I ask this because for the most part, I am typically a glass is half full girl. I really try to see the upside of life and not get too bogged down in negativity. My resolve has been tested mightily this past year. As with all of us, SO many things in my world have been cancelled, postponed or just eliminated.
1- My son's wedding was postponed, but that has given them (and me) more time to save. We are looking forward to a great celebration at the end of this Summer.
2- I cannot see my mom in long term care but the upside of that is that she is very well taken care of, much better than we all would be able to do if she were living alone. She was admitted just about a year before this started and she has thrived for the most part. Her facility has done a remarkable job to keep the few positive cases they have had, from spreading like wildfire. A remarkable feat.
3- I miss seeing my family on a regular basis. With a granddaughter (14m) living 600 miles away, I am SO thankful for the technology that allows us to Skype and video chat as often as we want. I miss my siblings and their families but we have made the effort to communicate more by phone, text, Skype etc. It is a good thing!
4- My son worked in food service for a number of years in a conference friendly town that is just about shut down. Food service is hard work and often (in his world) promises of advancement did not come through. He has made a career change and is thriving! He wishes he had done it years ago. He is selling a higher end car for a well established chain. Someone there has taken him under their wing and he is thriving.
5- For as long as I can remember I have worked 2 jobs. I got laid off the 2nd one as the LTC didn't want cross contamination from my primary (school nurse) job. I could always use the $$ but truth be told, it became more of a habit than a need over the past few years. I really enjoy my weekends and the knowledge I don't have to go out in really crappy weather anymore. I may or may not choose to return when they call (and they promised they would).
6- My principal has a new appreciation for the role I fulfill in school and just how important it is to have a full time nurse. Not every school does and that is so sad. He has gone to bat for me on several occasions as needed and let me take the lead in situations where it was needed. I have done a tremendous amount of education for staff and faculty and kids. I have append a lot of time on the phone with parents this year, in some really in depth conversations. I have gotten to know some parents that I had never needed to to connect with before. It has been (mostly LOL) a pleasure!!
7- My state has rolled out vaccines relatively smoothly and I'm due for my second in another week or so. The best part of it is the change in needing not to quarantine post travel or post unprotected exposure. I personally am not crazy about the masks but I wear it religiously and I suspect health care will see a fundamental shift to mask wearing, much like we moved to gloves after the AIDs crisis. It makes me feel better that if a kid is in here that is Covid-19 positive, I will be better protected than I have been all year.
These are just a few. I know I am blessed to be working full time. I am SO grateful for that. I hope and pray that there never will be another time like in our lives.
I told you all I'm a glass half full...so it begs the question, who is pouring???
