It's hard to think back on those days Jen, you've captured similar experiences to us. We live in a small town on 18 acres with no close neighbours so walked and rode our bikes, chatted on zoom and I also put on weight. A great way to look back at those days. #Teamwwwhimsy
I can't believe it has been five years since COVID. For me, because I work in a hospital, my life didn't change too much. I still went to work. It was nice to see less traffic. I think I felt more of the effects of COVID when I went on maternity leave because all the places I wanted to go to were take out only. I didn't have a baby shower when I was pregnant but I didn't mind not having that my husband and I didn't want too much stuff.
Excellent reflections, Jennifer. In Toronto, we were encouraged to be outdoors and keep social distancing so I enjoyed a lot of quiet outdoor time in the first two years of the pandemic. What I missed was the family gatherings, in-person coffee catch-ups with friends and travel. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
Enjoyed reflecting on the fifth anniversary of the onset of Covid. What a time that was. Like you, I enjoyed the slower pace and always, always love being home. But like you, I missed being with the children and grandchildren. I flew to visit my then 93-year-old mom right before the pandemic hit and then again 6 months into it. It was so hard to sit with a plexiglass partition between us on the patio of her assisted living complex. Or to stand at her window and wave to her while talking to her on the phone. And she was so confused. I am thankful she lived through the ordeal and we were able to have a couple of happier, more normal visits before she died.
It's lovely to read about your memories. They were difficult times. That must have made you sad to have to have the partition and just wave at a distance. Thinking back, I do wonder how we got through it all
Life during the pandemic was surreal. We lost two years of our life and time with our family as we rolled from one waves to the next. We followed the SPanish flu pandemic (5?) waves so we knew after each lockdown and release it would only be time before we went into the next one. Our daughter in FRance got the Delta COVID and she thought she was going to die. She stayed at home with an oxygen mask and bottle and took her chances rather than be sent to an overcrowded hospital 100 miles away. She spoke to us on video call every day just for a couple of minutes. My husband also has a low immune system, so she kept pressing home the point not to leave the house. HAve shopping delivered. Which we did. We spent most of the time in the garden growing veg. Cooking and drinking wine. We missed precious time with grandkids. You guys were luckier in Australia. (I think) You contained the virus more quickly and closed your borders.
It was a dreadful time and you have reminded me of more of it. Our borders were closed early but people got very angry about it and though it was unnecessary. We were happy to go along with all rules, hoping it wouldn't last forever.
Thank you Jennifer a lovely look back at very difficult times. My memories of of peace, quiet, isolation tinged with loneliness. Life is still very different xxx
I enjoyed a month at home and then returned to work. N95 masks and complex cleaning between operations made for LONG days. We worked more than normal due to the type of cases we could do. But the good thing was I was not rushing around after work to do things or attend things. Home to enjoy our 180 acres of native land. I missed our family and friends but we did loads of outside visiting (while distanced) and that worked. But the mental stress of now knowing what was happening and how bad it would get I definitely remember those feelings.
I do remember It was stressful, as things started to worsen around the world. Work must have been difficult for you. I used to feel for those who had to wear PPE. I think those who didn't live in the cities, such as you and us, had a slightly easier time of it, but it was difficult for everyone.
Hi, Jennifer - These are excellent reflections. Like you and your partner, Richard and I also thrived in the slow, quiet pandemic days. Your reflections here are a great reminder that we sometimes need to turn off the rush and business and enjoy the simple pleasures of quiet solitude. <3
It's amazing Donna, that we don't think we have time to slow down, but when it's forced on us, well, it's ok and it can be done. I agree with you that it's a good thing to slow down and appreciate the small things.
Hi Jennifer, that was a really nice reflection back over the Covid times. Five years has gone by fast hasn't it? I envy the acres of land you live on. That would've been so wonderful during those times - lots of open space and gardens and nature to spend time in. I documented those times with my 'Corona Chronicles' posts. I think I've done 12 posts as part of that series. Covid isn't gone and never will be gone but we have all accepted that we will have to live with it now and there are vaccinations now. Those lockdowns though - hard to believe some of the rules when you think back! Hope you're having a fab week - thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
Hi Min, I remember your Covid Chronicles. We are no longer living on our country property as we down sized. I'm sure Covid will be with us forever, and because of my partner's issue we will probably be having vaccinations for ever. We're both up to no 10 now and getting another shortly.
My facebook feed comes up with previous posts as memories and the photos of five years ago show our reaction to the pandemic and lockdowns.
I too suffer from an auto-immune disease so we were very stringent in following the advice. I did not catch the disease but other members of my family did and at least one relative died of it during the pandemic.
We were fortunate to not suffer economically but I feel for all those who did either as business owners or employees not to mention other ways lives were disrupted.
I also watched the daily updates, celebrated doughnut days ...
My husband speculates that if we threw a pandemic remembrance party what would feature - everybody would ear masks but some would not wear them properly - there would be home made bread and doughnuts ...
It was an uncertain time initially as there was no vaccination and it seemed a very severe disease.
Interesting to read about your experiences Anne. You have reminded me of all those people who wore their masks under their nose. My partner still wears a mask, and gets quite a bit of abuse for it, which shocks me. We have never caught the virus either, but we have been and still are very careful.
I know. It's crazy. People think that Covid's over. Also they don't understand the underlying issues that even people who seem healthy might have. It's almost an every day issue for him.
It's hard to think back on those days Jen, you've captured similar experiences to us. We live in a small town on 18 acres with no close neighbours so walked and rode our bikes, chatted on zoom and I also put on weight. A great way to look back at those days. #Teamwwwhimsy
We were very fortunate Deb. I can't imagine what it must have been like in a more congested area.
I can't believe it has been five years since COVID. For me, because I work in a hospital, my life didn't change too much. I still went to work. It was nice to see less traffic. I think I felt more of the effects of COVID when I went on maternity leave because all the places I wanted to go to were take out only. I didn't have a baby shower when I was pregnant but I didn't mind not having that my husband and I didn't want too much stuff.
Excellent reflections, Jennifer. In Toronto, we were encouraged to be outdoors and keep social distancing so I enjoyed a lot of quiet outdoor time in the first two years of the pandemic. What I missed was the family gatherings, in-person coffee catch-ups with friends and travel. Thank you for your weekend coffee share.
They were difficult times Natalie. We spent much of our time outdoors as we had so much space around us. Otherwise it wouldn't have been allowed.
Enjoyed reflecting on the fifth anniversary of the onset of Covid. What a time that was. Like you, I enjoyed the slower pace and always, always love being home. But like you, I missed being with the children and grandchildren. I flew to visit my then 93-year-old mom right before the pandemic hit and then again 6 months into it. It was so hard to sit with a plexiglass partition between us on the patio of her assisted living complex. Or to stand at her window and wave to her while talking to her on the phone. And she was so confused. I am thankful she lived through the ordeal and we were able to have a couple of happier, more normal visits before she died.
It's lovely to read about your memories. They were difficult times. That must have made you sad to have to have the partition and just wave at a distance. Thinking back, I do wonder how we got through it all
Life during the pandemic was surreal. We lost two years of our life and time with our family as we rolled from one waves to the next. We followed the SPanish flu pandemic (5?) waves so we knew after each lockdown and release it would only be time before we went into the next one. Our daughter in FRance got the Delta COVID and she thought she was going to die. She stayed at home with an oxygen mask and bottle and took her chances rather than be sent to an overcrowded hospital 100 miles away. She spoke to us on video call every day just for a couple of minutes. My husband also has a low immune system, so she kept pressing home the point not to leave the house. HAve shopping delivered. Which we did. We spent most of the time in the garden growing veg. Cooking and drinking wine. We missed precious time with grandkids. You guys were luckier in Australia. (I think) You contained the virus more quickly and closed your borders.
It was a dreadful time and you have reminded me of more of it. Our borders were closed early but people got very angry about it and though it was unnecessary. We were happy to go along with all rules, hoping it wouldn't last forever.
Thank you Jennifer a lovely look back at very difficult times. My memories of of peace, quiet, isolation tinged with loneliness. Life is still very different xxx
Jo, in many ways we haven't got our lives back to the way they were pre covid, and probably never will. Thanks for visiting.
I enjoyed a month at home and then returned to work. N95 masks and complex cleaning between operations made for LONG days. We worked more than normal due to the type of cases we could do. But the good thing was I was not rushing around after work to do things or attend things. Home to enjoy our 180 acres of native land. I missed our family and friends but we did loads of outside visiting (while distanced) and that worked. But the mental stress of now knowing what was happening and how bad it would get I definitely remember those feelings.
I do remember It was stressful, as things started to worsen around the world. Work must have been difficult for you. I used to feel for those who had to wear PPE. I think those who didn't live in the cities, such as you and us, had a slightly easier time of it, but it was difficult for everyone.
Hi, Jennifer - These are excellent reflections. Like you and your partner, Richard and I also thrived in the slow, quiet pandemic days. Your reflections here are a great reminder that we sometimes need to turn off the rush and business and enjoy the simple pleasures of quiet solitude. <3
It's amazing Donna, that we don't think we have time to slow down, but when it's forced on us, well, it's ok and it can be done. I agree with you that it's a good thing to slow down and appreciate the small things.
Hi Jennifer, that was a really nice reflection back over the Covid times. Five years has gone by fast hasn't it? I envy the acres of land you live on. That would've been so wonderful during those times - lots of open space and gardens and nature to spend time in. I documented those times with my 'Corona Chronicles' posts. I think I've done 12 posts as part of that series. Covid isn't gone and never will be gone but we have all accepted that we will have to live with it now and there are vaccinations now. Those lockdowns though - hard to believe some of the rules when you think back! Hope you're having a fab week - thanks for linking up with #WWWhimsy xo
Hi Min, I remember your Covid Chronicles. We are no longer living on our country property as we down sized. I'm sure Covid will be with us forever, and because of my partner's issue we will probably be having vaccinations for ever. We're both up to no 10 now and getting another shortly.
My facebook feed comes up with previous posts as memories and the photos of five years ago show our reaction to the pandemic and lockdowns.
I too suffer from an auto-immune disease so we were very stringent in following the advice. I did not catch the disease but other members of my family did and at least one relative died of it during the pandemic.
We were fortunate to not suffer economically but I feel for all those who did either as business owners or employees not to mention other ways lives were disrupted.
I also watched the daily updates, celebrated doughnut days ...
My husband speculates that if we threw a pandemic remembrance party what would feature - everybody would ear masks but some would not wear them properly - there would be home made bread and doughnuts ...
It was an uncertain time initially as there was no vaccination and it seemed a very severe disease.
Interesting to read about your experiences Anne. You have reminded me of all those people who wore their masks under their nose. My partner still wears a mask, and gets quite a bit of abuse for it, which shocks me. We have never caught the virus either, but we have been and still are very careful.
I am shocked that your partner should be abused for such a precaution - there is still a risk of illness about.
I know. It's crazy. People think that Covid's over. Also they don't understand the underlying issues that even people who seem healthy might have. It's almost an every day issue for him.