Virus 2

     We are blessed in that COVID-19 has not yet seemed to have impacted us that much. My husband is still working. Our eldest was only laid off for a couple of weeks. Our youngest was already doing online schooling. My parents are now able to do their own shopping. And home church is happening and the neighbourhood dogs have yet to start howling at the sound of me singing hymns at home. So on a weekend when the dishwasher kicks the bucket, my husband's truck and trailer are stolen, our eldest breaks a front tooth and our youngest is so mad at me that she goes to her godparent's house without even saying goodbye, I am thinking.
     My thought is that it is not the virus itself that is affecting many of us as much as all the secondary losses, the things that keep us sane. Like being able to shake a new neighbour's hand. Or hugging your newly returned and therefore quarantined mother when she starts to cry. Seeing friends. Actually going to church and getting a Fuzzy Peach candy from the nice lady at the door. Seeing people's faces. Having birthday parties. Walking into Michael's Bakery and getting to sneak in a delicious latte and a berry danish. Using cash. Not being frightened that any interaction out there is going to bring "IT" into our home and affect our medically vulnerable daughters.
     Again, please don't get me wrong. I am not taking this lightly. People are dying. It's just on a weekend when some things go wrong, I am grateful for what is going right. And I sure would like to shake hands with people or hug a few folks out there....

Emily

     About four and a half years ago, a young woman reached out to our daughter on Facebook as they shared a relatively rare learning disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (or NLD). She understood our daughter's social isolation and declared that she would be our daughter's friend, one way or another. Several years older and living on the east coast, she knew how hard it was for our daughter to make her way in the world. She sent out her friend Darby the NLD Duck to have some adventures on the west coast. It was such a sweet and understanding thing to do. It seemed as though she was telling us, " Well if I can't visit you, I'll send someone who can!"
     Darby was with us over the Christmas holidays and had many fun adventures with us. From Vancouver to White Rock he saw the sights and we took photos of him and our daughter everywhere. He seemed to enjoy our Canadian customs and was a charming, low-maintenance house guest. Fortunately he arrived back home to New Jersey in one piece.
     Our daughter and I just found out that Emily died a few days ago. We are so sad and can only imagine how bereft her family is now. She was a bright spark in the world; a loving, caring ray of sunshine in an often gray and cloudy world. We cannot help but grieve her loss; we had not met her but felt as though she had cared for us nonetheless. That's the kind of person she was. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew her....the world truly is a lesser place without Emily.