Surreal.
I keep searching for another word to capture how I'm feeling,
but I can't get past surreal.
Inside our home everything feels normal.
I'm sitting at the kitchen counter typing, snuggled in a warm robe.
Terry is slouching on the couch texting with a friend.
Bright flames are dancing in the fireplace,
blown about by wind in the chimney escaping the snow swirling outside.
But beyond the familiar comforts of a winter evening
is a world I don't recognize.
Two weeks ago I was packing for Hawaii.
One week ago Terry insisted I had to stay strictly at home.
Tonight, after a week of stunning events, I'm wondering
What will happen next?
I've stayed inside, except for one brief hour.
I've never known Terry to literally bar the door,
but he did when I tried to head for the grocery store.
"I'll do it. Not you!" he exclaimed.
He's freaked out worried over me and all the scary what ifs.
He's made brief forays outside,
one day scoring eggs, another milk, a third bread.
He also found yellow tulips, raspberry chocolate ice cream,
and two slices of plain cheesecake, items not on most stock up lists.
But then, Wednesday was a landmark birthday for me,
and Terry wanted to surprise me with something.
Our plans of lingering over mai tais and pink haupia cake at the Royal Hawaiian
while listening to waves washing on the shore had blown up.
I never anticipated spending this birthday, any birthday, isolated by a pandemic.
That one brief hour?
As a birthday treat, we walked in the open space along my beloved Piney Creek.
The red-winged blackbirds filled the air with whistles, trills, and chucks.
Spring is coming. One of the best gifts ever.
Heading into the Open Space
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Middle Pond
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Nests Waiting for Occupancy
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Winter-Weathered Rabbitbrush
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Open Space Along Piney Creek
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
A Pair of Mallard Ducks
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Cottonwood Stand
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Jetliner Out of Denver International Airport
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Cottonwood Limb
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
Upper Pond
Aurora, Colorado, USA
March 18, 2020
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
I can't imagine what the next week will bring,
but I'm optimistic we'll get through this surreal time.
I'll ease Terry's worries by staying inside,
and he'll ease mine by walking with me along Piney Creek.
Take care, everyone!
Take care, everyone!
Till next time ~
Fundy Blue
On the Bay of Fundy
© M. Louise (MacBeath) Barbour/Fundy Blue
All Rights Reserved
my dear precious friend Louise what a magnificent sharing :)
ReplyDeleteYou caught me into your feelings at the moment you had while writing this post my friend ,your powerful beautifully thoughts gripped my heart
i can relate to your feeling not because i miss my outdoor pleasures ( i hardly go out here in my husband's city) i walk inside in my frontyard every evening and that is privilege for me
since i have heard and read about such state of emergency and isolation request all i think about my foreigner friends like you and Martha (she waited desperately for spring to ride bicycle and outdoor adventures ) and here you are celebrating your 70th birthday at home instead of Hawaii
Happy birthday dear Louise and i am sure the next one will not be at home but at your favorite spot (inshaallah)
i can totally understand concern of Terry for you and your's for him
i share your hope that this hard time will pass as many already have and all will be normal within one or two months hopefully
meanwhile you both will have each other and time will fly quickly before you know it
your each shot had me :)
lovely surrounding and how amazingly you captured them as i can feel the serenity and the greeting whistles of birds to you :)
stay safe and healthy my friend keep taking good care
hugs!
Thank you for this lovely comment, Baili. We all have to do our part to help others during this difficult time. Mostly staying inside is a small sacrifice, especially when compared with the need to slow the spread of the virus to prevent the overwhelming of our health care system. I, hopefully, will have many more birthdays to celebrate, inshallah ~ maybe even in Hawaii. Spending a fun evening at the Royal Hawaiian's iconic Mai Tai Bar is a wonderful treat, but best of all is Terry's love. Take care, my special friend. Sending you a big hug and lots of love! 🌺🌺🌺
DeleteSorry your birthday wasn't what you expected (and belated happy birthday) but glad you spent it in a special way. Outside in the fresh air is actually good for you and the more it warms up, the less chance the virus has of surviving.
ReplyDeleteIn the meantime, just enjoy each other's company.
Thanks, Alex! In the great scheme of things, birthday celebrations are not that important. If I have to be isolated with anyone, I'm glad that it's Terry. We have been getting out since we walked in the open space. I even went out in the big snowstorm we had yesterday. I hope you and your wife are doing well! Take care!
DeleteHappy birthday! It looks and sounds lovely, even if it wasn't sand and surf. And yeh for caring, wonderful husbands! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Madeline! My birthday was lovely. And after a big snowstorm yesterday, my yellow tulips are especially cheery. I hope all is well with you and your wonderful husband! Take care!
DeleteThat was a nice little treat for your birthday. We have to drive 15 minutes to find a place like that to walk.
ReplyDeleteMy friend who manages a resort in Hawaii said people are still booking and still coming.
Happy Birthday, Louise! This will be one for the memory books, alright. Stay safe, you two!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Debra! It's hard for me to wrap my mind around everything that is happening. I know all the lockdowns, restrictions, and concerns are real, but it's hard to believe that they're real. That statement makes no sense at all, but it's how I feel. You and your Rare One take care! We'll all get through this. Hugs and love to you!
DeleteRed winged blackbirds are beautiful! Glad you have nice quiet walks where you live. And belated happy birthday to you! Stay safe. Hugs to you. xx
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay. I think birdsong is one of the loveliest sounds in the world. It always fills my heart with joy and peace. I hope that you and Richard and Chris are all doing well. Hugs and love to you!
DeleteI haven't left the house since we got home from our cruise on 2/26. Hubby is doing all the errand running, I'm too prone to bronchitis. My elective surgery was cancelled, no idea when it will get rescheduled. It's truly surreal.
ReplyDeleteI just sent out a newsletter to my 900+ newsletter subscribers, just doing a check in on them and not expecting any replies. Well, I've gotten close to 50 and have replied to them all. Some from foreign countries, some even older than I am, some still working, some with family to worry about, all appreciating someone to talk to other than family. Makes my heart swell.
Kudos to your caring husband, Donna! I'm prone to bronchitis too, an extra concern for us. It's awesome to have the ability to connect immediately with people around the world via the internet. Even if we're physically isolated we can still reach out to each other. My brother FaceTimes me every day. It's wonderful to be able to connect with my online friends. Thanks for thinking of me today. You two take care!
DeleteA whole heap of happiness, love and laughter winging its way to you, for a belated Happy Birthday.I know the feeling as we have to cancel events, a long time friend of mine ( over 66 years now) is 80 in April, and her birthday is in a few weeks, The friend party on the Saturday and family and closer friends on the Sunday have been cancelled, one son in UK, 2 daughters in Australia, no one can fly in now, and it would have been a big gathering, they are banned too. My ditto age bash in July will not happen either. Here, we are all in the compromised age group, with various complaints that would welcome a virus in, high BP and now with Hugh the AF, mine my age, Joyce with some TIA happenings, so the supermarket shop will be when it might be the quietest. Some are opening the doors early for disabled and the oldies, at 6 a.m.!!! My days of leaping out of bed so early are gone, but many friends have offered help, the recent one was a bag of tomatoes and a note in our mail box. " Just phone me if you need any help".how thoughtful and so kind. Stay home up there, let Terry go out, do a trolley dash and come home safe.XXXXX
ReplyDeleteThanks for the heap of happiness, love, and laughter, Jean ~ It's much appreciated. I heard a tragic story on the news last night about a family in New Jersey that has lost four members to coronavirus with two more in critical condition. They attended a family dinner together last month. 😔 It just makes sense to be prudent right now and forego family and friend gatherings. Thank goodness for FaceTime and the internet! Some of our stores are reserving hours for seniors as well ~ also at ridiculously early hours for elderly people. I spent too many years having to be out the door by 6 am to want to do it now. If it becomes absolutely necessary, I will ~ or more likely, Terry will. We can all hopefully get through this difficult time. Please take care of yourselves!!! Sending you much love and hugs! ❤️💖💕
DeleteHappy Belated Birthday. Great that you got to go out for an hour with him, even if it wasn't Hawaii. Hopefully things will get better, but got a feeling it will get worse before it gets better. We'll see what the next week brings.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Pat! I have no doubt that it will get worse. If everyone can do their bit, we'll get through this. And hopefully, we'll learn some important lessons and apply them. Have a great weekend, my friend!
DeleteHappy birthday, darling Louise. I think it's sweet that Terry loves you so much that he's worried about you.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Thanks, Janie! Terry is a wonderful guy, and I'm lucky to have him. I hope all is well with you! Take care!
DeleteHappy birthday, Louise! You'll remember this one for a very long time. We're indoors most of the time but when the weather is cooperating, we do take a nice walk. Nothing stops us from spending time with Mother Nature. Be well and stay safe!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha! And you are so right! It's important to get outside into Mother Nature. Nothing is more restorative. We realized on my birthday that we have to go outside, even briefly, every day. You would have laughed to see me out in a snowstorm yesterday. But it felt really good. You and George take care. Sending you hugs and wishes to stay well.
DeleteI hope the world goes back to normal soon.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Adam! I hope that you and Daisy are well and taking care of yourselves!
DeleteHi Louise :) I'm glad you got out for a bit. Things are fine here but oh my gosh SO busy. We bought our house last month and prepping for the closing, then the moving! Happy! Not concerned with the world outside thus far, we are happy and healthy, though we are natural hermits, so very safe. :)
ReplyDeleteYay, Rain! I'm glad that you found your house. I'm so behind ~ Trying to get set up here for the long haul. Take care, my friend!
DeleteShish! I almost forgot: Happy Birthday, you dear sweet girl!
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, looks like my original post was lost. Doesn't matter. It was just me agreeing that we'll all be okay. Stronger, for sure. Maybe some of us heartbroken over losing a friend or family. Deep breath. Best to you, Louise.
DeleteThanks, Joylene! We will be all okay and stronger as we come out of this. Take care, my friend!
DeleteThank you Louise for sharing thesse wonderful photo's . You words say what what everyone must be feeling, A most enjoyable post and a pleasure to read.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Thanks, Yvonne. I'm happy to hear from you. I'll be by! Take care!
DeleteIt’s a weird time we’re living in. I was in Austin, Texas for a week and came back to chaos.
ReplyDeletewww.thepulpitandthepen.com
Hi, Jeff! Definitely weird. I know it's real, but it's hard to believe it's real. Take care, my friend. I'm hoping we get through this with as little death as possible. I hope that all is well with you, your family, and congregation.
DeleteI'm sorry you had to have a low-key milestone birthday. Maybe when this is over, you can get a re-do on the celebrations. My husband has been doing the shopping too. A very new concept for us. He'll Facetime me when he gets to the store so I can virtually shop the aisles for what we needs. Thankfully, most things have been in stock here, minus a few weeks without toilet paper on the shelves, but we didn't need it anyway. I still can't find yeast, but I have enough, I think, until people stop panic buying and grocery stock returns to normal levels.
ReplyDeleteStay safe and healthy, my friend. And, Happy Belated Birthday To You!
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