Time Passes

Dear Reader,

If you are currently sequestered and not used to it, you might add “but not quickly enough” to this month’s title.

The pandemic has forced some to work at warp speed, while others have slowed down. Both groups would likely prefer seeing life return to normal. But it won’t. Time passes. Events seem like they happened only yesterday but were months ago. When was the last time you saw a friend, drove in moderate-to-heavy traffic, or got dressed up to go out? We think we understand a virus today but have come to expect that we won’t by tomorrow. We cope because there is no other choice. Time passes. Things change. We change.

Abundant suggestions are available for dialing down fear and worry. The spectrum stretches from Keep Busy to Learn to Breathe and Relax. It’s probably a good idea to get better at doing both. I finally realized that I have been bouncing around the 5 stages of grief - for the loss of family and friends and for the loss of “normal” life. Think about the stages: denial – it can’t be that bad (it was and is); anger – whose fault is it anyway?; bargaining – if I stay home, wash my hands raw, don’t touch my face, wear a mask, stay six feet away from people, I’ll be safe, right?; depression – it doesn’t matter what I do, this will never end; acceptance – it’s still horrible on an unimaginable scale, but I can work with what remains. It won’t be perfect but that’s okay -well, okay on some days.

A lesson in acceptance resides in my own backyard. On December 11, 2008, an ice storm chewed its way through Worcester’s west side and continued north through Holden, Hubbardston and Gardner. The night was hellish – tree trunks and limbs snapped, resounding like rifle shots. Thuds shook the house, and the power went out. We mourned the loss of dozens of trees. My husband John Gaumond and I created an installation made from stumps and paint (Judy’s Journal, 2009 June).

 

“Response to Ice Storm Installation 2009”

Time passes. These sentinels of nature’s force and human resilience compel and comfort. Things change. We change.

“Ice Storm Installation 2020”