The past four days have provided the awareness I have needed. The virus has threatened to consume the way of the world we have known. I, too, have experienced this. I’d guess that with the mere mention of 2020 or 2021, all of our minds will go to similar places. More than once, I have reached toward an imaginary rewind button stuck in an endless unreleased mode.
Adding a layer to this life change globally, our family personally has had the cancer battle simultaneously. While many have been devastated by the big C., We have identified the big C by another name. If you remember the outlines with roman numerals you had to write out in English class, our cancer/covid numerals have often interchanged as if which comes first, the chicken or the egg? One thing is sure any cancer/covid combination we hope to avoid.
I assume that I am an err on the side of caution girl by nature and nurture. I have meticulously done my share of attempting to make decisions for the sake of many. I was no stranger to anxiety before both of the events occurred. So driven by an adequate amount of uneasiness and respectful conformity, I have chosen to make personal decisions based on what could affect others. The introvert aspect has not been challenging for me. In most circumstances, I am a natural introvert-extrovert. The introvert often wins when I am outside my circle of few.
But my family of 7, aka my inside circle, discussed a memory-making Christmas trip in place of unnecessary Christmas gifts. Initially, it was a prayerful challenge for me. My son and his family had previously visited The Ark Encounter and Creation Museum but had lacked adequate time for the whole experience. It took minimal persuasion when my 3-year-old grandson’s eyes lit up in excitement, longing to take his Nanee, Pa, and Etchy (aunt Lexie) to see the dinosaurs located in Kentucky.
Four in the morning came early this past Monday. But a few hours later, with our Expedition at a total capacity of 5 adults, and two precious toddlers, my heart started feeling something that had been amiss. Joy. Song choices circled the vehicle; as my adult children laughed at my suggestion that I get out my CD vault/case of the best songs ever. They asked if I even knew about blue-tooth, and well, yes, I do, but I’m still inclined to be old school. Our daughter typed in each request as we took turns choosing song selections from the ’80s (the best, by the way), all the way through the decades to the Baby Shark request. We belly laughed, talked, belted out off-key tunes, and soaked in the carefree world of a one and 3-year-old.
We enjoyed the Ark Encounter and Creation Museum and the facts that support our faith. We understood better how dinosaurs go along with, not against, Creation. Science and Creation do not have to conflict. We walked through a breath-taking Christmas-lit setting that reminded me of those Hallmark movies, minus a little snow dusting. We had fun walking around downtown Cincinnati, of which only Darran and I knew of WKRP in Cincinnati. We went to the downtown Findlay Market. Darran wasn’t a fan until he found some heaping pieces of pepperoni pizza. We walked on a bridge, played in a playground, took pictures on our phones, and stored them in our memory bank.
We remembered the world through the sparkly, innocent eyes of a one and three-year-old. We embraced being perfectly imperfect, but we had merry moments and made some great memories! Most of all, we didn’t think about a monster that threatens to steal what we cherish most. Realistically, we had a few moments of being cramped, carsick, tired, cranky, and hangry. But we lived without fear suffocating us. We lived in the present and loved without abandon. It is something we crave in our internal make up and something I highly recommend.
Sidenote: I have no agenda, just a personal opinion and heartfelt message. I would never minimize the severity and heartbreak this virus has caused. I know many suffering, those who have lost lives, businesses suffering, and the havoc attempting to cover us all—my prayers to you. I understand many are threatened personally. My husband is still battling cancer, with treatments, in a virus-affected world. We each have to find our way through this personally and purposefully. I do believe there is something to the concept of dying while we are still alive. I understand it because I have experienced it to a point. My desire is to share a mere reminder from my heart to yours. Please do not lose your hope, joy, and precious moments, during the ugly that is stalking our world.
Hoping you find a place in my space! ♥