A holiday like no other

Masked and ready

Memorial Day, usually a four-day holiday that marks the unofficial start of the summer season. Not this year. We are still under "stay home, stay safe" orders from our governor, and asked to wear face masks when in public, whether indoors or outside when we are not able to physically distance ourselves from other people. These homemade masks, given to us by a dear blogging friend who asks to remain anonymous, have quickly become our favorites. They have adjustable elastic ear loops and sturdy replaceable filters. Not to mention they are strikingly handsome. I get asked about mine whenever I wear it. ("Sorry, it's a special gift from a friend.")

I now have five different face masks, all reusable, and I keep one in the car, in case I forget to take one with me when I leave the house, and one that is light and works great for hiking. I don't actually use it on the trails unless I see someone approaching, and then I pull it up from around my neck. Everyone wears one around here, and you would stand out from the crowd if barefaced. I think these fashion accessories will be with us for quite awhile. It does make me feel safer to see everyone around me with one on. In my county, we still have people testing positive and a 10% fatality rate, mostly from those in nursing homes.

None of the usual Memorial Day celebrations are taking place around here. The Ski to Sea relay race is an annual activity that is missing. The huge crowds that congregate in Fairhaven at the end of race day are missing, too. In fact, now that I think about it, I don't think I have seen anybody around here breaking the social distancing rules, much less gathering in a large group. I see my hiking friends on Zoom, otherwise I stay on the trails either alone or with one friend. Apparently now it is okay (as of yesterday) to gather in groups up to five people not from your household, for any reason, as long as you follow the guidelines. Since we are definitely in the high risk group because of our ages, we'll continue to stay home. But maybe I'll join some neighbors for a nice little chat today to mark the holiday, socially distancing of course.

Memorial Day is distinct from Veterans Day by honoring those who gave their lives in battle. Although I've had plenty of relatives who have served, nobody in my immediate family died on the battlefield. For that I am grateful, but I am also grateful for the sacrifice of all all those who suffered and died in our numerous wars. Although my son was in the Army when he died, he died of a heart attack and not in combat. And for that I am thankful.

To live in this world you must be able to do three things: to love what is mortal; to hold it against your bones knowing your own life depends on it; and, when the time comes to let it go, to let it go. —Mary Oliver

I've got a book of Mary Oliver's poems, Devotions, and find solace whenever I take it from the shelf and peruse her amazing poetry, its ability to speak the words that seem to come from my own heart. I give you a link to the Kindle store, in case you might want to join me on a journey through her gentle and very relevant work. She died last year, at the age of 83. There was a time when that would have seemed to have been a full life, but as I get closer to that age myself, I find it sad that we couldn't have kept her around a bit longer. But as she says, "when the time comes to let it go, to let it go." I've got five years before I get there, hopefully. There are no guarantees, even for one more year, or one more day.

So I guess that means I'd better darn well appreciate each and every single day I have to enjoy the world. With summer just beginning in all its strange circumstances, it just doesn't matter. This day, this time in my life, will not come again, so to burrow under the covers and hide is not an option. I'm going to concentrate on all the wonderful delights that await me, once I climb out of bed and begin my day.

Perhaps this will be a little shorter than usual, because nothing seems to be flowing out of my fingers. And the day does beckon, even if my new normal is just to dress in comfy old clothes and shuffle into the kitchen to make a pot of coffee instead of heading out to the coffee shop. Our lives will return to normal eventually, but I suspect it will look quite different from the time Before.

I feel very fortunate to be old enough not to have to worry about finding a job in this scary environment, hoping they won't take away any of my social security and wishing that everybody had a guaranteed income. And I not only have food to put on the table, I also have the internet, a laptop that connects me to the world, and plenty of virtual friends to visit. When I allow myself to stop worrying about what might happen and concentrate on what wonders surround me, I've got nothing to stop me from being happy and content. Plus I've got that wonderful partner, still sleeping next to me, to share my days with. Life is precious and to be appreciated and celebrated, so that's what I'll do today.

And I truly hope that this morning finds you in similar circumstances, and that you will find a way to share your world with someone, whether near or far, furry or not, until we meet again next week. I wish you all good things, dear friends.