I am not having the November I thought I would have. I had a nice election day. A friend brought me coffee and a breakfast sandwich to fortify me for the long day ahead. A book that I didn't expect for a few more days arrived early. Not that I could concentrate to read but it was nice to have it. A friend from Colorado called in the evening. We stayed on the phone and watched as state after state turned red. Nerve wracking. I had heard the red mirage theory so I tried to remain calm. As the days unfolded and it became clear that Biden had won. I breathed a little easier. The occupant's lies and refusal to concede are annoying but with each day it sounds more like a ridiculous drone. Two more months of it seems miserable but ... the end is nigh.
COVID continues to be a frustrating heart ache. I have nothing to say that hasn't been said. It's a more significant drone. Over worked health care workers with minimal PPE and continuing rising numbers of deaths. My heart is always breaking.
And. As I have said a few hundred times. I'm so glad the mommie isn't here for it. The last few Novembers have been about grief. The grief is there but ... I am really so glad she isn't here for this.
So the month has been sad. But not as sad.
I mean. It's a sad time. Food lines. Deaths. Political shouting fests. It's all sad. Sadness happens,
A few years back I read an article about a woman who accidently texted a stranger thinking she was texting her grandson reminding him to be to her house for Thanksgiving dinner at 3 o'clock. A young man who got the text texted back and said she wasn't his grandmother but could he still get a plate. She said, of course. And a tradition was born.
This year her husband died from the corona virus. And gathering for dinner is problematic with the virus still active. The woman and her not-really-grandson got together for an early Friday night dinner. Just the two of them.
A story like that one fills me up. Comforts me in ways I can't describe.
Only connect.
I have my own Christmas elf. She drags the boxes of stuff up from the garage and does most of the work putting things around. We've done everything but the tree. I have continued my tradition of buying a live tree. It's waiting at the garden center. After it's been my Christmas tree it will enjoy the rest of its life on the Oregon coast. A wind storm knocked down a bunch of trees where my elf has her trailer. My tree will be a new start there.
Today I will eat a Turkey dinner from a hotel instead of cooking. The chef there is good so I'm confident. The pumpkin pecan pie will be from a local small baker. The sun has been in and out. I'll read. Maybe watch some more of the Queen's Gambit.
Life.
Will go on.