Groundhog Day

 

The fact that today is Groundhog Day seems a bit redundant in the age of Covid 19.   Sure, one of the symptoms of retirement is sometimes not being completely sure of what day of the week it is when you first wake up. But mix retirement with winter and then throw in a pandemic and often most days can seem like Groundhog Day.  And while much of the days are routine, recently I made a conscious decision to make a daily effort to do the things that make me happy, breaking up what could turn into a depressing monotony.

Taking photos, working in the greenhouse, daily walks, reading, and writing, drawing and knitting all make a difference.  Also, due to Covid, online lectures, seminars and workshops are abundant.  I attended several in January and have at least one, sometimes more on the calendar for every week in February.  I admit, in normal times I wouldn’t have made the drive to these events.  But now that they are on-line I am taking full advantage.

Currently I’m reading and enjoying Wintering, The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May.  I’m also reading A Man Called Ove , by Fredrik Backman, for the library book club. I’m only 57 pages in and haven’t made up my mind if I like it or not.  The jury is definitely still out. In January I read The Silence, by Susan Allott and Jackie and Maria by Gill Paul, (which then in turn had me adding Jackie Kennedy biographies to my “to read” list).  I’m next up on the hold list at the library for Caste, The Origins of Our Discontents, by Isabel Wilkerson, who will be giving a zoom talk at the library this month.

I’ve been trying to draw a little bit everyday.  My grandson and I decided to have a drawing exchange.  He picked the subject; Patrick Mahomes, quarterback for the Kansas City Chiefs.  I’m currently working on a drawing of my unmade bed.  My search for drawing subjects has led me to taking more photos.  I’m hoping practice will pay off in both drawing and photography.

On the knitting front, I decided it was high time that I taught myself to knit mittens.  I made a pair for my daughter’s birthday and I’m currently working on a pair for me.  When my other daughter saw what I was working on she also requested a pair.  I’m not completely happy with them.  I’m not sure what I’m doing wrong but they are not quite turning out how I would like them to.

So that’s it.  January 2021 is in the books.  In these weird and let’s face it, frightening times, finding little sources of comfort helps me stay a little more sane.  I think that may be my playbook for 2021.