Home from college, the boys nest into the house. Snowing on and off, Christmas fills the air with the feeling of the holidays. But instead of cheer, a nervous energy envelopes us.
Are In COVerwhelm?
No one celebrates. Stockings are stuffed with toilet paper and hand sanitizer. The world prepares for the plague, a mishandled flu that’s now a pandemic.
Coronasteria
It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. I am so happy to have my boys home with us. And feel terrible that we now treat them like first graders, not letting them out of our home. And this is the necessary reality we live in. They are troopers.
Adjustments Large + Small
It took a few days for all of us to adjust. We now seem to be in a good routine with everyone pitching in to cook, clean, and organize the homestead. That adjustment did not happen organically. Many negotiations and family meetings ensued before we effectuated our new normal.
Toasting Troubled Times
Last night we sat down to a huge dinner that Baby Pantry prepared from start to finish and I toasted our little clan, “Sometimes y’all drive me crazy. But there’s no one in the world I’d rather be shut in with than the three of you.” It’s my truth. Others are not so lucky. They are alone. They don’t have enough to eat. This is the truth.
Coronaphobia
Still as someone with three autoimmune diseases (MS, Celiac Disease, and Hashimoto’s) I’m in my own tricky spot. My neurologist is particularly concerned about the possibility of my getting COVID-19, and how it could exacerbate and accelerate my disease process. Regardless, we are all in the same boat, which I call Coronaphobia.
Free exclusive eBook, plus recipes and health tips, delivered to your inbox.
We’re Not Socially Distancing
I seek solace in this strange time. Words from my high school buddy Michael Franti ring true, “We aren’t actually “socially distancing,” we are “physically distancing.”“
Baratunde
Then I open an email from Baratunde. His newsletter is one I read faithfully. Every time I open it the words I need to see magically appear.
Let’s Breathe, But Not On Each Other
Baratunde is a wicked combination of smart and funny. In this newsletter he says, “Let’s breathe but not on each other.” Then there is the quote from Shaka Senghor, an absolutely towering American figure. Senghor sent me a signed copy of his memoir a couple of years ago when I was working with a non-profit he ran at that time.
This Is A Moment To Moment Thing
Senghor offers an idea of how we can live in this particular moment:
One of the things that has stuck with me to this day from my moments in solitary confinement is I realize that if I can get through the pain of the moment, I can come out on the other side. And so this is a moment to moment thing, there’s gonna be moments when you’re gonna feel so overwhelmed, especially parents who have children at home, parents who are caring for elderly, people with loved ones who have been sick, but if you can get through the moment, the pain of the moment, you can come out on the other side. And it’s just a moment by moment thing, it’s not a day thing. You can’t get through the day if you can’t get through the moment. Check in with yourself, “hey, how am I really feeling?”
Prolonged Stress Response
I need to hear those words of wisdom because right now, the collective faces tension and pressure. As one doctor said to me, “Even with our immediate loved ones and surroundings safe, everyone is dealing with a prolonged stress response” This is it in a nutshell.
My Corona A Covideo For You
Sometimes it takes a good laugh to make sense of things! Check out the video below, again, another great connect from Baratunde:
How Are Y’all Holding Up?
Oh dear! That video made me laugh out loud! Anyway, how are you holding up in your neck of the woods? What’s on your mind today? Leave a comment and let me know. Y’all are my favorite virtual family and I am so grateful for the connection and comments of this amazing community!
Deb says
Thank you for the screaming belly laugh I got from watching the video!! It was great! Also love your Coronavocab!!
Hope you and your family stay happy, healthy and safe!!
Deb from Stowe
Elana says
Deb, I laughed until I had tears in my eyes when I saw the video. Thanks for appreciating my Coronavocab and for making up another great word. Stay safe :-)
Rainbow says
I’ve been stocking up on apples, nuts, and Montezuma’s 100% dark chocolate (from T.J.’s). That’s my go-to dessert. Now it’s what my son wants too so I really have to stock up! He and his classmates are calling this time “Corona Summer” as they are hoping the rest of school will be canceled. I am not.
Elana says
Rainbow, what a great comment! Every part of it made me smile :-)
Broni McFadden says
Thanks for lightening my mood, for some reason I am feeling angry. I love reading your blogs and yes about the chocolate. There are a number of corona songs “out there” now and they are very clever!
Elana says
Broni, I’m looking for more corona songs! No joke, I searched You Tube today and came up empty handed. Thanks for being on this path with me :-)
Charlee says
My neighbor showed up at my door with chocolate cake today! He said he could not eat a whole cake by himself so was sharing with Neighbors. Not sure if we should be baking for each other….but it’s the thought and love that counts, right? I told him, Chocolate is at the tippy top of my survival food list. I think I will dig out “Chocolat” and watch it tonight!
Elana says
Charlee, you have such generous neighbors! That is a moving story :-)
Jean says
Wow, thanks for the laugh from that video! Takes me back to the summer when the original song came out, and I was living in a dorm where a girl down the hall played the 45 of that song OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER lol! There was finally a rebellion from her dorm mates and she was persuaded to give it a rest!
And thank you so much for all the wonderful recipes. I have pointed many people to your site, and I often return here for inspiration because I know every recipe of yours I’ve ever made has turned out wonderfully!
Elana says
Jean, I may have been that girl, except it sounds like you were in college and I was in 7th grade when it came out. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoy my recipes and thanks very much for pointing people to my site :-)
Patricia Kemp says
Thank you for the good laugh . We all need that, and chocolate too.
Elana says
Patricia, I wholeheartedly agree!
Catherine says
OMG ! I am laughing with tears after listening to that video, sooooo funny!
Thanks for adding many moments of humor to my day inside!
Elana says
Catherine, I know, right?!
Susan says
Chocolate is my magic pill. 30g daily is a great source of copper for people supplementing with zinc, like me. Currently I’m working on a Theo’s 85%. We also love making coconut-cranberry-pistachio-sea salt haystacks and Barefoot Contessa’s French Chocolate bark, using very dark chocolate — both highly addictive and healthy! I also find a teaspoon of Manuka honey a few times per day very soothing, physically and mentally — and taken at night I find that it helps with sleep and staying asleep.
Elana says
Susan, omigolly! Theo’s 85% is my favorite. I hope you and yours are staying safe :-)
Suzanne says
It’s a bit expensive and they might not be open with the quarantine as they are in LA, CA but they have the most delicious organic, raw chocolate, especially the clusters.
hninagourmet.com
Elana says
Thanks Suzanne!
Nancy says
I read your statement and burst out laughing! Yes, chocolate is necessary!
I am glad we are on the same page!!
Elana says
Nancy, great minds…