Home Alone Together, Week Seven: Celebrating Achievements and Finding Comfort

This has been a quieter week than the previous ones. But still, there were highlights of happiness and comfort.

I was not one of those people encouraging everyone to use this time wisely and take action on long buried dreams. Or even to clean out that messy closet or drawer or room (which I do have) in all of this extra time we all supposedly now have.

First, many of us don’t have extra time. Second, there are plenty of new things to deal with without adding the pressure to be Creative and Productive and Innovative.

A goal accomplished

And yet, in spite of myself, I did pass a milestone this week. I accomplished a goal I didn’t even quite know I had until recently. I ran a 5k! Yay me! It’s been thirty years since I did that! Wow.

I admit I’m a little stunned by that fact and pleased with myself. I had signed up for the 5k BP (Before Pandemic) and when everything turned topsy turvey, the organizers made the 5k virtual.

Instead of all of us running together in a park somewhere, we were all on our own to run near our homes and send in our tracker’s recording of our run.

Actually, I’ve run the 5k distance a few times in recent weeks to work up to it. Each week we were to cover the distance during three different runs and submit our tracking info. I didn’t always go the full distance every single time. I say run but really I alternated walking and running. The running part has been challengingly difficult. But doing it in short bursts made it possible.

Seeing wildlife

During the run I took photos along the way (as asked), when I thought of it. At one point, I thought I was running up to a large squirrel or a small dog and then, lo and behold, it was a hawk.

There are dozens of these hawks here and they caw raucously and scarily. When I had small Chihuahuas, these hawks scared me much more than they do now.

I knew it was not unheard of for a hawk to try to carry off small dogs and even if they didn’t succeed they could fatally wound the dog with those sharp claws.

Many’s the time I stood hovering over my own Chihuahuas, taking them out one at a time so I could protect them from the neighborhood hawk or hawks that perched on trees, and even my fence, keeping an eye on us.

Others sharing happy content

The Tim Trackers (awesome channel on YouTube) posted a video earlier this week considering what changes might be in store at the theme parks as they reopen, whenever that may be.

I didn’t watch the video all the way through because there was a lot of what-if and speculation that I find anxiety provoking. I’m sure there are groups of people considering all of the what-ifs who may have more information than I do about necessary solutions that will assure park-goers they are safe. Speculation without knowledge isn’t productive or helpful.

Apparently other people found the video less than satisfying, as well, because they received feedback that it was a bit of a downer.

And the Trackers are lighthearted and happy, sharing the highlights of their days. Even though they can’t go to the parks, they’ve got plenty of other upbeat content to share, which they do fantastically every day. And that’s why so many of us watch them daily.

Ever the careful listeners, the Trackers responded with a video about things that made them happy this week. Mostly it was their 4½ month old son, which is understandable because he is adorable and cute and about to roll over any day now. And just learned how to blow raspberries. He is a joyful bundle of happiness, of course he makes them happy. And they generously share him with us.

Good food brings comfort

Like many others, I’ve been cooking more. My wallet has appreciated not eating out so much.

Lately, I’ve been indulging a love for dumplings, as in chicken and dumplings. Only I don’t use chicken. I like to take cobbler batter, as in peach cobbler, and make the cobbler on the stove. It’s cobbler if it is a dessert, it’s dumplings if it is a savory dish.

Take any vegetable, such as collard greens, boil them at medium heat, season with garlic, mustard, onion, dill, and balsamic vinegar. Or however you like to season that particular vegetable. Add a little tiny bit of cornstarch. Place the dumplings by spoonfuls on top and cook for about 5 minutes covered, then 5 minutes uncovered. It makes a hearty little dish, and it’s vegan to boot.

It feels faster than baking bread or even baking biscuits. And it won’t heat up the place.

One night this week I caramelized onions and made a sort of onion soup and topped that with the dumplings. Unexpectedly good, comforting, and tasty. I did not remember to take a photo but I’ll try to be better about that.

Another day I made a faux Reuben using collard greens again (I have a whole bag) which I boiled down and then cooked with sauerkraut. Use that as the filler on a grilled sandwich with a veganized thousand island dressing and you’ll feel like you’re eating at your favorite diner. Felt like a treat.

Finally realizing what you truly need

I’ve enjoyed working remotely, having heaps of privacy and quiet in which to work and think and create. It’s become abundantly clear to me that I really do need the solitude and quiet and undisturbed stretches of time that working in my own place, alone, has given me.

I really hope I can remember that when I’m back in the office, back sharing a workplace with other humans. I might be closing my door a little more often. I might be engaging in what-ifs and speculations at work a little less, too. Asking for what I need. Giving myself permission to back off and withdraw.

I even wonder if when we go back (since there’s talk of that) if we might still need to communicate “remotely” from our offices for a while. No one has a space large enough for our team to all stay six feet away from each other.

So I imagine all of us sitting in our offices, doors closed, video chatting with each other for a team meeting. BP, I would have thought that was silly.

Now, I can’t say it would be all that terrible, actually.

sign by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay