July 16, 17

My head spins as I get up at six am, again. Busy days have taken control, life is running away again. I want to put the brakes on, my brake pedal isn’t working very well right now, Coronabreak seems to have come to an end. It has been the busiest week for me in quite some time, three days in a row of six am wake ups and midnight bedtimes. Hy head spins while my body aches.

How can I truly complain though?

Waking up every day, healthy and alive in the Okanagan is a blessing I try my utmost to appreciate. I feel tired but it is a good tired. Saturday is only one day away, our party day that we have planned for since before Covid began. A dark storm cloud hovers in the distance over our party. Our Physical Distance 2020 BBQ and live music birthday party.

The storm clouds that are brewing are new cases of Covid in our wonderful valley. It started In the Cactus Club and at an AirBNB building. Some people from Vancouver and some from Calgary started a small outbreak. Both groups brought the insidious enemy with them. Unknowing, uncaring?

One of our friends has to cancel because she was concerned she had been somewhere that had a possible case. The same week we fear a resurgence of Covid a report comes out that overdose deaths are at a new record. There were more OD’s in the last month in BC than there have been deaths from Covid since the pandemic began. Interesting how the reaction from governments is different when it comes to the marginalized members of our society. Sad days indeed.

We were optimistic 3 weeks ago. There were no cases in the Okanagan and across BC cases were down. Now our viral nemesis has reared its ugly head once more. Right before we are having a party with live music and a barbeque. The question hovers over our party, do we cancel out of fear of the sudden threat. Or do we push on and have our friends come, trusting them to be respectful, to keep their distance as we get together?

I have faith that the people who are coming are smart and safe. I don’t want this microscopic foe to get the best of us. But we must be considerate, safe and kind. Our Dr Bonny Henry has given us a calming approach that has helped our province do so well. Unlike our poor neighbours to the south.

We have a Baron of beef marinating overnight and will put it on the rotisserie at noon. It reminds me of Stampede parties I used to throw in Calgary. Back in my days owning Ever-Clear Window Cleaning. Yet it will be nothing like any party I have ever thrown.

I cut the lawn in squares this evening. That’s right six footish squares. As the light faded I wondered if It will look cool tomorrow or will I be cutting the lawn again,. The hope was to create a template for social distance squares. I struggle with the idea. Do we draw squares for people to stay in? Or do we trust people to respect each other and stay apart? I couldn’t see anymore, so parked the mower and waited for the light of day.

I look forward with excitement and trepidation to our big event, our first event since Covid began. I am optimistic and hopeful that we can get together apart. I need to see people, to connect. I hope the storm stays at bay and we can enjoy sunshine and clear skies in our world and beyond.