Page 18 - Through a glass brightly

Things are much the same over here although we have not gone into enforced lockdown yet. We feel that we are waiting for the big wave to break over us! Most of us over 70 are self- isolating and only go out for groceries and a daily walk. We have seen bad things and good things, but most people know that we are all in this together! When we social distance on our walk we receive a smile and a friendly comment from the all the other walkers. It makes me feel that things will change in better ways when it is all over. Surely, we will be more caring and less materialistic, and we will reassess how we treat this precious world. We will never take many things for granted again.
My son is residing in LA. Over there of course, there is no problem. It will all be over by Easter.........if only! I do worry about Steve being there currently. He has been unemployed since Christmas as he has a three-year contract with China. When I see all the unemployed queuing for benefits, I feel lucky to be retired, even with that light bulb moment, when we are feeling concerned about the elderly, we realise that we are the elderly! Stay young and well, and I hope that you and all your loved ones stay safe and well.
From Pat at 10.49
Great idea, Val, and lovely to get a snapshot of everyone's daily lives in these 'unprecedented times'. (Isn't it strange how clichés suddenly become meaningful?) Maggie's missive from Oz illustrates just how universal this crisis is, not just from the virus angle, but in how similar we must all be feeling about community, life and the universe! Her description of the reactions from strangers as we go for our daily exercise resonates totally.
Much like others of us, I'm lucky to have plenty of indoor and outdoor space to roam around in, and more than doubly fortunate to have someone with me who cooks and does food shopping in good times and bad. But I know I shouldn't push my luck or count my chickens (bad pun). We're both well at present, and in this timely good weather are keeping busy in the garden. Pete is building a wood oven, a spring project initially unrelated to any virus - white- painted concrete beehive shape, on a trolley with shelves etc. Very Greek! It's nearly complete and has already been tried out with fish and chicken. Our house has accumulated 35 years worth of extraneous 'stuff' too - good time to de-clutter, but what's happened to the local tip when you need it?
Our property in Greece keeps us occupied remotely. We're the coordinators for the owners of the 13 houses in our complex and were due to hold the AGM 2 weeks ago. I'm now conducting a virtual AGM by email - it takes me back to my job - how often did I write a paper, circulate it for consultation, collate multiple divergent responses, rewrite the paper, then try to get it accepted and implemented. Phew! And the frustrating thing is that none of us will get to Greece for goodness knows how long!
I imagine most of us no longer have elderly parents to stress over in these difficult times, probably a blessing, but we all have family and perhaps friends who are even more elderly than we are, some of whom have troublesome 'underlying health issues'. At present all my siblings and their families around the country (plus one in Sydney) are coping in relatively good spirits, tho I worry about my brother David (66) who has diabetes and a number of other problematic complaints.
That's my lot. Apologies for too much information! But I'm very pleased to have the opportunity to share and keep in touch. Stay safe.
From Mags H. at 11.53
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