A year ago, on Mother’s Day, I weeded my garden and nurtured my tearful soul. I was missing out on being able to see my daughters. I, of course, wasn’t the only mother who shared that experience. We were doing our part to be responsible, i.e., slow the spread…yada-yada.
I don’t know about you, but back then, I knew that weekend there was no way in hell I was ever going to grow into the term of a new normal. Families and people are meant to be together. PERIOD!
Fast forward to this year. As fast as possible, because, you know, last year sucked. Our weather here has blessed my garden beds with drought and multiple nights of frost. The pathetic appearances of weeds and stunted plants are quite sad. My bleeding heart plant depresses me the most. By this time of year, last year, it was gorgeous and blooming as in the featured photo above.
My flower gardens will revive. They’ll bounce back like how my soul did with some extra TLC. I’ve seen and experienced the feelings of the old normal return to my life. The first step happened on my trip to Florida.
The next step was on Mother’s Day last weekend. Before I tell you about that, I want to share thoughts about our experience yesterday at the vineyard. Last year at this time, Mr. and I went to the vineyard to feel ‘normal’ before masks were mandated in our state. This year was the first Saturday following the new CDC recommendations of ditching the masks. And that was embraced by the local vineyard fans. Mr. and I sat on the edge of the patio and people-watched the families and friends as they gathered together. It was refreshing. Surreal in a way. I’m excited to grow into the old normal again! I must confess that we also splurged and had food truck food (fries and Jamaican shredded pork). It was yummy. Don’t ya worry – we’re not going back to that way of eating, our new normal low-carb lifestyle is not something we’re giving up. It’s okay to splurge once and awhile.
Back to Mother’s Day – YES! I got to see my daughters! And hug them too! Lunch together in Perrot State Park reminded me of when we’d do things like that when they were little.
We’ve all grown this year, in unique ways. We haven’t lost the normal feeling of being together as a family thought, it was alive and real. And felt, oh, so, right! Even my in-laws were full of smiles as we spent time together.
I’m officially the shortest one in the family. As I look at my halo of gray hair next to the youthful dark browns of my daughters hair, it reminds me of all the years of wonderful benefits of being myself as a normal mom. Who, by the way, has grown into her empty nest role.
I just knew in my heart of hearts that we’d grow back to normal once again!
Post Inspiration – Linda G. Hill’s Stream of Consciousness Saturday – Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “growth.” Use it any way you’d like. Have fun!
PS – Happy Belated Mother’s Day to my US friends. I hope you’ve enjoyed your day and that your part of the world is feeling ‘normal’ again too. Hugs to all of you! xoxoxoxox! Do tell if you have any secrets for reviving a stunted bleeding heart plant.
That was nice to read. And I did something that you helped me through without even knowing . I have not been to a salon in 14 months, and the gray has taken over. At the start I just kept thinking how nice you look and it helped me keep going. Thursday I have an appointment to rid of the remaining color, I think I’m going to like the simplicity of never having to rush to cover the new growth again. Thank you so much!
Aw, thank you, Alice. Oh, wow – that’s awesome, you’re welcome. I’m so touched that I was able to help you on your gray journey. I think you’ve hit on a key part of it – the simplicity of never having to rush to cover the gray is wonderful! xx
So many wonderful family photos, Shelley! I’m so glad that you too have been with family again, to hug those you love. I had the same experience recently in Michigan. I’ve never liked the idea of a ‘new normal’ at all. Other than the virus, everything is as it was. The new normal is the old normal. Happy weekend to you!
Thanks, John! I’m so happy to read that you had a wonderful time with family!! It sure refreshes our hearts doesn’t it? I’m sure the memories will continue to bring you happiness until you can go there again. Happy weekend to you too.
I spaced out doing the pingback to Linda’s Blog – here it is for those who want to join in on the fun! https://lindaghill.com/2021/05/14/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-may-15-2021/
I am so glad you could be with your daughters. My daughter lives in Germany, she and family used to come for vacations every year, but not last year and this year too they will not be coming. It is sad but at least we talk every day by video call. Life has changed.
Thank you, Lakshmi. I hope travel will resume for your daughter. It is sad, but thank goodness for video calls. I can’t imagine not having those through all of this!
So glad you are getting back with your girls. That is huge and huge for your heart as well. Hopefully we will all get back to a “normal” that we can live with and continue to grow.
Thank you, Anita – yes, indeed it’s good for the heart and soul. I believe in my heart that we will get back to normal with God’s help!
How nice to be able to spend time with your daughters again. Although my husband and I get together non-masked with other double-dosers, we still wear our masks around strangers. I wish I trusted our fellow citizens more, but with so many anti-vaxxers, I don’t feel comfortable. I’m glad you had a terrific Mother’s Day!
Thank you, Janis, it was indeed nice to be with family. That’s wonderful that you and your husband have found places to be comfortable as your state opens up. IMHO, the whole event has been full of messaging about who to not trust, and to emphasize who to dislike for not believing as we do. I’m fighting that like hell. I don’t poke the bear much, if at all, but this past year has made a momma bear, that’s for sure. Yesterday I shared this post on Facebook. I don’t know who it is who wrote it, wish I could give credit, but it resonated with me:
“Copied from a friend:
For my friends who have recently gotten their shot or who know they will get one soon, I’m happy for you. I can see how relieved you are and I’m so glad that this option is available! 👏 💖
For my friends who aren’t sure they will get one just yet, or maybe ever, or already know that they never will, I want to throw some love and respect your way, too 🥰
The wonderful thing about informed consent is that two people with the same information, can make two completely different choices and neither of them is right or wrong ✨
There are benefits and risks to every medical procedure. Doing the “right thing” means you’ve weighed the risks and benefits for yourself, and are making an informed decision! The only wrong decision IMO is made purely out of fear, social pressure or emotional reactivity.
What’s right for one person, maybe wrong for the other. Both, on an intuitive and biological level. We’re all doing the best we can with the information and we have been given , so can this just be a gentle reminder *for all* to please respect each other and be mindful of the message we put out there making others “wrong”?
Reminder this information is also part of ones personal health information act and you have the right to not answer when asked whether you choose to get vaccinated or not
So whether you choose;
✅CV shot
✅No shot
✅Tequila shot 🤪
You’re okay in my books and I respect YOUR DECISION 😉💖
Copy + Pasted!”
I agree that most of us are doing the best we can in a very unusual situation. What I meant by not trusting people is that, if an event, venue, or grouping was for those who had both doses only, I wouldn’t trust that those who chose not to get vaccinated wouldn’t say they did just to take part. If there was some way to identify those who have their vaccines and those who haven’t, it would be easier to decide, but obviously there isn’t. Also, if it is determined that those who chose not to be vaxed can’t infect those who have (or, those for medical reasons cannot), that would be okay too. The sign that you saw on your recent trip to Florida mocking those who promote mask wearing as “socialists” is a great example of “emphasizing who to dislike for not believing as we do” and I’d love to see less of that too.
Hi Janis – I found your reply in my trash folder, I have no idea why WP does what it does – some form of discrimination by the powers that write the code I suspect? Thanks for sharing your clarification. You’re correct, and I respect your perspective. I, too, would love to see less of the messaging on who to like/trust or not, unfortunately, it comes from both sides. The moment a person accepts the message that if you don’t do what I found to be what I should do (i.e., be like me), we’re divided and not respecting each other for our differences and choices. From the top of the government, the messaging remains clear, we want you divided (on purpose) because you’re not doing what we say you can or cannot do. My emphasis, of course… 😉 It has been that way from the get-go of the pandemic. First off, it was for those who stayed home to save lives against those who went on living. Then those who wore masks against those who didn’t. And now it’s those who receive the vax against those who chose not to vax with a carrying-on of the mask mandate for those who chose not to vax. To emphasize and point out who is different and not to be trusted? Perhaps. Meanwhile, the virus has faded on its own like viruses always do. And the unhealthy choices in lifestyles that contributed to those who died (or will continue to die) from the disease are supported by bribes or to get free fast food. What if you had the virus and recovered? 32,188,699 people had it and survived. Natural immunity has been proven effective and not under an emergency use authorization to obtain. That’s not a small number of people who have had it and survived. What about the people who had it early on before testing? Or the asymptomatic people? Perhaps herd immunity is already here? There has been little emphasis on those who survived, I can’t help but ask why that is? By only looking at deaths we let the messaging of death control our lives. There are families who unfortunately had severe reactions to ingredients in vaccines and won’t ever take them again. I have friends who have and friends who haven’t taken the jab. I don’t fear either one of them. I’m in a position to have to evaluate both sides on health issues daily, I have witnessed death due to the virus and death due to the vaccine side effects. What about the over 4000 people who have died from the vaccine? I cannot, and will not support messaging that divides people on their basic rights as human beings – to breathe fresh air and to choose what medical procedures they put in or do not put in their bodies, and to keep their health information to themselves. It’s really nobody else’s business. HIPAA was written to protect those rights. I also won’t support a passport or paper way for others to tell health status. The question for me comes down to either I feel safe due to my own choices, or I don’t. If those who have been vaccinated, or not, still don’t feel safe with whatever their chosen path through this pandemic is, perhaps fear continues to be the message dividing us and driving their responses? Thanks for reading my rant.
Lovely that you got to get together with your daughters again. It’s been a year of revelations, one of which is how interconnected we really are. Nice photo.
Thank you, Ally, it’s amazing how a dose of family time, after being deprived of it, imprints on the heart so well. Yes, indeed, it has been a year of revelations. I hope your corner of the world is bringing you much joy. xx
Hi Shelley – love the photo of you with the girls – and wishing you a great week ahead 🙂
Hi Yvette, thank you – your comment brings a smile to my face. So nice to hear from you – I hope you have a great week too!
🙂
Shelley – these are great pictures of you and the girls, your immediate family and extended family. How nice to have someone to take photos of the whole gang. And wonderful to get together like old times again. We will return to normal, maybe another year, but it will be a slow process and a new normal I think. I am cautiously optimistic but remain masked up when setting foot out the door. For now, it works for me, plus it’s allergy season, so no sneezes, etc. last year or this year.
Thank you, Linda. Yes, we have a great guy who joins us and takes the photos. He’s like family (aka, my youngest’s boyfriend). I’m optimistic. I’m so happy to hear your allergies are better. I was thinking this year that the slow spring was helping slow it? We did get rain last night (finally) so maybe the trees that have been slow to kick off pollen will jump-start the allergies in our area? I haven’t heard many people complain about it anyhow. Yay!
Wearing a mask has helped immensely because before, even with OTC Alavert and getting shots (immunotherapy since 1975), I still sneezed. Well that is handy having a picture-taker as it’s awful to have a family member always out of the shots.
Glad masks have helped you. With our rain this week I finally got to see how much pollen was really layered everywhere. It’s nice to wash that away.
Yes, he’s been part of our family photos since the kids were in Junior High. He’s always at the ready to take a photo for us.
A friend in North Carolina has posted pictures on Facebook of how the pollen there coats everything turning it yellow. That’s great to have someone to take pictures … I do miss that. I’ve not had a picture taken of myself for about 15 years.
Yes, it is. Aw…can you use your smart phone settings to take one of yourself?
I don’t have a smartphone Shelley. I rarely, if ever, use my flip phone and it is really just for emergencies. I carry it while walking or driving, though I have OnStar for emergencies. In fact, my flip phone is 3G and I just had to buy it three years ago as AT&T no longer supported my 2G phone which I had since 2002 and loved its compact size. Now, I have to buy a 4G phone as AT&T no longer support 3G. The AT&T store has been out of 4G flip phones for weeks, so I ordered one on Amazon; it will be delivered tomorrow. I really should learn how to use the phone, but I text from my computer, not from the phone, although this phone, as well as the last one had a camera.
Linda, you’re SMART to not have a smart phone! They can be fun, and I enjoy keeping in touch with my kids through ours, but they can become addictive. My youngest went back to a flip-phone for her last 2 years of college because of how social media was such a distraction. She’s since gone back to a smart phone. Does your camera have a remote? I didn’t know mine did, but my daughter sent me one. I still have to figure out how to use it. Or you could take a picture of yourself in a mirror? 😉
I spend so many hours on a computer that this is part of reason I don’t use one Shelley. I guess a mirror would work. I don’t have a remote for the camera but I did have one for my original 4X zoom digital compact. It came with a few accessories and one was a remote and another a mini tripod. I’ve never used either though, but they are also Canon products, so might be compatible.
Yeah, as much time as we both spend on the computer, it’d be a grand idea to not have any smart phone to deal with!
I’m sure your loyal fans would enjoy seeing a photo of you in a mirror or a reflection in the ponds? 😉
I will have to work on it Shelley. I tried my reflection in a window down at Bishop Park with the water in the background with the big camera and the flash went off which essentially blurred my efforts.
Oh, no, that’s frustrating. I’m sure you’ll figure it out when you’re ready to do so. 🙂
I read this post with a huge smile. It was wonderful to see your family together and your girls look all so grown up. 🙂 🙂
Aw, I’m happy the post blessed you with a smile! It was wonderful to be together. Yes, the girls have grown up – it does makes my heart sing with joy!
Not sure when we connected but it seems like I have been watching them grow up for a while
I’m not positive either, but it was around the time when you had 1562 followers ;-). Thanks for hanging in there with me all this time, it’s fun to have blogging friends to share empty-nesting moments with!
You’re welcome Shelly 🙂