Over the Edge of My Mask

Back on December 31, 2019, I published a blog called “Who’s on First?” all about the firsts I had experienced recently, like eating outside at a restaurant and reversing directions without using my GPS and being the first woman to sing with the North Hills Harmony Line Chorus.

I ended the blog with the sentence, “I can’t wait to see what new opportunities 2020 holds.”

I could never have anticipated what was waiting for all of us in the coming year. A global pandemic.  THAT’s what 2020 had in store. I probably don’t have to tell you that this was the first time I’ve ever experienced a global pandemic.

To complicate this further I was running an essential non-profit organization when the pandemic hit.
Adding to the overall uncertainty and stress was the responsibility of rethinking the organization’s business model and putting remote systems into place to continue to provide much needed services while safeguarding staff, clients, volunteers, and the public.   It was also the very first time in my career that I used the Crisis Management and Emergency Public Relations that were the topics of my master's thesis. 

I had my first video conferencing call back in March.  Since then I have been on roughly 150,000 video calls and none of us have mastered the technology yet.  Other firsts?  I made no-sew masks from old t-shirt sleeves, wore masks in public, sanitized groceries and any other packages that came into my house, and ordered some groceries for delivery. 

Can I say this was the most stressful period of my life?  Not necessarily, but it certainly makes the top five.

Oddly, it has not been all bad. There is nobody I would rather be in quarantine with than Mr. Rip.  We have always been very fond of one another, but we found out we love living and working together from home, essentially co-existing 24/7.  We have started taking walks around our nice neighborhood for the first time.  I put together a designated office space in my home.  The weekly video chats with family members have been great.

But then things really took a bright turn when I received two unexpected calls that could not have been more welcome.

First, we received the news that our son and daughter-in-law are expecting their second son and our second grandson this fall.  We were overjoyed to hear of this new addition to our family and cannot wait to meet the little guy.

Then came the job offer.  For a full-time 32-hour-a-week position that would allow me to continue to work in my field with a professional salary and full-time benefits.  A four-day work week, no evening meetings, and all this a few years before reaching retirement age.  I can’t believe my good fortune, or my three-day weekends.

Life goes on, even in the face of a global pandemic.  There are good things happening to us now and waiting for us on the other side of this crisis. I still can’t wait to see what the future holds, even if I am looking towards it over the edge of my mask.

P.S.  Wear your mask, wash your hands, and vote.