We should all be keeping a journal about this historic time. I must have four or five blank or half-filled journals around here, but haven’t begun nary a one. I keep telling myself that my granddaughter and all those grandkids-to-be are going to be so pissed off when they find out their Nonna, a writer and speaker, couldn’t be bothered to write down the details about the most historic time ever.

I know this because my Nana was 19 when the Spanish Flu hit and we live one hour outside of Philly. Philly was allegedly the epicenter of that worldwide disaster. Nana never once told us a story about the pandemic. And now I’m pissed. I asked my mom for a few tidbits, which she had but that was it.

So I wish for you to share with me your epic fails during this time. Yes, it’s selfish. It will make me feel better. I am going to do the same for you. And then I will get out my journal with either the black cover for a Black Plague sort of feel, or the prettiest cover for the “this is how we kept sane and happy,” sort of take on this. I have not yet decided. You may feel free to weigh in on the cover choice as well.

Here are my:

Epic Fails

1. Writing this crazy crap down
2. Cleaning out just ONE thing—just one–nope
   • Including but not limited to:
     • Closets
     • Linen Closets
     • Makeup Drawers
     • Junk Drawers
     • Kids’ (who have apartments, houses, children, and closets of their own) closets and bedrooms
     • Utensil drawers
     • Kitchen cabinets including Pantries
     • Offices
     • Basements
3. Making a schedule–except for naps, haven’t missed one yet (seems wrong to count that as a positive)
4. Remembering to pull something out of the freezer before actual dinner time (how is this a problem….you aren’t going anywhere, you pass the freezer to the microwave  18 times to warm your coffee before lunch)
5. Cleaning (wiping down the groceries does not count)
6. Wearing a full nice outfit (yes, I too cheat on the pants)
7. Continuing that great flossing routine you finally achieved (why? My dentist canceled. I’ll show him)
8. Hanging up coats
9. Gardening of any kind
10. Working my biceps and triceps to failure (this I am told by my trainer is a good thing, but it counts as a failure so I’m giving myself points)

This seems like to good place to start a Covidiary. It makes me look human and then my grandkids can feel sorry for me that I had so much to do that I couldn’t even get to the simplest tasks even during a quarantine.

I will, in the alternative take ALL your successes. It may spur on others to get a move on. Based on the last four weeks, I doubt it will have much motivational pull on me. But you are welcome to try and I will read every suggestion and respond accordingly. Suggest at your own peril.

Remember, as in exercise: Failure is Success!

Stay healthy, stay happy, stay safe my friends!

“You Just have to Laugh………………. and fail, cause it’s a fine time to fail!”

©2020 Cathy Sikorski

No, I’m not going to tell you to get up from the couch. I’m sitting there now. Who am I to judge?!? This is a different do it, but a just do it, nonetheless.

Here is my reminder.  And if you’ve already done it, share this with someone. I’m pretty sure you know people who need a reminder. Below the video is a gift from a Pennsylvania Law firm if you are a PA resident …..take it, share it, but get on it. We are all here to help.

From Julieanne Steinbacher, Esq. and her law firm:

https://www.paeldercounsel.com/healthcare-poa-form?view=form

I am all over the place, well in my house, like the bathroom, the living room, the kitchen/dining room, the other bathroom, the powder room (which is technically the other other bathroom). All of a sudden, ‘open-concept’ living is a nightmare. There are only two of us here, but I recall at Christmastime when there were seven people living here that there was nowhere to hide. I can’t imagine what all the open-concept families are doing right now.

Remember when there was an adequate living room, with a wall. Then a dining room, with a wall. Then a family room with a wall. We thought that was a bad idea. Who knew pandemic living would make us yearn for the small, divided spaces of yesteryear? I know you are thinking the same thing I am. How do I go to my separate corner when we took all the dividers and corners away? I mean, I was wondering this for my dear Millennials when they made picnic tables de rigueur  (I’m practicing my French!) for office space. What happened to privacy in business? How does one give or take a verbal whoopin’ if everyone is listening? Perhaps verbal whoopins are no longer de rigueur in an office., What do I know, I work from home?

I’m certain I am on to something. Being in the same room with everyone, all the time, which in my case is just one other person, is embarrassing. I mean, how does one quietly open the bag of chocolate chips or even the cupboard to the chocolate chips without hearing: “wacha’ doin’ in there?” How does one make secret phone calls to their mom, sister, grown child, granddaughter, girlfriends, or the liquor store? Okay, I’ll say it, how does one fart for goodness sake, when there is nowhere to hide?

It’s worse than that. It’s the feeling of being watched 24-7. Or being the watcher. Did I hear a cough? Did someone go outside? And a new favorite phrase from everyone’s lips: You’re doing it wrong! You know you’ve thought it a hundred thousand times in the last three weeks, but now you’re actually saying it out loud. Mostly because you don’t know what you’re saying out loud, except for hearing the echo in the lovely open-concept cathedral ceiling room which we all now regret with every fiber of our being.

I have taken the liberty to sit in the privacy of my powder room and come up with a few suggestions:

1. Find a flashlight and use it in a laundry room, garage, interior powder room or interior bedroom with the door closed and all lights off to create the appearance of unused space to take care of any private business you may have.
2. Embrace the open concept living for you and lock some people outside to play. That’s what my mom and Nana used to do and it seemed effective at the time. Who knows maybe Nana remembered it from 1918-1919 or thereabouts.
3. Be open-minded enough to realize that others could be doing it right, or just differently. This is where you may learn new skills.
4. Treat every single day as a time and a place for laughter. It’s there, boy oh boy is it. As I’m typing this my electricity went out with a 30-second wind storm that ran through Pennsylvania. See? Pretty sure my Nana is guffawing up there in heaven right now!

Just know, you’re not doing it wrong. None of us are. We have no idea what we’re doing.  You’re doing it fine. If you are staying kind, fed, watered, entertained and as sane as possible, you are doing it right. We are all doing it right. Every day. And congratulations for that!

And don’t forget. Please, never forget…

You Just have to Laugh………………and find privacy, lots of privacy.

©2020 Cathy Sikorski