the clinic or hospital. Leah and I have tentatively resumed doing our one night a week visits (Craft Nite that is really a help-the-old-lady night--LOL!) but not sure how long we trust to keep doing that with the uptake in covid cases. Kind of is the new normal, I guess. One has to adapt and I do feel fortunate I am in the situation I am in under the circumstances. McFamily, too. We were talking about how lucky we are just last night. Life is still good. Quite good. :)
ReplyDeleteI was going to suggest some Physical Therapy for your back. But I'm sure with yoga you do plenty of back exercises. Amen to your hopes for an end to the pandemic.
ReplyDeleteTwo years ago I had a full calendar of classes, appointments, meetings, etc. Covid stopped all of that busyness and then I was homebound and only venturing out for necessities. After a spate of this, I began to really enjoy the unbusyness and got my hands dirty with weeding and landscaping. I also began those 5 Tibetan Rites that I learned about from you and my strength increased so I can can carry a load in my arms (currently my 1 year old grandson). Two years seemed to crawl but also seemed to fly by.
ReplyDeleteYour group picture looks great - especially without masks!
I hope your back gets better soon.
Well this winter is different for us living with Andy and Jen, more animals to keep us company and we are less isolated. In the spring we will go back to the woods and mainly see people outside. Yes it is a different life but I blame the unvaccinated they have done this to us, instead of putting it behind us we will live with it forever the idiots:(
ReplyDeleteIt is a different time, but if you look back, all times change and we do life differently. It was usually more slower change, and ones we picked for ourselves. This pandemic, and all it's brought, came on so suddenly. TWO years! Oh gosh, when I think of this darn virus taking two years of my life, and I know there is more to come, then I get furious. It didn't have to be this bad if everyone, and I mean everyone, had just gotten their vaccination. Like we did in the days of polio. No one argued or bickered. Right now, with so many being hospitalized again, I just want to say that if you've not been vaccinated, then you shouldn't be allowed a hospital bed.
ReplyDeleteWell, as you know, we didn't stop traveling. But we are loners who picnic instead of dine out and we're almost always outside, avoiding crowds. I think I had the virus in December. Triple vaxed too. Now, I just hope we test negative so we can get back home and not infect anyone. We have always worn masks.
ReplyDelete