Checking In

I’ve been sick. Not THE sick, but sick.

When I first started coughing, I went to a “quickie mart” in the mall across from the hotel and bought chips, chocolate, water, cough drops, and a thermometer. The man at the register asked, “Are you panic buying?” I didn’t quite understand him at first, so I replied with a little nervous laugh. He went on, “Everyone is panic buying…they have bought all of the sanitizer and alcohol.” Finally, I understood him. “Ah,” I said, flustered but trying to look cool, “As long as there’s still whisky, we’ll be alright.” When I played it back in my mind I answered, “Yes, I always buy chips when I panic.” Which is also true.

Thing was, I knew I couldn’t/wouldn’t get on an airplane if I had a fever. Not now.

Fortunately, no fever. Just a brutal, heavy, punch in the head kind of cold. Complete with a cough that unnerves anyone to hear it. (Actually, mostly people only hear it over the phone, as is the new custom.) Anyway, this last week has been a relative blur of trying to get a little remote work done under the weight of fatigue, fuzzy-cold-in-the-head-brain, and the predominate anxiety that’s a current component of every air molecule.

Good News! Yesterday I “turned the corner,” not entirely well yet, but there’s that moment when you realize you’re on the mend. Whew! Also, I’ve lost 6 lbs. My clothes feel the same though, so it’s probably some kind of trick of the light. Ah well.

So…it’s been weird, right?

Since my last post, the world turned upside down. Generally, in situations where there is so much change and emotion, I tell myself to journal – not to share. Eight times out of ten, I never really do share what I intended or expected I would. I always think “With hindsight, I’ll paint a better picture.” When mostly, I don’t at all. And, I’m not sure that’s the right take for this time because, well, it’s the long haul. We’re bracing and don’t have any real idea what the new normal will look like. Uncharted and out of our control.

We’re all holding our breath. Which is, in fact, the opposite of what we need to do. So…quit it.

Breathe

We know “shortness of breath” is a key COVID symptom. Thus, it’s very very even more important to take the time, right now, to breathe deeply. On purpose. Fill your lungs. Comfort your soul. Nourish your blood with oxygen and hope. Breathe together with your family – homeschooling? Breathe with the kids. Count it out. Breathing is my best self-care advice.

Do activities that require breathing. Exercise is obviously great – walking, running, lifting, whatever you’re in to. (I’m not great about exercise, it’s a weakness I keep thinking someday I’ll overcome.) Marcus has a rebounder and he jumps for 3 songs most every day. Again, oxygen, rejuvenation, breathing. Quinn is good about walking and stretching.

Another activity is singing. Singing is so good for you! Dancing, also. I haven’t done any singing or dancing this last week, because of the aforementioned sick. Marcus, however, has.

Sing

His voice coach (and music therapist) set up a remote Zoom meet for his lesson. I am going to give you a less than one-minute peek at how that went:

So, pretty well. 🙂

You may notice they chose to work on one of his favorite songs for this session, just to get the feel on how things will work with this computer connection. If you want to know more about this song, “Who I’d Be,” check it out here. Shrek and the Broadway actor, Brian D’Arcy James, are just a few of Marcus’ influences. Read about the (second) time he met Brian here.

Some of my friends are writing this week about songs that lift. I am looking forward to reading all of their posts, linked here, because as you know – I love music! And learning of new songs and/or celebrating old favorites is good for us.

After all that ramble- here’s my share of a song to lift you up, in fact, if it’s in you – lift up and dance!

Thanks for Checking in,

Much Love,

Ms