I stepped from Plank to Plank
A slow and cautious way
The Stars about my Head I felt
About my feet the Sea.

I knew not but the next
Would be my final inch -
This gave me that precarious Gait
Some call Experience.

Emily Dickinson, c. 1864

Sunday, April 12, 2020

Easter Sunday

Last year at the Tulip Festival
This is probably the strangest Easter Sunday I can remember. There are no tulips to visit in the Skagit Valley, since everything is closed because of the coronavirus. But last year, Lily and I, with a couple of our other friends, drove down south to the Tulip Festival and had made arrangements to enjoy the tulips again this year. It was not to be. I could still order a bouquet, or buy some at the local grocery store to display for the holiday. It's just one more piece of my regular activities that has been lost for the year. I pray that we will be able to visit once again next April.

This Easter Sunday, I wake later than usual, since there is nowhere to go, nothing is open, although I suspect there were people who greeted the Easter sunrise, even if it was a solitary exercise. Or live streamed into one's living room so that people can have a virtual gathering with others instead. Today's technology gives us the possibility of joining others virtually, allowing us to keep our social distance from one another and still enjoy companionship, even if it's really very different from what we have grown to rely on. As an extrovert, I have suffered from the lack of interaction with my friends, other than an occasional FaceTime shared glass of wine with Lily. It's just not the same.

Yesterday I walked over to see the opening of the spring Farmers' Market. Instead of having a grand opening with the cabbage toss (a Bellingham tradition), it was a much more subdued event. Only 11 vendors were allowed to sell their wares, and you had to line up six feet apart. The line to enter stretched all the way around the building. Thirty people were allowed into the open area at a time, with orange cones showing where you could stand, waiting to buy your veggies. You were to point to what you wanted and the vendor would bag them up, and then you were supposed to leave. No standing around visiting was allowed, with staff wandering through the area making sure everyone was following the distancing requirements. I bought some bread from my favorite vendor and quickly left.

I am glad I checked it out, and I will happily visit again, although it's mostly to support the vendors and not because I can't live without Sophie's wonderful bread for awhile longer. I was wearing my sun hat, sunglasses, and homemade mask, so it surprised me when a friend recognized me in line and waved hello. She was one of the only people I saw who was not wearing a mask of some sort; everyone else had their nose and mouth covered, which does seem like it's mostly to protect others from possible infection and not the wearer.

Last week, I speculated that I had contracted the virus. Today, I have no symptoms, my cough is gone and I'm feeling quite healthy. I guess I'll never know whether or not I had it, unless an antibody test is developed and I am able to see if I have antibodies to coronavirus. My tiredness and cough could have been caused by many different viruses, and I never felt any difficulty breathing. But I will continue to act as if I did have it and am still contagious. It's been more than two weeks since I first developed any symptoms, but who knows how long this period will last? It's the same all over the world, with all of us trying to weather the same storm.
The world is a place that is so interconnected that what happens in another part of the world will impact us. —Anthony Fauci
Today is a time when we can reflect on our lives: the good, the bad, the indifferent. Historically, this is the time in the Christian religion that Jesus returned to life after the Crucifixion, when he was resurrected, giving hope to all that eternal life is not just a myth. This same theme is present in many different religions, not just Christianity.
There are resurrection themes in every society that has ever been studied, and it is because not just only do we fantasize about the possibility of resurrection and recovery, but it actually happens. And it happens a lot. —Sherwin B. Nuland
What will I do to mark this exceptional day? Well, the first thing is getting up, taking a shower, watering my recently planted front porch flowers, and sitting in the sunshine with a nice cup of my French press coffee. And I can remember some of the other memorable Easter Sundays in my past. There are quite a few of them. I might go for a walk in the neighborhood, enjoying the explosion of flowers blooming everywhere, and take a moment to appreciate the wonder of the season.

And of course, there is the counting of my many blessings. My wonderful partner, my dear blogging friends, and my own small world of delights. There's love and light and a beautiful Easter Sunday ahead. I do hope, with all my heart, that your Easter Sunday will be memorable for more than simply having to stay at home. Until we meet again next week, I wish you all good things, dear friends.

16 comments:

Rian said...

It does seem strange to say "Happy Easter" during all this craziness. Easter 2020 hits me as somewhat 'meaningful'. It's a time when lent is over and life starts anew. We are taught this with the resurrection, but today it seems to bear more meaning. Maybe it's just hope in my heart. I was raised Catholic, but am not very religious... however, all this going on makes me wonder if the world isn't being given another chance.

And I'm so glad you're feeling better, DJan! That's such good news! But don't let your guard down. I think we're still in it for the long haul. (virtual hugs!)

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

Happy Easter for we are alive and well and can share our thoughts and good wishes. I learned something new. This virus has potential to cross from humans to animals. We are going to need to be careful around our cats. Though rare it has happened in several cities and even the New York zoo.
It feels strange to be lined up for purches and with a mask but it has been shown to be beneficial.. our next hurdle in May will be lawn cutting.Right now it is not yet an essential service. Not sure why a single lawn cutter may pose a threat as there will be plenty of distance. For the first time in years grocery shops are closed today. I never liked everything open 7 days. And my heart goes out to all those who are trying to fight this for us all.
I am happy to video chat with family. It helps but I still miss a proper visit. May this be over by summer! Stay safe.

ApacheDug said...

Djan, you don't know me from Adam but I always enjoy your Sunday posts here, and have been waiting to hear how you were doing. Very glad to know you're feeling much better, at least. You remind me so much of my sister, an extrovert like yourself who needs to be out & about. (She's also our family's 'holiday host'.) I asked her last night if she'd still be fixing an Easter dinner for just herself, her husband & my niece, she said they'd be lucky if she thawed something. I live alone, an quite used to it and am having ham, scalloped potatoes & just made 6 deviled eggs :)

Anyway, hope you and your husband have a nice Easter, it sounds like you're having a thoughtful one at least. :)

Marie Smith said...

It is a good day to reflect and be grateful for all my blessings. Even the little things are important now, a good cup of coffee, a call from a friend, a nap, a nice meal with my husband including the prep and cleaning up. We can’t take anything for granted these days. Life is still good, though different.

Have a wonderful week Jan. Stay healthy and safe.

Elephant's Child said...

Your crept into my dreams last night dear friend, and I am thrilled to see a Sunday post from you.
I am also grateful for my blessings. Very grateful.
I hope that when you do get out the explosion of floral colours lifts your spirits.
Easter Sunday was quiet here, but I enjoyed some time in the garden, and a very rare treat of a shared walk with my partner.
Stay well, stay safe.

Gigi said...

Happy Easter, DJan. This one will be memorable, that's for sure. I'm so very happy that you are feeling better.

Arkansas Patti said...

I am so relieved that you are feeling better. Grateful that what ever it was that it wasn't that bad. They do have a blood test to tell if you have had it and have antibodies but it isn't readily available yet.
Funny, when I first saw that picture of you and Lily my first thought was where is the 6 feet? How quickly we adjust.
Hope you continue with a pleasant day. Next year tulips for sure.

The Furry Gnome said...

Easter is family to me, and we enjoyed a long conversation with both our son and daughter, even though we couldn't get together.

Linda Reeder said...

I looked for your Sunday post this morning and when I didn't find it, I thought, "Wow! DJan slept in!" I didn't. Since I was wake at 6:00, I got up by 6:30 and spent time at the computer before getting going and fixing a a good Easter breakfast for the two of us. At 10;00 we went for our two mile walk over to the neighborhood park. A few other folks were out and about too.
At 12:45 we drove over to Jill's house, where I stayed in the car and read the paper while Tom hid eggs in their yard without being noticed. He surprised the kids when he opened the front door and announced that it was time for the egg hunt. I joined in the egg hunt and we visited outside before we came back home with Easter dinner food prepared by Jill. They had theirs at 12:30. We'll warm ours up at 6:00.
Since then have been relaxing and reading and sharing on Facebook. I am about to post a blog with my egg hunt photos.
I am happy.

gigi-hawaii said...

HAPPY EASTER, DJAN!!!

Red said...

It's a much tighter regime in alberta. Our market is definitely cancelled. Very little is allowed to be open. Happy Easter. we do have much to be thankful for.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Happy Easter! It is still quite cold here, hope it warms up soon. So glad you feel better!

Anvilcloud said...

I am glad for you that you got some sunshine on the porch. It just hasn't been at all nice here.

Rita said...

I am so glad you two are feeling better. When they have a test available you can find out for sure if you guys had it or not.

Eventually the entire world will be reborn after this virus. Hopefully a bit better and kinder. ;)

Galen Pearl said...

Yes, I hardly noticed it was Easter. I spent the morning with my grandson. Then in the afternoon my daughters came over to help me finish getting my house back in shape after my daughter and her kids moved out. Still little odds and ends to pack up or get rid of. My garage is finally cleared out (she stored her stuff there while they were in between houses). They moved in in October and just left, so fall and winter were spent together. Now it's spring, an odd spring with all the virus impact, but a beautiful one. How grateful I am that this did not happen in the winter. At least now we can all be outside a lot in the fresh air. Always good to catch up with you, and I'm glad you are feeling better.

Friko said...

Easter has been and gone without great fanfare in my little world. I was alone, of course, as always, and did a few hours of gardening, some reading, some TV. We can’t go out at all here, there are no markets, no events at all.
One gets used to it and staying sane is the first priority.