Well friends, last week Punxsutawney Phil, Pennsylvania's most famous groundhog, surfaced from his burrow and predicted six more weeks of winter. For many of us, life feels eerily similar to the premise of the classic, Groundhog Day, where Bill Murray finds himself waking to the same day over and over again.
Thinking back to March 2020 when we all thought lockdown would last 4-6 weeks and life would return to normal. And yet, here we are, still wearing masks and staying in as much as possible. For some, life may not "go back to normal". Many businesses are choosing to stay remote for the foreseeable future. Meaning, there will be no going back to the office for thousands of workers. I know many have mixed feelings about working from home. For some it's a curse and for others, it's a blessing. Wherever you fall on the spectrum, here is a helpful video I found:
Beyond work-life, many of us are aching for companionship, parties, and travel. My niece got engaged last weekend (yay!) and when I asked her about wedding planning, she said she wouldn't even know how to start with still being caught in the firm grasp of an international pandemic. Can you blame her? Brides from 2020 who rescheduled to 2021 are now starting to push back to 2022 and asking the most important question of all... How do we ensure everyone's safety?
However, we also discussed the light at the end of the tunnel: vaccinations. We can hope that in the coming months, millions upon millions more people around the globe will have received their covid-19 vaccine. The hope, of course, is that we can gather once more, whether it be at schools, concerts, weddings, or simply, work. While we are still in the early stages of vaccine distribution, here is an article on how to conduct yourself safely while the rest of the population catches up.
In the meantime, I was able to grab some shots of opening night at the Paris Opera House. Even though there was no audience, we watched these amazing dancers virtually. It made me think of my cousin, Michel and how he must of felt dancing here among some of the best dancers in the world during his tenure at the Paris Opera Ballet. I had yet to meet him but have heard stories of his extraordinary career. And still, though he is middle-age, he lives with a dancer's frame.
The performances last weekend filled me with excitement as I am so looking forward to the day when we're able to once again watch entertainment and the arts live.
And still I ask... Ballerinas in medical masks? Now that's an image of our current time. There is a poetic beauty and sadness to it. I will say bravo to Paris Opera House for doing the right thing and having the groups of performers wear masks, not only is it safer but they are setting a great example for everyone watching from home. Vaccine or not, it's still important that we mask up.
As we embark on these next six weeks of winter, we forge ahead as seasoned veterans of lockdown. We know how much groceries to buy to avoid extra trips to the store, we know where to find our favorite live events on virtual platforms, we even have mastered the least busy sidewalk times in the neighborhood for daily walks. No longer mere novices, we can face the rest of this season armed with new hobbies and DIY projects. We are pandemic soldiers and this winter doesn't stand a chance against our tenacity and creativity!
Sending love and light to you all.
Until next week...
xo
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