It appears that Benjamin Franklin was wrong. He once said that, “nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Well...life amidst the coronavirus pandemic has proved that to be false. Schools are closed, grocery stores are limiting purchases as shelves run bare AND our traditional April tax deadline has been moved to July. The world has shifted on its axis.
We live in unprecedented times. As news around Coronavirus swirls endlessly, we are met with uncertainty but also resilience. In Washington state where I live, schools are shut down for the next six weeks and while we scramble for childcare plans and that last roll of toilet paper rumored to exist at the local grocery store — my little community is also busy inventing ways to support each other while we spend time at a distance. I was particularly cheered by a new Facebook “helper” group whereby healthy people volunteer to run errands and help bring necessities to those who may be housebound. Another community member is making what she is calling “vats” of soup for anyone who might need...
January in Washington State is the weather month that we all just have to get through. Well...I guess February fits this bill as well but...January is particularly ferocious. Cold and dark and rainy and...sometimes snowy...this time of the year can make you forget that spring really will appear. I think our infamous gray sky has more to do with the general gloominess than anything else.